Equine Protection Network
www.equineprotectionnetwork.com
www.saveamericashorses.com

PA Horse Cruelty Cases
EPN Appears in Horse Book!
Second Chances-Amazing Horse Rescues by Lynne Caulket
2 HoofPAC Alerts:
AAEP Survey
French Turn Away From Horsemeat

***********************************************
State Line Tack Joins IGive.com!

Support the EPN by shopping online at Igive.com!
Over 500 of your favorite stores!

When new supporters use the EPN join Link to join IGive, the EPN is
automatically pre-selected to benefit!
The EPN join link is listed below & is also on our website

http://www.igive.com/EPN

Remember, shop At IGive.com! Your purchases support the EPN!

***********************************
PA Horse Cruelty Cases

Parkesburg Woman Convicted of Cruelty to Pony

Victoria L. Mullen was found guilty of one count of cruelty to
horses after a one hour hearing by District Justice Gill in
Parkesburg Court on March 24, 2004. Mullen was convicted of wantonly
abusing & illtreating a 42 year old brown and white pony on February
3, 2003.

The Large Animal Protection Society, LAPS, filed charges against
Mullen on April 24, 2003 after taking over the cruelty investigation
started by the East Fallowfield Police Department.

East Fallowfield Police, EFPD, responded to a complaint on February
2, 2003 of a pony being dragged along the road. A local Chester
County horse welfare organization assisted EFPD & LAPS, and also
testified in court for the prosecution. Two officers from EFPD also
testified in court against Mullen.

The pony, named Sparky by LAPS, was described as a 1 on the Henneke
Scale by an equine veterinarian from New Bolton Center who examined
the pony and testified in court on Wednesday. According to the vet,
there was no underlying conditions or illnesses that caused Sparky's
emaciated & dehydrated condition. Sparky's teeth were also in bad
condition.

According to the vet Sparky gained 50 to 60lbs the first week after
being taken into custody by LAPS.

Mullen testified that on February 2, 2003 she had a vet out to her
barn to examine another horse owned by her that was down, and to
immunize her two other horses. The downed horse was euthanised.
Questioned as to why she didn't have the vet examine Sparky, she
answered that "she was in a hurry".

Mullen also stated that she had purchased the pony when he was 32
years old & had owned him for the past 8 years. Mullen indicated she
purchased him so that her grandchildren would become involved with
horses in the hope that they would not become involved with drugs.
Mullen maintained that it was "not her fault" and that, "she loved
the pony". Mullen also claimed that she had not seen the pony in
awhile, and that her friends were caring for the pony.

Mullen was fined $100.00 plus court costs for the cruelty she
inflicted upon Sparky, a 42 year old pony. Mullen's daughter, Tracy
Hammond has not responded to the charges filed against her on April
24, 2003, the same day as her mother was cited for cruelty to
horses. Reportedly a bench warrant has been issued.

Upcoming Hearings:

Man Convicted of Previous Horse Cruelty Cases Due in Court Again

Lorrenzo Ricobonno is scheduled to appear in court again on horse
cruelty charges on April 6, 2004 in Gap, PA. Riccobono has been
previously convicted of cruelty to horses dating back to 1998.
Various law enforcement agencies, including the PA State Police have
investigated and prosecuted Riccobono. In the latest cruelty case,
the Large Animal Protection Society, LAPS, is handling the
investigation.

Several of the horses owned by Riccobono that have been the subject
of these cruelty investigations have died or have had to be
euthanised.

******************

Horse Cruelty & Felony Assault Charges Filed Against Donald L. Hess

March 30, 2003 9:30 AM in Quarryville, PA District Justice Stuart
Milin is presiding.

The Large Animal Protection Society, LAPS, has filed four charges of
cruelty to horses against Donald L. Hess, Lancaster, PA. The PA
State Police have also filed several charges against Hess, including
Aggravated Assault on two PA State Police troopers, a felony in PA.

On February 11, 2004 LAPS served a search warrant on the property
where Hess had maintained a brown Morgan type mare aged 18 to 20 in
a confined area that was approximatley six feet by six feet for 2
and a half months. While LAPS was attempting to execute the search
warrant to seize the mare as evidence, Hess assaulted two
Pennsylvania State Troopers. The PA State Police have filed several
additional charges against Hess, besides the 4 charges filed by LAPS.

The mare was in manure that was 10" deep in some places, was
dehydrated, and had untreated lymphagitis in both hind legs. Hess
has been charged with failure to provide necessary vet care, water,
and sanitary shelter. Hess also has 2 pending charges against him
for shelter for the mare and a donkey. The donkey died before a
warrant could be obtained to seize him as evidence.

**************

Humane Society of Harrisburg, PA cruelty case involving 8 horses &
various other animals is scheduled for a hearing in April, 2004.
Robert Allen & Dianne Allen, Newville, PA are the defendents in the
case.

