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June 23, 1998 Equine Placement Network, Inc. equineprotectionnetwork.com Contact: 570-345-6440 |
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Preble, NY- Arlow Kiehl, Watertown, NY pled guilty in Preble Town Court on June 23, 1998 to 26 counts of illegally transporting horses in violation of New York Agriculture and Markets Law, Section 359 a and was fined $2000.00. Mr. Kiehl also pled guilty to 17 counts of the illegal transport of horses on June 9, 1998 in Barker, N.Y. Town Court and paid a $500 fine.
As Pennsylvania lawmakers decide whether to pass HB 2127, the Horse Transport Bill, New York State continues to reap the revenue from the cruel and inhumane transport of slaughterbound horses from Pennsylvania auctions through New York to Canadian slaughterhouses for human consumption overseas.
A bill introduced by New York State Senator Kuhl, Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee will raise the fines in New York for violating Ag & Markets Sec 359-a from $100 to $250 for a first conviction and from $500 to $1000 for a second conviction which is a misdemeanor. The bill,introduced in March 1998, passed the Senate 147 to ZERO and has now passed the Assembly. Bill to Raise Fines Mr. Kiehl was arrested on February 23, 1998 in Preble, New York by New York State Trooper Kevin Sturmer on I-81 after purchasing horses at the PA horse auction in New Holland, PA. The horses were on a double deck trailer, illegal in New York State for the transportation of horses. The trailer also contained sharp protruberances and lacked partitions 10' apart as required in trailers for more than 6 horses without stalls. Troopers also found problems with the driver's logbook and the truck's brakes. Mr. Kiehl was again arrested on Monday March 23, 1998 in Barker, New York by New York State Trooper Terry Ginyard on I-81 after purchasing horses at the PA horse auction. The single tier trailer lacked the necessary two doorways for ingress & egress, not on the same side as required under New York law for trailers designed for 6 or more horses. Mr. Kiehl was again arrested in Painted Post New York on Saturday May 30, 1998. On April 27, 1998 at the New Holland Sales Stables in New Holland, PA, a mule and a Standarbred were found on his trailer with broken legs. An equine veterinarian called to the scene by the Humane League of Lancaster County euthanised both animals. According to testimony given at public hearings on HB 2127, Mr. Kiehl, "did not know how they got on his trailer", he believed the mule who had his radius completely broken to be a "bowed tendon" and they were only going 6 hours. The Canadian slaughterhouses are located over 550 miles from New Holland, PA. Mr. Kiehl has admitted in the past that he is not licensed in PA to transport horses as is required by PA law. Mr. Kiehl's convictions in New York are grounds for denial of a permit by the PA Department of Agriculture. Kevin Nickerson a driver for Nickerson Livestock, Bainbridge, New York was convicted after trial on April 1, 1998 in Kirkwood, N.Y. Town Court and fined the maximum of $3000.00 for 30 counts of illegal transport of horses. Mr. Nickerson was arrested on Monday January 19, 1998 on I-81 in Kirkwood, New York by New York State Trooper Steven Cornell. There were 27 horses and mules on the double deck trailer, the majority of which were purchased at the New Holland Sales Stables in New Holland. Nickerson Livestock has another case pending in Essex County New York. New York State Trooper Thomas Garcia, who testified at the hearings on HB 2127 and has over 200 arrests involving the illegal transport of horses, was the arresting officer. Nickerson Livestock was the company involved in "The Syracuse 36" case in March 1995, which received national coverage on ESPN. According to the PA Department Of Agriculture records, Nickerson Livestock is also not licensed to transport horses in PA as required by law, and his recent conviction is grounds for denial of a permit. Frank Carper & Sons is another shipper of horses who attends PA horse auctions. Mr. Carper was convicted in Schroon Lake, New York in 1994 and fined $11,100 in a case nicknamed, "The Horse Popsicle Case". The fine remains unpaid. According to PA Department of Agriculture records, Mr. Carper is also not licensed in PA. During public hearings on HB 2127 held at the Gettysburg Hotel in Gettysburg, PA on June 25, 1998, horsewoman Linda Adkins testified,"This is a criminal element. Legitimate horsemen don't do this."The Equine Placement Network and our 25 plus major equine industry supporters are calling for ammendments to HB 2127 to ensure enforcement. All horses, no matter what their final destination,need to be transported in vehicles that are designed for horses, not cattle & hogs.
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