Direct Report from Animal’s Angels
Horses Denied Food and Water
In May AA investigated the Morton, TX Feedlot and 2 export pens (Del Rio, TX and Eagle Pass, TX) after EU reports alerted us about large numbers of horses being returned at the Mexican border. EU inspectors reported that on the day they were present at the export pen, 40% or 12 out of 30 horses were rejected (advanced pregnancy, health issues and injuries). OISA data revealed that over a 10 month period when EU inspectors were not present, roughly 9% or 5,336 horses of 62,560 horses were rejected.
Further, the EU report echoed AA’s concerns when the EU noted that sworn statements about past veterinary treatments and drug residues had no official controls in place, and are unverifiable for authenticity or reliability despite the seemingly official micro chipping that is done just before the horses cross the border.
On this investigation AA found that these horses rejected at the border are not provided food or rest but are immediately reloaded for the kill buyer to take away – Horses go without food or water for 25+ hours by the time they are returned by the shipper.
Another concern is that apparently there is no accountability for a shipper who brings injured or sick horses to the export pens or Morton. We found no records of the export pens or the Beltex feedlot reporting cases of unfit horses to APHIS or to local law enforcement. The rejected horses are not monitored or linked to their shipper since APHIS does not maintain a database to trace slaughter tags of individual horses.
In addition, AA observations confirm that many horses that go to slaughter arrive at the pens from 12+ hours away, remain at the pens for 6-8 hours and then face another 17 hour transport to the plant – Horses are without food for 37+ hours by the time they finally arrive at the slaughter plant.
AA advocates the following:
Every horse rejected by the Mexican veterinarian must be given food, water and at least 6 hours rest before re-loading.
Every horse that arrives in a condition that qualifies as a cruelty case under Texas law, must be reported by pen operators. Every horse that arrives in a condition that qualifies as a violation of the Commercial Transport of Equines to Slaughter Regulations must be reported by pen operators to APHIS. To run a cover up for offenders is intolerable, and APHIS, the Texas Department of AG/Director of Export, and others should instruct pen operators of zero tolerance.
APHIS, in cooperation with the Texas Department of AG, should ensure documentation and improved accountability by creating a database of slaughter tag #s used by each owner/shipper and information such as the number of horses refused at the border and reason for refusal. It is inappropriate for APHIS to be incapable of identifying and tracing horses to shippers. Among other things, such a database would identify “regular offenders” and encourage improved care of horses.
Our investigation also revealed that at all pens operated by the Texas Department of AG, they habitually allow the use of trailers that are a deadly risk to horses. We observed trailers with large holes in the metal sides capable of terrible injuries, even cutting feet and legs off; trailers with gaps and holes in roofs capable of puncturing eyes or even decapitation; trailers with exposed nails and broken flooring. We observed many open roof trailers with no protection from wind or sun during the 17 hour transport.
AA advocates the following:
The USDA must stop the use of trailers that jeopardize horses and subject them to injury – allow no horse to be loaded onto a trailer that does not pass visual inspection.
Authority for this is covered by the protections of the Commercial Transport of Equines to Slaughter regulations until the truck crosses the border into Mexico. These trailers violate the regulation and the USDA -APHIS has both legal basis and duty to assist the export pens in banning the trailers permanently.
Animals Angels recommends that a USDA representative maintains a presence at the export pens to initiate the process. Transporters would be informed that trailers will be inspected and rejected if they do not comply with regulations. Transporters out of compliance will be fined as stipulated in the regulations.
Read the full investigative report…
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- De-Funding of Horse Slaughter Inspections in Jeopardy (rtfitch.wordpress.com)
- Horse Slaughter Group Launches Bizarre “Know the Facts” Campaign as Vote Nears in House (rtfitch.wordpress.com)
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Categories: Horse News, Horse Slaughter
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
Wretched.
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This is just sickening!
It is going to take me several re-reads and a ton of composure to make an intelligent response.
In the mean time, thanks for posting this R.T. and a special thank you to AA for doing this investigative work.
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I agree with you Denise, also thanks RT for the post and thank you to AA for all the investigating…………………….. Any post I would make right now would be unbecoming for someone who loves Horses, although I will say one thing absolutely unforgivable to deny water and food …………………………………. I am totally horrified at this display of inhumane horror and ashamed that any person would ever deny food and water to a living breathing Beauty……………………………………………..