PA Cruelty Law: Title 18, Section 5511(c)
§ 5511. Cruelty to animals

(c) Cruelty to animals.--A person commits a summary offense if he
wantonly or cruelly illtreats, overloads, beats, otherwise abuses
any animal, or neglects any animal as to which he has a duty of
care, whether belonging to himself or otherwise, or abandons any
animal, or deprives any animal of necessary sustenance, drink,
shelter or veterinary care, or access to clean and sanitary shelter
which will protect the animal against inclement weather and preserve
the animal's body heat and keep it dry. This subsection shall not
apply to activity undertaken in normal agricultural operation

****************************************

EPN Merchandise is available at:

http://www.cafeshops.com/equineprotet6

The EPN receives on average $2.00 for each purchase.

Shopping at the EPN Online Shopping Mall Raises Funds for the EPN
including Back in the Saddle & Jeffers Equine:

http://www.equineprotectionnetwork.com/saveamericashorses/store.htm

**********************************************************
An entire chapter of this book came from the EPN!
You can purchase this book online at Amazon. com
Thank you Lynne!

Second Chances: Amazing Horse Rescues

by Lynne M. Caulkett

On Amazon.com


Book Description

The love of animals can touch our lives. Often we learn life's most
valuable lessons from our four-legged friends. But sometimes that
love is met with ruthless abuse, neglect and mistreatment. In this
collection of uplifting stories for all ages, you will meet some
remarkable horses who have lived through unthinkable pain and
suffering, but because of some special "angels" who weren't afraid
to get involved, have triumphed over the pain they endured to be
given a "Second Chance".
You will feel their pain and then celebrate their joy as they
journey from abuse to the safety of loving hands and hearts. Their
stories are nothing less than miracles, and their spirits are
inspiring.


Product Details

Paperback: 152 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 0.35 x 8.50 x 5.50
Publisher: Universal Publishers; (December 2003)
ISBN: 1581125526


*********************************************************
HoofPAC Alert #1

HoofPAC ALERT - AAEP Survey

In December 1997, The California Equine Council, member of HoofPAC,
sent a mailer to the California members of the American Association
of Equine Practitioners.

455 letters with return postcards were mailed to California AAEP
members asking them to participate in a blind study on equine
euthanasia. See below.

SAMPLE SURVEY:

# OF EQUINE EUTHANASIAS PERFORMED (FOR ANY REASON) IN 1996.......
# OF VETERINARIANS @ CLINIC/PRACTICE...... EUTHANASIA FEE......
CARCASS DISPOSAL AVAILABLE: RENDER...... LANDFILL...... OTHER......
ASSIGNING THE RATING SCALE OF 1,2,3,&4, THE BREAKDOWN OF YOUR
PRACTICE:
RECREATIONAL/PLEASURE......PRO/COMPETITIVE......WORKING......RACING..
....
DO THE MAJORITY OF YOUR CLIENTELE EUTHANIZE OR SELL THEIR HORSE TO
SLAUGHTER WHEN THEY NEED TO BE PUT DOWN?.............
WOULD YOU CONSIDER YOUR LOCALE: URBAN...... SUBURBAN......
RURAL......

CONCLUSION:
95 or 21% of the 455 were filled out and returned. 21% response is
very good.

CONCLUSION:
There were 2,065 equine euthanasias, excluding clinics and
universities, performed by 21% of the respondents in l996.

CONCLUSION:
Average euthanasia fee: $60.00* (Excluding call or emergency fee.)

CONCLUSION:
72% dispose of carcass by rendering
14% dispose of carcass by landfill
13% dispose of carcass by back hoe*
(*75% from rural areas/25% from suburban/rural areas.)

CONCLUSION:
48% suburban locale and practice
37% rural locale and practice
15% urban locale and practice

CONCLUSION:
46% of practice recreational/pleasure
33% of practice professional/competitive
14% of practice working
8% of practice racing*
(*consistent in that practice was either primarily racing or
smallest percentage of practice.)

CONCLUSION:
93% of practitioner's clientele euthanize
7% of practitioner's clientele 50% euthanize and 50% slaughter*
(*70% of this response from rural practices.)

SUMMARY:
California AAEP clientele is predominately comprised of pleasure and
recreational owners (46%) who humanely euthanize their horses (93%)
and have the carcass hauled and rendered (72%).

