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California Voters "Just Say Neigh" to Horse Slaughter!

HoofPAC

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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.

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Sign Posted at PA Horse Auctions is NOT the Law!

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This sign is posted at at least 2 PA horse auctions.

 

Signs are posted ABOVE eye level, where most people do not look.

No such notice is posted at the check in stand or by the auctioneer or in the office..

The Humane League of Lancaster County does not have their phone number listed on the sign...

Try calling this number, the PA SPCA, 215-426-6300, on a Monday or Saturday at Middleburg, PA and see if they respond..
Also the excerpt from the law is incorrect.

Section 5511 (d) of The Pennsylvania Crimes Codes:

Selling or using disabled horse.--A person commits a summary offense if he offers for sale or sells any horse, which by reason ofdebility, 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.

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Read The Sign

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"In compliance with Section 5511(d) of Pennsylvania Crimes Codes (Cruelty to Animals), this auction will not accept any horse for sale that cannot bear weight on all four legs. Do not ask the owners of this auction
to break the law for your benefit.

" An unfit horse must be taken to the nearest available appropriate facility for it's humane keeping or destruction or for medical or surgical treatment- excerpt from the law.
This auction does not qualify under any of those terms.
Thank you for your cooperation.

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WHERE?? does the law use the term "unfit horse"???
The sign does STATE, "excerpt from the law."
Severely foundered horses, horses with broken legs, horses with EPM,
ALL bear weight on four legs. Horses with severe surgical colic, ruptured stomachs, twisted intestines bear weight on all four legs and have no open wounds. Sick and dying horses bear weight on all four legs.

It seems the PA SPCA has taken it upon themselves to define the law, and to define a debilitated horse, a diseased horse, a lame horse or a horse that could not be worked as a horse that cannot bear weight on all four legs.

Why is the criteria "bear weight on all four legs used" ?

It is not used by vets to determine whether or not a horse is diseased, lame or debilitated.
Why are a horses' vital signs not included in this assessment of their condition?

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The PA Cruelty Law, Sec 5511(d)

"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. "

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Definitions from Websters Dictionary

Debility- weakness, feebleness
Weak- Not strong, feeble, infirm, frail.
Infirm- Not firm; weak; sickly; enfeebled.
Disease-Any state of a living body in which the natural functions are disturbed; illness; disorder.
Lame-Crippled in a limb or limbs; disabled; limping; defective; not satisfactory; not smooth.
Disabled -Deprived of power, incapacitated.

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So, using the PA SPCA's definition of a debilitated, lame, or diseased horse, all of these horses are OK to be sold, worked and transported anywhere.

In other words, in PA, according to the PA SPCA, this is LEGAL:

Down, Bloodied Horse Dies at New Holland
Downer Hall of Shame
The Neglected

Oh, and since the neglect did not happen in THEIR county, the humane agents REFUSE to open an investigation into WHO did starve these horses.
And they REFUSE to ask for help from law enforcement in other counties.
In the case of Hope, the Humane League agent was GIVEN the name of the owner, the hauler and STILL DID NOTHING.

Is this an outrage?
If you think so, then the next time YOU see horse abuse/neglect at an auction:
REPORT the alleged abuse to law enforcement.
Write down the name of the agency contacted.
Name of agent you spoke to on the phone.
Date, time of any & all conversations.
WRITE a letter documenting the abuse.
Include the PA Cruelty Code; the Henneke Body Scoring Condition Chart;
any COPIES of pictures of the horse(s) if any.
Make copies.

Send it to:

• The Governor
  

• Your State Senator and Representative
  

• The District Attorney
  

• Local Media
  

• Local Law enforcement
  

• Your vet
  

• Your state horse council

Law enforcement is not familiar with horses, so WHO do they turn to?
Why, the PA SPCA, who as described above have their own INCORRECT interpretation of the PA Anti-Cruelty law.Or the PA Department of Agriculture.The PDA does NOT ENFORCE the cruelty law. The PA anti-cruelty law is in the Crimes Code.Gee, the PDA does not even ENFORCE their own law on Coggins Tests, Health Charts & the licensing of dealers & haulers.
Enforcing the law would cost people money, & the PDA does NOT want to do that, their job is to help people MAKE money.The PA Equine Council?The PEC is busy having their meetings at Middleburg Livestock Auction while emaciated horses, injured horses & neglected horses are being sold in apparent VIOLATION of the law.
The PEC's mission statement does not even mention horse welfare.
Besides, then they may not be able to dump their trash at the auction.
What is ironic, is that the humane agents who are badged by the Large Animal Protection Society were not consulted when the PA State training for humane agents was drawn up.
Why Not??
Is it because their agents have at least 15 YEARS of PROFESSIONAL HORSE EXPERIENCE??
Is it because in Chester, Berks, & Delaware Counties where LAPS is badged they WIN THEIR CASES??And the vets, law enforcement puts it on the vets.
Ask the vets the RIGHT questions.
The Humane League of Lancaster County has HAD full time equine vets willing to assist.
Vets who STATED the horses should not be transported.
So, whose fault is it now?
Why not have a vet on retainer?
And for the vets who are unwilling to respond, then they are part of the problem also.Sound like too much trouble?Well, then now YOU know why the abuse continues...
Because NOBODY perceives it as a PROBLEM.
Because not ENOUGH people complain & FOLLOW THROUGH.
Nobody WANTS to DO THIS...
And the POWERS THAT BE, LIKE IT THAT WAY...Read the Cost of Compassion for a more in depth explanation

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Update

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The PA SPCA has had an agent present at the auction in New Holland. Next time you see the agent at the sale or talk to the PA SPCA, ask them how many citations they have issued.... The PA State Police and the New Holland Police Department have issued more...

Funny, how the police seem to be able to get the job done...one has to wonder if it has something to do with that "agreement the auctions have with the PA SPCA"....

LAPS is now badged in Lancaster County. 610-869-9880.

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