24+ horses killed in Indiana truck wreck

[nightsong]

Oooooh, that's good, Kestrel. Interview AT LEAST one pet owner who has found their beloved pet at t he killer's and rescue it. Wow. So many boxes of kleenex needed to watch that...

[Chester's Mom]

Boston Chicken:

Check your PT's,

and

Cindyeye,

Count me in for $100 if they find them

[equinelaundry]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by flying fig:
_*A - enters at working trot... X - halts.. salutes*_

Greetings - I am new to the CotH forum - although I have enjoyed the magazine for years. Just as _cowgirll25_ said - I followed the link over here from a frustrating thread on another forum - where when some posters were concerned and asked for more information or even further links they were simply told to do their own homework and that they did not care. _Aarrggh!_ I did not understand why links and info could not be shared and why concerns could not be addressed - but at least I finally found my way over here... where people understand that you need to _share_ information and sources - and be PRO-active not reactive! _Thank you for the voices of reason._
_THIS_ is how this type of thread should be organized...

You are doing a great job!! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Welcome new posters - you're gonna love it here

I know who you are and I'm so glad you joined!! Remember, we like to play nice and are very concerned over horse welfare .

The mag. is great but the people on this board are the greatest at moving mountains.

Kristie

[Boston Chicken]

got it. great info. i am waiting for a call back.

[Cindeye]

MODERATORS: Is there any way we could use the COTH subscription payment software to enable the donations? If so, is there a way to add a field in the credit card info screen that would indicate the $ is a donation for this purpose?

Anyone else have any ideas as to how we could get the money quickly to one place so we can call/send someone with an offer?

(See, I told you I was great at thinking up things for other people to do )

Castlegate: Maybe the KY state vet would assist us with how to go about making an offer to the Rameys?

[Coreene]

I loff you guys. Who has contacted the relevant politicians?

I am broke but count me in for $50. I want to take each of them home, and every one of the racehorses on the other thread as well.

[DillansMom]

HI. I'm a new poster. Coreene, I loff you.(By the way, where's Oliver been?) As I said earlier, I'm in Louisville and I have lots of horse friends and I'm sure we could find a way to help other horse friends in need. We'd love to help out with money, or space or jingles or whatever.

[DillansMom]

Oh, and gosh I almost forgot...I called the slaughterhouse in Flemingsburg and asked them if they had slaughtered the horses (from one Kentuckian to another...)and they insisted they did not, for what it's worth. The woman there told me she didn't think they had made it to Flemingsburg. I suppose I should have asked her if her last name was Ramey.

[Coreene]

DillansMom, welcome - I already loff you as well!

Oliver has been busy lately watching Salinero on his Athens videos and trying to dance just like him.

[LongLeaf]

Count me in for some $$$. Can someone set up a pay-pal account for donations?

I bought my horse off one of the double deckers at a local auction. I saw him on the truck, haggled with the driver, and got the best guy a paint crazy girl could hope for. Unfortunately, the truck was full as it pulled out for Texas later that night.

[Coreene]

Willem, too, was one day from a double decker trip to Texas. This it be wrong.

If we can round up a few of these horses - no pun intended - let's see if we can't round up some sponsors as well to donate feed etc.

[equinelaundry]

Coreene,

I think Willem has been veeerrrryyyy busy the last couple days but when he stops bossin' around up there I be he comes to his beloved Coreene and say something like............"this it be right....ve need another autograph auction!!"
I shall let someone else win this time!!

[Horsaholic]

I can't stop thinking/crying over this .. I also would like to help with a donation.. Can a paypal account be opened somewhere soon? My heart goes out to those horses

[LongLeaf]

Is there anyone in the Flemingsburg area? There's an auction yard there - Farmers Stockyards, Inc. that accepts horses. Could be that the Rameys will try to "dump" some of the sick/injured there? Might be worth attending a sale this weekend to see if they are there. Kentucy Auctions

[EponaRoan]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Boston Chicken:
OK need help. I am supposed to call the producer back with the top 3-5 issues the story would uncover for viewers. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

There's also the possiblity that some of the horses purchased at auction that were on that truck could be stolen horses - someone's pet. NetPosse has been discussing that.

http://www.netposse.com

[stegall]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> I loff you guys. Who has contacted the relevant politicians? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Coreene-good idea...however, with a caveat. If anyone decides to contact their legislator for pursing something at the state level, I would urge you to take a step back first, and be organized. Just calling your legislator and demanding they do something will likley be unproductive (or in a worst case scenario, pass something that wasn't what you wanted at all).

In any event-do some research first. Most states are online. Find out what your state laws cover regarding transport of livestock/horses. (you may even find a spot to request for expansion if you are lucky). Then, once you have established what you do or do not already have in your state, then think very carefully what you would like to see happen, and how you can explain this to your legislator (who is most likely NOT a horse person).

You also need to find out when your state is in session. As an example, CT is not in session until Jan.

I am giving a lecture on legislation for horsepeople at Equine Affaire in MA in Nov (And no, I want to stress this is NOT a plug).
Having been in the grassroots trenches for many years, I have learned a lot about creating legislation, and want to share with horsepeople when possible.

But, that's just my soapbox topic for now. If anyone has questions regarding contacting your legislator, feel free to email/PT me.
(and I am referring to legislation re the transport of horses, not the actual slaughter of horses, which is a separate issue (and being addressed on the federal level at the moment) )

This is my special talent to offer in support-can't say I can be helpful about anything else on this issue (especially since our other COTHERS have done such a fine job already)

[My Own Barn]

Well I have talked to the news editors at the Cincinnati Enquirer and gotten nowhere. They really aren't that interested in the story. They think it's just me being a horsey girl again!