RENDERING:
There are 15 licensed tallow companies in California, 12 of which
accept horse carcasses. Per Dr. Don Franco, resident, National
Renderer's Association and Mike Koweler, President, Pacific Coast
Renderer's Association, an additional ten thousand horses a year
would not be burdensome, would not negatively affect byproduct and
would in fact be welcome business. Further, any one plant could
accommodate this number of horses in one week. These same rendering
plants also do collections throughout the state, i.e., Darling goes
as far North as Modesto and as far South as Bakersfield. NOTE: The
State of California euthanizes and renders approximately 600,000
dogs and cats annually in addition to (statistics unavailable)
enormous numbers of dairy and cattle. Horses would be
inconsequential.

LANDFILLS:
In California there are 217 City, County and Private Landfills.
Fifty percent (50%) would accept house pets (cats/dogs) and twelve
(12%) or 25 sites would accept large animal carcasses such as
horses. There are an eleven (11) additional possibilities located in
Kern County.

HAULING:
There are nineteen (l9) licensed dead haulers in the State of
California. Each of the nineteen collect throughout multiple
counties via satellite pickups.

Keep America's Horses In The Stable... And Off The Table!

For information please contact: savethehorse@...

Thank you for caring about America's horses,
Cathleen Doyle, founder
HoofPAC

Join us today at www.HoofPAC.com and go to our HoofPAC Store at
www.HoofPAC.com and purchase merchandising which will help support
the campaign.

Thank You.
Please post or send out through other e-mail lists.

*****************************************
Children's Horse Books to Benefit the EPN!

The EPN appreciates the generous donation by Syncopated Press of
several copies of the children's books," Heart, Hoof, & Soul" and "
Forelocks, Fetlocks & Horse Tales" to the EPN.

Your purchases of these books help to support the EPN in our efforts
to improve the welfare of horses and to end horse slaughter.

http://www.equineprotectionnetwork.com/book.htm

*******************************************


HoofPAC ALERT #2

FRENCH TURN AWAY FROM HORSEMEAT
Horse and Hound, Isobel Walsh, Feb. 13, 2004
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/article.php?aid=47882&cid=397


Despite a downturn in the consumption of horsemeat in France, animal
welfare organizations protest that as many as 850 horses are still
eaten each day. Recent figures showing that the consumption of
horsemeat in France has decreased hugely over the last two years
have failed to pacify horse welfare organizations.

The consumption of horsemeat in France was down by 17% in 2002, and
slumped a further 10% in 2003. There are less than 1,000 horse
butchers in the country, falling from 1,300 such specialist outlets
in 1999.

The decrease in horsemeat consumption in France is considered to be
as a result of health concerns. Although many people turned to
horsemeat during the BSE crisis in the late 90s, on the advice of a
government veterinary committee, horsemeat is now banned from
restaurants throughout the country.

But the Ethical Association of the Horse, a welfare organization
which has a range of mottos all enforcing the view that a horse
ought not to be eaten, maintains that as many as 850 horses are
still eaten each day in France (as many as 310,000 every year).

The association says that the status of the horse has changed and
that he has become a companion rather than a slave. "Since man has
created a special bond with the horse, through sport and leisure, we
should respect its entity." The association's brief continues: "We
ask those who do not have the immense privilege of having a horse as
a companion to respect this extraordinary creature, noble by its
excellence . . . which through the centuries has shared not only
man's work . . . but also his follies of war and even his fight for
liberty."

The history of the consumption of horsemeat has trodden a stony path
in France. Originally forbidden by the Roman Catholic Church, it was
never entirely eliminated, and enjoyed a huge resurgence in the 19th
century, when famine and poverty were rife, and it was officially
legalized by the public authorities. The nutritional value of the
meat and the low cost quickly swayed public opinion, and by 1866 the
first specialist horse butcher had appeared in the country's capital.

Nowadays times are changing all over the world. The status of
animals has changed significantly and celebrities everywhere are
championing their cause. Animal welfare organizations in France are
increasingly opposed to the slaughter of horses for human
consumption, not least because of the conditions they endure being
transported to the abattoirs and at the abattoirs themselves.

There was outrage recently, when the national stud in Annecy
produced a "Bourgignon de poulain" - foal stew - at an open day
lunch for 250 guests. But many in the industry claim that the
majority of heavy horses bred in France nowadays are intended for
slaughter. Indeed, some maintain that if it weren't for the
horsemeat industry, many draught breeds would have disappeared
altogether. The Ethical Association of the Horse dismisses this
claim, arguing that if anything, it would have contributed to the
disappearance of lighter breeds in favor of fleshier animals. Above
all, it stands by its motto, whatever the size of the horse: "Non un
Cheval, ça ne se mange pas" - A horse is not for eating.

Keep America's Horses In The Stable... And Off The Table!

For information please contact: savethehorse@...

Thank you for caring about America's horses,
Cathleen Doyle, founder
HoofPAC

Join us today at www.HoofPAC.com and go to our HoofPAC Store at
www.HoofPAC.com and purchase merchandising which will help support
the campaign.

Thank You.