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Horse Cruelty Info


PA Anti-Cruelty Law

Title 18, Section 5511

Henneke Body Scoring Condition Chart

 The Henneke Body Scoring Chart is accepted in court as a scientific method of scoring a horse's body condition. It is used successfully in court to prove neglect. The Henneke Body Scoring Chart is accepted in court as a scientific method of scoring a horse's body condition. It is used successfully in court to prove neglect.



Horse Cruelty Cases


Lancaster County Repeat Offender
Riccobono Cruelty Cases

Horse Cruelty at Auctions


Successful Enforcement
PA State Police arrest horse dealer PA horse auction
PA State Police arrest horse dealer at PA horse auction
PA State Police Enforce

PA Cruelty Law at New Holland, PA Auction

 Young draft gelding shipped from NC displays injured left hind leg. A PA equine vet determined that there was no fixing this horse's injured leg. He was humanely euthanised.
Young draft gelding shipped from NC displays injured left hind leg. A PA equine vet determined that there was no fixing this horse's injured leg. He was humanely euthanised.

No Enforcement
 Down and bleeding inside a trailer with Maine license plates at a New Holland, PA auction. Reportedly the horse later died. No charges were ever filed. Blood was pooling on the ground under and outside the trailer.
Down and bleeding inside a trailer with Maine license plates at a New Holland, PA auction. Reportedly the horse later died. No charges were ever filed. Blood was pooling on the ground under and outside the trailer.
The Downer Hall of Shame

Down Belgian was down all day at a PA horse auction. Several bystanders attempted to get the horse to rise. A vet was never called...

Down Belgian was down all day at a PA horse auction. Several bystanders attempted to get the horse to rise. A vet was never called...

The Labor Day Mares

Severely foundered mare's face reveals the pain she is experiencing. Mare was found down on a truck at a New Holland auction. Blood oozed from her coronary bands. Severely foundered mare's face reveals the pain she is feeling. Mare was found down on a truck at a New Holland auction. Blood oozed from her coronary bands.

A Mule & 2 Standardbreds-

All Had Broken Legs & were Hidden on A Trailer

No Water
Water tank is empty, even though the faucets work.
W
ater tank is empty, even though the faucets work..
The Horse the Killers Refused
& the vet passed.

Unfit Horses Sold at Auction

PSPCA allows sale - NHPD files charges, owner pleads guilty.


Links

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HoofPAC Political Action Committee

HoofPAC is the political action committee that has been formed to end the slaughter of America's horses. Cathleen Doyle, founder of HoofPAC, led the successful Save The Horses campaign in 1998 that made the slaughter of California's horses a felony.


Contact the EPN

Did You Know?
"Only ignorance! only ignorance! how can you talk about only ignorance? Don't you know that it is the worst thing in the world, next to wickedness? - and which does the most mischief, heaven only knows. If people can say, "Oh! I did not mean any harm", they think it is alright."....
John in Black Beauty by Anna Sewell published in 1877

Page last revised on:

07/11/30

Sad Eyed Arab

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Horse Cruelty


Debiltated Horses Sold At New Holland!

August 2000


Remember what Dr. Temple Grandin, Department of Animal Sciences,
Colorado State University in a report commisioned by USDA/ APHIS stated in her report regarding New Holland and published in The Horse in their December issue;
According to Dr. Temple Grandin,

" The New Holland sale will not accept horses that are severely lame or in very poor condition. "

and

The New Holland sale has banned horses with severe welfare problems from their sale."

This paint pony estimated to be in his 20's was sold at a PA horse auction.

According to the

PA Cruelty Law, Title 18, Section 5511, (d):

"Selling or using disabled horse.--A person commits a summary offense if he offers for sale or sells any horse, which by reason of debility, disease or lameness, or for other cause, could not be worked or used without violating the laws against cruelty to animals, or leads, rides, drives or transports any such horse for any purpose, except that of conveying the horse to the nearest available appropriate facility for its humane keeping or destruction or for medical or surgical treatment. "

8/28/00 ALT=

It is obvious that this pony is in no condition to be worked. He is at the most a "2" on the Henneke Body Scoring Condition Chart.
 

Paint Pony, hip # 519. Rear view, tailhead is clearly visible. All of his his ribs are prominent. His tailhead is prominent. His shoulder,withers and neck are more than "faintly discernible. It remains to be seen whether or not charges of animal cruelty  will be filed against the owner of this pony.

This pony went through the auction, not once, but twice! This pony was sold 2 times in one month at the same auction. Where was the PA SPCA?