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And remember this is facilitated (more likely “enabled”) by the Texas Department of Agriculture. And the same garbage goes on at the other huge “holding” lots; Arizona, New Mexico.
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Dear Denise, What have they all become dont any of them understand the importance of these magnificent animals ,?????? Where are their Brains……………… Rats are treated better………………………..
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Money, Arlene…money and convenience and power and resistance to change and money and laziness and money and broken moral compass and did I mention money?
p.s. depends on where the rats are.
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Yes MONEY, it is the root of all evil !!! It loses my attention when there is a beautiful , wonderful amazing horse involved……..Only a wise man and a wise educated person knows that there are things money will never to be able to buy, integrity and pride in what we are responsible for, being appointed caretakers that we are for animals who cannot help themselves and that give to us so willingly so ,any wonderful things that money could never purchase I am horrified at the complete lack of human kindness and inability to use their humanity and brains to create a good thing out of this horror……………………………….. Only to think of MONEY and not the complete worth of a beautiful giving wonderful Gift the horses are to us…………………………………..
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Oh Yes, Money the root of all evil, to me or any person i believe to Human it loses its appeal ,when the very lives of the horses are at stake, there are things money will never be able to purchase , integrity , pride and the ability to recognize that the gift of these wonderful giving animals and the importance of the role they play in our world, they are under our caretaking our charge, Money will never purchase Brains, that function with the ability to understand the importance of their presence here with us………………… They are a gift , we cannot allow to be treated this way…………………………
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Arlene – as I have been reminded MANY times…(LOL)…the correct quote is “the LOVE of money is the root of all evil.” Have to agree that when stated correctly it’s even MORE power in describing humans who are involved in this sort of cruelty! As I was reading the post, I found myself thinking, “Ah, yes – another day when I feel ashamed of being part of the human race!” Blessed Be!
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Thank you R.T. Animals Angels will continue to investigate the slaughter pipeline, and we have been told by several of the kill buyers, there is more money in horses than any other slaughter animal. And since they (kill buyers) believe they are above the law, this will continue.
Animals Angels is awaiting answers regarding the payment of fines by Leroy Baker for the violations of The Equines To Slaughter Act.
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I am just horrified!!!!!!!!! The Dregs of Society and Demons of Hell is the only way to
describe them. I received by email from one of the farm bureaus and it has docoumented
the cases of Mexicans who have become very ill from tainted horse meat. The chemical
which was isolated was chebutetryol (note sure of the spelling), but definitely one of
the know carcingens. I am going to copy the Animal Angels report and send it off to
my Legislators. Where is the media on this? No one wants to see this, but it must come
to light and be exposed for what it is. Its ironic that some of the said countries who are
said to consume this meat don’t really eat or want this meat. I can only say of the Animal
Angels, they must be there by the grace of God. I did equine investigations and that was
so depressing it was all you could do to compose yourself when you saw the condition of
some of the horses. In a sense this was bad, but you knew that there was a way out for
many of horses. But for these poor horses I don’t know if there is an option. I will pray for Animal Angels to give them the strength to do what they do. I know it is gut wrenching to know the horses may not have an option. Why doesn’t anyone expose the “Killer Buyers”,
we know that they are out there in everyones community. Disgusting, sickening and
appaulling. Actually NO WORDS TO DESCRIBE THE HORRORS! We really need to
get the law passed ONCE AND FOR ALL!
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Dear Gail, i am in full agreement with you, Here in Ohio We have one of the most murdering cruel Kill buyers to have ever walk this earth, we here have been exposing him for years to the USDA and any where that we can, finally the USDA last year imposed a $64,000.00 and the papers are here in Cleveland Ohio I believe that they have frozen all his bank accounts to collect this fine, however the Killer Auction in Sugarcreek goes on unaffected with Mr, Killer Murderer Leroy Baker still running it ??????now someone tell me why???? this auction is not shut down???forever?????????
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Once again all I can think is animal vigilante-ism…Lock and Load….
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You’re right, if they don’t want to answer the damn phones!
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Tried to call the Equine Tranportation Program office today, got voice mail for a Tine Klepinger, left a message, doubt I’ll get a call back. Do any of these numbers work?
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