Downed Filly Shipped to Slaughter

The Trip to Texas is at Least 30 hours.
The Trip to Canada is at Least 12 Hours.

This mare was down at a Pennsylvania auction on Monday, April 6, 1998. The Humane League of Lancaster County received several calls concerning a downed horse at the auction. Upon arrival the humane agent summoned a veterinarian, who determined  the mare could make the trip to a Canadian or Texas slaughterhouse. The mare was sent to the Pennsylvania auction from Virginia.

A photographer and a reporter from the Associated Press, AP, both observed this filly down. In the words of the AP reporter, her photographer was "manhandled" by auction personel up to the office and asked to leave.

VETERINARIAN'S OATH -- Adopted by the AVMA July, 1969

Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health, the relief of animal suffering, promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge. I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity, and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics. I accept as a lifelong obligation the continual improvement of my professional knowledge and competence.

PA Anti-Cruelty Law, Title 18, Section 5511

(d) Selling or using disabled horse.--A person commits a summary offense if he offers for sale or sells any horse, which by reason of debility, disease or lameness, or for other cause, could not be worked or used without violating the laws against cruelty to animals, or leads, rides, drives or transports any such horse for any purpose, except that of conveying the horse to the nearest available appropriate facility for its humane keeping or destruction or for medical or surgical treatment. 

An auction sells horses, it does not provide medical or surgical treatment, it is not a facility for a horse's humane keeping, nor does it destroy horses.

And how in the world could this auction be considered the,
"nearest available appropriate facility" ???

An auction SELLS horses.

Look up the word "auction" in the dictionary.

For More Information On Equine Euthanasia Visit The AVMA's Page On Pet Loss:

EQUINE EUTHANASIA

More Information on Slaughter, Rendering and Disposal of Carcass

PA Rendering Companies

PA Dead Animal Act

PA Law regarding Removal of Dead Animals- Is it Against PA Law to Bury Your Horse?

Questions

Does the Humane League of Lancaster County have an equine vet on retainer, or a relationship with an equine vet who will respond when called and testify in court?

If not, why?

Why would a law enforcement agency depend on a vet who does most of their work with local livestock owners?

Would this vet testify in court under oath that this filly could be used or worked?

Why not seize this filly by obtaining a search warrant, or under exigent circumstances since the evidence, the filly, is in danger of being removed?

At that time the Humane League could have their own equine vet, if they have one, examine the filly.

Update

In 1996 the EPN started to document the conditions at PA horse auctions. We contacted the Humane League of Lancaster County, the Humane Society of the US, the Large Animal Protection Society, the New Holland Police Department, the PA SPCA and the media in an attempt to have the PA laws regarding horse cruelty enforced at PA horse auctions, all to no avail. Not until 1998 when the PA State Police responded to complaints did conditions at the auctions slowly begin to improve.

As far as the EPN is aware, until the PA State Police brought charges in September 1999, the PA law against selling sick, lame, and debilitated horses had never been enforced.

Time and again the EPN contacted the above agencies and provided hip numbers, pen locations, descriptions of the horses, and their condition. If the agency responded, and if they called a vet, the question that was always asked was,

Can the horse make the trip?

The vet would invariably respond that yes the horse could make the trip as long as the horse was "gated off" by itself from other horses. Time and time again we insisted that the law was not being read correctly and the wrong question was being asked of the vet.

Finally after the PSP started responding to complaints did other law enforcement agencies begin to read the entire law and ask the right questions. Other agencies have filed charges and convictions have resulted. In 2002 the PA Department of Agriculture published a brochure, Fit to Sale?