Horse SlaughterHorse CrueltyHorse RescueLegislationStolen HorsesPressGeneralSiteMapHorse Cruelty InfoPA Anti-Cruelty Law
|
Horse CrueltyFate of Downed Horses at PA Horse AuctionWhatever as Long as they are Standing we can Ship 'em." .... Fate of Downed Palomino on 5-25-98On Memorial Day 1998, this foundered Palomino gelding was brought to a PA auction barn and put in the killer pens. Bystanders actually witnessed other horses walking on him while he lay on the ground in agony. Whip marks were observed on the inside of his hind legs. In too much distress to rise and drink at the water trough beside him, caring bystanders instead brought water in paper cups for him to drink.... Probably because he was drawing so much attention from people at the auction, he was loaded onto a known New York "killer buyer's" trailer. An equine veterinarian and The Humane League of Lancaster County arrived at the auction. Even though the veterinarian recommended against the transport of this horse, the humane officer allowed the horse to be transported over 200 miles to New York.The "killer buyer's" story was that he had purchased the horse a week earlier at the sale. He claimed, " the horse foundered the next day" and he brought the horse back to the PA auction to meet the "seller to get his money back." When the seller refused, "he was going to return the horse to New York for treatment." This horse had fresh hoof black on his hooves. Hoof Black is used on horses hooves in shows or parades. Seems odd that someone would apply hoof black to a horse that foundered a week ago... PA Anti Cruelty Statute, Sec 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.
He was supposedly shipped over 200 miles "home". Because of his condition, a more likely destination was a Canadian slaughterhouse over 550 miles away. "Founder is a very painful condition. . . one of the most painful things a horse has to go through,"Dr Margaret Mullin DVMSince the PA State Police checked this auction in July 1998 and again in April 1999, the horses in the worst condition are kept behind locked gates. In July 1999, a horse that would not even bring a $5.00 bid was sold through the sale. In September 1999 the PA State Police responded to a complaint from the EPN of injured horses inside the New Holland auction barn. |
||||||||
|