BUT we just started this new web thing where people can go to our site (www.enquirer.com) and type in "submit" in the keyword search box. Then you guys can submit the story and maybe that will help them get a move on. I hope.

[Willem]

I haff beed verrie bizzy greeting der new horsjes to der Bridge. This it be wrong that they be here all ready, aber we haffed ein partie fur them wot it been wunnerful.

Wenn you haff place fur die moneys to go to, tell mein modder Coreene (I still loff her), und she haff auction wot it beed suggested by EquineLaundry (I loff her alzo). Then Coreene she can leave der fotos under die magic tree, wot it be bigger now becose it be part off mein Memorial Garden und it getts Miracle Grow, und then I sign der fotos. This wot it be magic, don't nott to ask me to splain this to you.

Loff Willem.

[irishchick]

Boston Chicken,

Awesome! Sorry this is quick, but here are some suggestions:

1. obviously, the inhumane treatment suffered by animals used for food. Specifically, the long trips in overcrowded conditions without food, water, rest, or shelter from excess heat/cold, where tall animals (like horses) cannot stand up straight, and where no attention is paid to injuries or illnesses.

2. the fact that THIS IS ALL LEGAL. Our current laws contain too many loopholes to be effective. See http://www.horse-protection.org/transport.php (note: if you watch the video and don't have a strong stomach, be aware that they shoot the calf at the end)



3. (possibly) how unnecessary all of this is--compare to European laws which are much more protective.

As for what we want--I think it would be best to focus on humane treatment and not get too hung up on calling for an end to all horse slaughter. Calling for a complete ban on horse slaughter leads to tricky questions about why horses should be treated differently from other animals which suffer just as much. In contrast, calling for humane treatment is a more realistic goal that is much harder to oppose. How could any one disagree that, whatever you think about horse slaughter in principle, the current process is absolutely, inexcusably barbaric?



Finally, while not specifically related to this particular incident, here is a list of pending legislation related to animal welfare:

http://www.farmsanctuary.org/campaign/legislation.htm

And, here is a website that you can use to email your national representatives:

http://capwiz.com/congressorg/dbq/officials/

[Shire]

Hello everyone,
Much as I hate to admit it these days, I'm here in Ky. I'm angered by what has happened and would love to assist in making changes. Media awareness is wonderful. I'm glad that there is as much covereage as there is right now.
As a former reporter and if I were still in the Biz, I will tell you where my slant of this story goes.
As horrible as slaughtering of horses is, it mainly is a gruesome topic for the average person watching news. We, as media professionals, love to sensationalize, however the story is sensational enough on it's basic merits. It's going to be hard to have any news program to run such a story delving into slaughtering practices. Especially when we don't know if those horses on the trailer are now on the farm..... or at the packing plant.
Potential touch points for the media:
1. 60 head of horses is just too many animals in a trailer, of any sort. It's inhumane for the animal. It's dangerous to other people sharing the road.
2. Why is it known that these truckers use these side roads to avoid the weight stations? Why isn't there an investigation of this? Where is the crackdown. If the road is dangerous, why aren't big rigs forbidden to use that route?
3. The truck driver, according to some sources, had no log book. Why isn't he fined? Why isn't he fined for transporting horses in these conditions? Where is the ongoing investigation of this incident? Where is the police in the process?
4. Why were the horses re-loaded into another trailer before being stabilized, as one source reported? Why did no one check coggins paperwork? Why were they allowed to cross state lines?
5. In July, Kentucky had closed the borders to some states due to the outbreak of vesticular stomitis in Colorado, Texas, etc. Now, these horses are taken into Kentucky without the paperwork? I mean, the Dept of Ag agents were swarming the Kentucky Horse Park in July/Aug. People are asked for their negative EIA paperwork everywhere... How did they miss this one?
6.It seems to me that the slant of this story can also be the lack of enforcement of any current laws on the books. Don't pass new laws, enforce the ones we have. Don't let this happen again.
I would be surprised if the Today Show would run a story on the horrors of slaughter. (Come on, it's a morning talk show... look at their demographics. Half of us can't visit the slaughter house awareness websites without being sick!) However, I do think the entire incident is worthy of investigation. Let's focus on being proactive. Where do we go from here. Kentucky is the 'horse capitol' of the world..... why are we so behind when in comes to animal welfare?
By the way, where is the USDA on this issue? Why aren't there any charges?
One side note, I personally don't believe that these horses were meant to be 'riding mounts' since there was a mare and foal on the truck. Here's another bit of my logic. Let's look at it financially. 60 head of horses, let's say we're going to buy for $500 dollars each(bottom dollar, probably even killer price).... These people invested $30,000 and loaded them in the equivalant of a pig truck....I somehow don't think these people are that rich and ignorant.
What I'd really like to know is exactly where in MN did the horses come from (IE what sale.) And what is the name on the check that purchased these horses? Dollars to donuts, if you dig enough you'll find a connection to the meat packers. How many legitimate horse owners haul our horses in this style? Now gauge how many horses are hauled this way to the killers.... It's a pretty easy conclusion.
Finally, I'll put my money where my mouth is. I'll snoop around a bit and see what we can find out.
Further, if these people are legitimately trying to sell these horses. I'm willing to represent our non-profit in writing a check to purchase a few.

Thank you all for caring enough about the horses to pursue this. May each of these horses find homes and may all of our current and future horses never face such a fate.

Regards,
Stacy