If this pony is not in "very poor condition", then what is a horse in very poor condition?? Being old is no excuse for being emaciated. This pony is not sick, the results of blood tests haven proven he is not sick.
What this pony needs is food!
Considering the fact that there are several equine feeds on the market specifically formulated for older horses, there is no excuse for this pony's condition.






This palomino gelding's age was estimated to be in his 20's.
His resting heart rate was 100.
Normal resting heart rate is 36 to 40.
His respiration was 48.
Normal respiration at rest is 8-16 breaths.
His resting heart rate was 100.
Normal resting heart rate is 36 to 40.
His respiration was 48.
Normal respiration at rest is 8-16 breaths.

It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that this horse is in distress.
This horse is obviously debilitated.
If this is not a debilitated horse, then what is a debilitated horse?
There is an equine vet at this auction.
There was a PA SPCA agent at this sale.
Why was this horse allowed to be offered for sale?
This horse was later euthanised by a veterinarian after a full examination, and after efforts to treat his respiratory problem failed.
This horse never should have been brought to an auction.

The owner of this horse is required under PA law to provide this horse with necessary vet care.
The owner is prohibited under PA law to offer this horse for sale.

This horse should have been humanely euthanised long before he reached an auction.
This horse never should have been allowed to deteriorate to this level.

Palomino gelding. Ribs visible. Spine visible. Shoulder accentuated.


The EPN contacted the New Holland Police Department, NHPD, regarding these two debiltated horses due to the fact that the PA SPCA agent present at the New Holland Sale was not recorded in Lancaster County, PA on the date these horses were sold at the New Holland Sales Stables.

The EPN was present at Double D Rescue, Bethel, PA when the veterinarian was the examining the horses. The EPN instructed the vet regarding the evidence that needed to be collected to successfully prosecute a horse cruelty case. The EPN also made the vet aware of the wording of the PA Anti-Cruelty Law, Title 18, Section 5511(d), as he was unaware that a possible crime had been committed. The EPN also asked the vet if he would be willing to testify in court to the condition of these horses. The vet confirmed to the EPN and later to the NHPD that he was indeed willing to testify in court.

The New Holland Police Department filed charges against Rick Sterling, Wellsboro, PA for transporting the palomino gelding to the sale in New Holland, PA.

Mr. Sterling pled guilty to one count of cruelty to animals, Title 18, 5511(d). New Holland District Justice Hartman fined Mr. Sterling $50.00 plus costs, for a total of $125.00.

In June 2001 Debbie Polasek, of Double D Equine Rescue in Bethel, PA, who purchased the palomino gelding defended the actions of the PA SPCA agent in a message posted on the Carpe Diem Message Board:

" I'm sorry but I know for a fact that Pennell was going to file charges for Cheyenne and Apache but someone jumped in, before researching or collecting evidence, and went and called the police and bugged them until (according to an officer I talked to) they got sick of hearing her and pressed the charges to shut her up."

Questions

  • How can an officer who is not recorded in the county where the crime took place file charges?


  • Does the New Holland Police Department file charges to "shut people up" or do they file charges due to the fact that after investigating the complaint, the evidence supports the complaint?


  • If the SPCA agent was going to file charges, then why didn't the agent properly take control of the evidence, the horse(s), and proceed to collect the evidence needed to present the case in court?


  • Do law enforcement agencies routinely allow other individuals and organizations who are not trained in the Rules of Evidence and the Chain of Evidence to collect, hold and present their evidence?


  • On what basis is Ms. Polasek basing her confidence that charges would have been filed?


  • Is this confidence based on the PA SPCA's track record for filing charges against owners, dealers, and haulers who have transported and/or offered disabled, debilitated, lame and diseased horses in the period from May 2000 through May 2001?


  • From May 2000 through May 2001 the PA SPCA has been present at the New Holland Sales Stables on a weekly basis. One charge was filed. The New Holland Police Department, NHPD, filed 2 charges in a 2 month period when responding to specific complaints. During this time frame horses have been offered for sale or transported to the sale that have had broken legs, severe injuries, been sick and or severely emaciated. Where are the charges?


  • The PA State Police, PSP, filed 2 charges in one day, on a day that the PSP were conducting a detail in the vicinity of the sale.


The EPN filed a complaint with the New Holland Police Department, NHPD. The NHPD discharged their duty as they are sworn to do. The defendant was convicted. How much more proof is needed to demonstrate that a crime was committed and that the NHPD filed charges due to the fact that a CRIME was committed, not because the officer needed to "shut her up."

On what basis is Ms. Polasek basing her confidence that charges would have been filed?


Save America's Horses!


Please send your tax deductible donation to:

Equine Protection Network, Inc., P. O. Box 232, Friedensburg, PA, 17933
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