Horse Slaughter in Florida

[msj]

In case you haven’t been aware, there have been at least 17 horses stolen and butchered for their meat in the Miami, FL area. There have been a couple of threads on it in the Off Course Forum.

This one shows a video and started the initial discussions:

http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=216584&highlight=Horse+Slaughter

This one deals with information about getting a reward together:

http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=216694


If you don’t want to read through all of the above threads, here is information for those that would like to donate to the reward for the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the killing and butchering of the horses in the Miami, FL region.

You may send a check or money order to:

Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers

Attention: Maureen Hickey
Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers
1030 North West 111 Ave.
Miami, FL 33172

In the lower left corner of your check in the MEMO section write:
Horse-Reward

Your donations are TAX DEDUCTIBLE.

Currently their reward is up to $3000. They have been very successful in the past. Prior to the horse butchering, they experienced a rash of cat mutilations. The reward money collected totaled $13,000. So yes, money does talk and get people snitching.

When I spoke to Ms. Hickey, she told me she would be emailing me more information, presumably on the butchering etc. Once I receive it I will share it with anyone that sends me PM.

So please, if you feel strongly about this and can afford even a couple of dollars, please donate ASAP.

Thank you one and all.

[Tamara in TN]

Prior to the horse butchering, they experienced a rash of cat mutilations. The reward money collected totaled $13,000. So yes, money does talk and get people snitching.
.

the people that sell our hay in Miami said that a certain island people not far from FL believe that horse meat is a curative food... not unlike bears paws and bear bile

regards

[Valentina_32926]

The mix of "imported" nationalities to the area coupled with the VERY high unemployment rate in the Miami area is probably what is driving this.

(I say imported nationalities ONLY because the would be more likely to eat horsemeat versus an "American born and raised" person who eats what comes from grocery stores.)

[MunchkinsMom]

Has this also been cross posted on other FL equine BB's like FlaHorse.com?

[jumpingmaya]

Yikes... thanks for the info...
I think it's been going on for quite a while now...
SCARY thought though :no:
Sending some help.. figured anything is better than nothing :yes:
Thanks!

[Lori T]

Has this also been cross posted on other FL equine BB's like FlaHorse.com?

Yes, it is on Flahorse, but they always turn it into a pro slaughter debate.

[msj]

Thanks very much for making this a sticky. :)

[Susan P]

Yes, thank you for making it a sticky, this is really important.

[Against The Wind]

Hi all,
I just wanted to let you know that there was a news program on this morning on our local CBS news station about the horse slaughters. They were interviewing Richard Couto of the South Florida SPCA. The highlights of the interview were as follows:

1. The reward fund is up to $5000.00.

2. There have been 19 cases reported since January, however most go unreported.

3. The meat on the horses have been "professionally carved". They know of people being offered horse meat for sale, and they know that they are selling horse meat from their own properties. (The slaughterers or people involved with them).

4. There are a few different groups doing the slaughtering.

5. Being in the public eye is helping greatly.

6. Task forces are in place, and they are "close to mature stage" in their investigation.

7. You can go to helpthehorses.com for more information. (I haven't checked it out, that was a website Mr. Couto referred to).

8. The horseowners are being very proactive, some are sleeping armed in their barns.

Those were the highlights of the interview. It sounds like both being in the public eye and the reward money is finally flushing these horrendous people out. Let's hope this comes to a rapid end!!!

[msj]

Against The Wind - that is great news! The HSUS increased their reward from the initial $2500 to $5000.

The helpthehorses.com is the website for the South Florida SPCA with Jeanette Jordon as President of that chapter. She was very helpful to me in finding out to whom we send any donations. :)

More money is also going the Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers (MDCS). Their website lists the reward fund at $3000 and I know that they have collected more since this thread was started. Previously their website listed $2000 and I donated $1500 and I know others on this board have donated as well so I'm guessing the MDCS reward is also around the $5000 amount which means there is ~ $10,000 total reward for the arrest and conviction of the criminals. I do hope the law enforcement does get ALL of them.



Here is some of the info from the helpthehorses website:
__________________________________________________ ______________________
HORSE KILLER REWARD FUND

To contribute to the reward fund for the arrest and conviction of the persons responsible for illegally slaughtering horses in South Florida, please:

· Make your check payable to Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers
· In the lower left memo portion of your check, write “Horse Reward”

· Send your check to:

Miami-Dade Crimestoppers
1030 NW 111 Avenue
Miami, FL 33172

· For large donations ($1,000+), call Maureen at Crimestoppers for proper paperwork. Her phone number is 305 471-6160

Miami-Dade Crimestoppers is a 501c3 organization. Donations will be held until the perpetrators are caught and convicted or until the statute of limitations on the crimes runs out (usually 5 years). Large donors will be contacted at that time and may request their reward donations be returned to them. Small donations will, at that time, go into the general reward fund.
__________________________________________________ ________


The HSUS Increases Reward Offered In Miami-Dade Horse Killings


(August 4, 2009) — The Humane Society of the United States is increasing its reward to $5,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for slaughtering at least 17 horses in the Miami-Dade County area since January. The Humane Society of the United States had offered its standard $2,500 reward for information in February and is doubling its reward since the killings appear ongoing.


The Case: News reports give the following account: Since January, at least 17 horses have been found slaughtered in their pastures or barns, or found dead and abandoned at the side of roads. The horses appear to have been butchered for their meat. In the latest case, an Appaloosa quarter horse named Linda was found killed in her stable with her 2-month-old foal nearby.


Animal Cruelty: Getting the serious attention of law enforcement, prosecutors and the community in cases involving allegations of cruelty to animals is an essential step in protecting the community. The connection between animal cruelty and human violence is well documented. Studies show a correlation between animal cruelty and all manner of other crimes, from narcotics and firearms violations to battery and sexual assault.


“These horses were beloved companions found barbarically killed for their meat. The horses must have suffered horribly, and now their owners grieve their needless deaths. For that reason, we are increasing to $5,000 our reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for these brutal killings,” said Laura Bevan, The Humane Society of the United States’ Eastern regional director based in Tallahassee.


The Investigators: Miami-Dade Police Agricultural Patrol is investigating. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS (8477).


Resources: The HSUS Animal Cruelty Campaign raises public awareness and educates communities about the connection between animal cruelty and human violence while providing a variety of resources to law enforcement agencies, social work professionals, educators, legislators and families. The HSUS offers rewards in animal cruelty cases across the country and works to strengthen laws against animal cruelty. To see our journalists' animal cruelty resource guide, which includes information on statistics, trends, laws and animal cruelty categories, go to: humanesociety.org/crueltyresources.

[Susan P]

I think the growing reward offer is great, but also there needs to be publicity about it and on TV and bilingual.

[Moderator 1]

We just unstuck the thread after giving folks a chance to see it for a few days. Feel free to bump it up when you have information to share.

You're also welcome to add a link to the thread, or more info on the situation, to your signature, so that people see it throughout the forum.

Thanks!
Mod 1

[Anne FS]

Here's the CNN story from today: http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/08/10/horses.slaughtered/index.html

It says the figure of 19 slaughters is under-reported, since they feel there are a number of people who simply don't want to have publicity or get involved with law enforcement in any way.

[msj]

Moderator 1 - Thank you for allowing this thread to be a sticky for as long as you did. Hopefully it made more people aware of the heinous acts that are being performed.

Anne FS - Thanks for posting the link to the CNN story.