| Texas A & M fined for transport violations: Deluxe transport to slaughter but horse found dead | ||||||||
AA has gained information
through a Freedom of information Act Request (FOIA) that powerfully underscores
the cruelty of horse slaughter on U.S. soil. Under the most ideal conditions
possible - including watering stops during single-deck transport, less packed
conditions and multiple cameras with a team of monitors - a horse died in the
bottom of a trailer during transport. The study adds to ever increasing evidence
that demonstrates horse slaughter cannot be 'improved' into something that is
humane.
The subject of the FOIA is a graduate program study orchestrated by Texas
A&M University veterinary professor Dr. Ted H. Friend. The USDA paid for the
study. A kill buyer was chosen and TX A&M transported his horses for free to
the slaughter plant. The study was designed to 'improve' transport to slaughter
by "relieving transport stress." Specifically, the study was to document the
effect of providing water to horses in transport at 8 hour intervals.
In his statement, Dr. Friend said that 8 hours was, "the most
frequent interval that we could reasonably expect truckers to stop to water
horses." USDA regulations require checking all horses every six hours.
The researchers would also
be taking blood samples to monitor stress levels in the horses. However, no
blood sample was taken from the horse that later died.
Monte Clark of CO, a well
known kill buyer, was the owner of the 26 horses. Texas A&M acted as
shipper/transporter of the horses, moving them at no charge from Hudson, CO to
Dallas Crown in Kaufman, TX.
Conditions were as ideal
as possible. There had been several practice runs before the
study began. A&M used a specially outfitted trailer with 12 video cameras,
lighting and watering system.
There were 2 drivers
instead of the usual 1 seen on most hauls, and 3 graduate students that followed
the trailer to monitor the cameras and water the horses. The professor stated that "our densest compartment [of the trailer]
could be increased by 60% and still be under what the USDA considers to be
acceptable density."
As unlikely as it sounds,
all involved stated that cameras and lighting in the trailer "malfunctioned"
where the dead horse was, though the cameras in other parts of the trailer
continued to work properly.
AA believes it is due the
presence of a USDA APHIS inspector at the slaughter plant that documentation of
the incident exists. He stated that he "overheard" a graduate student telling
the plant manager a trailer with a dead horse had arrived. APHIS inspectors are
responsible for enforcement of transport to slaughter regulations (9 CFR, Part
88).
In his affidavit it is the driver who most frankly describes
the journey's start. He seems more in touch with the condition of
horses as they were being loaded in CO than the 'experts', recalling,
"[S]ome horses had cuts
above their eyes or cheeks. The horse that fell was one of our main concerns. He
did not seem to be in too good of health. He was walking real slow and hair was
fallen out. But [ the] owners son, if I am not mistaken said the horse would be
alright for the trip....I may not know too much about horses, but I myself know
when one is not in good health...."
Student 1 ends his affidavit by saying, "Many of the horses
transported to slaughter look pretty bad and this one [the horse that died] did
not look any worse off than the majority. I know in the future we will not be
transporting any horses that have blood in their urine."
A second graduate student
gave an affidavit and also describes the pen of horses with
"lower limb deformities". He remembers that the palomino gelding in question had
"abnormally long, curly hair" and "appeared lethargic". However, neither of the
graduate students in veterinary medicine hesitated when the decision was made to
load this horse.
The trip took approx. 18
hours with one stop for watering the horses in Amarillo.
Temperatures inside the trailer reached 97 degrees. Texas A & M was
later fined $2,000 for failure to "at least once
every six hours check on the physical conditions of all horses," and for
incomplete owner/shipper certifications showing any prior conditions of the
horse that arrived dead.
During the stop in
Amarillo, the students monitoring the cameras stated they were having problems
with the lighting system of the trailer and did not notice any horses down in
the trailer.
According to the APHIS
inspector's affidavit, he "did not ask if there was any [video] tape of the
horses or the dead horse" received that day. No explanation was provided.
Nobody took blood samples from the dead horse.
Conclusion:
A university study with
watering stops, lower loading density and video camera monitoring, select
horses, yet still a horse dies during transport - How bad is the reality of
typical transport to slaughter with nothing that approaches such luxuries? These
transports were planned for months, test runs were conducted at the university
and graduate students in veterinary medicine were monitoring the horses' welfare
en route.
Still this poor
horse died a grim death. According to Monte Clark, the
palomino was, "going to the right place." No doubt giving horses water is an
improvement, but does it make horse slaughter humane? According to every bit of
evidence Animals' Angels has gathered since 2006, the answer is unquestionably
No.
This is from Animals' Angels the famed international animal welfare organization that gets the story. Follow this link to their web site to find many more stories just as shocking as this one. This is a wonderful organization to help if you possibly can.
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Related articles
- Mr President, You Promised! (goldendays-suzanne.blogspot.com)
- I Wouldn't Ask You To Sign a Laundry Slip (goldendays-suzanne.blogspot.com)
- New USDA Transportation Regulations for Slaughter-Bound Horses Applauded (rtfitch.wordpress.com)
- For Horse Lovers Everywhere: The Truth About Horse Slaughter (rtfitch.wordpress.com)
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