KILL BUYER PREDATORS ARRESTED. HORSE PEOPLE BEWARE.

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KILL BUYERS CHARLES AND LORI FISHER, (below first pictured) 900 Lockport Road, Lewistown, Pennsyvania

Charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty at New Holland that led to the deaths of two horses and left a third in a weakened and sickly condition.

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Charles N Lori Fisher Face Book Profile ~ HERE

PATTY SHERWOOD (lower right corner of above photo) of 100 Tigger Lane, McClure , criminal partner. Face Book Profile ~ HERE

PATTY SHERWOOD

Miracles Happen for Horses Face Book Page ~ HERE

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Three horse dealers charged with animal cruelty in case that left two mares dead, a third emaciated and sickly

This chestnut-colored horse, now named Anastasia’s Ally, is one of three found in late July in a severely emaciated state in New Holland and is the only one of the three to survive. The 17-year-old mare is recuperating at a horse rescue farm in Woodbine, Maryland.

By TOM KNAPP | Staff Writer

A Mifflin County couple and a Snyder County woman have been charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty in New Holland that led to the deaths of two horses and left a third in a weakened and sickly condition.

Charles and Lori Fisher of 900 Lockport Road, Lewistown, and Patty Sherwood of 100 Tigger Lane, McClure, were each cited in connection with an incident July 27 outside a New Holland auction house.

According to citations provided by District Judge Rodney Hartman’s office, the defendants were involved with transporting or arranging transport to New Holland of three Arabian-type horses — a roan-colored, a dark bay-colored and a chestnut-colored mare — in “an inhumane manner.”

Because of the “severely dilapidated condition” of the horses, none of them were able to sustain their own weight during transport, the citations say. All three horses were described in the documents as emaciated and lethargic.

The roan horse sustained nerve damage to its leg when it fell, and the bay suffered “further stress and deterioration,” the citations say. Both had to be euthanized.

The 17-year-old chestnut mare survived.

Additional charges of animal cruelty include:

• Depriving the horses of necessary sustenance and veterinary care.

The defendants, the citations say, buy and sell horses frequently and “should have had sufficient understanding” of their medical needs.

• Selling or arranging to sell the animals.

Because of their poor condition, the citations state, the horses “could not be worked or used without violating the laws against cruelty to animals.”

Assistant District Attorney Christine Wilson will prosecute the case against the Fishers and Sherwood, according to the citations.

Each defendant is charged with nine separate instances of animal cruelty in connection with the incident. The DA’s office is asking that each defendant be ordered to pay restitution totaling $4,500 for the horses’ care.

Susan Martin, director of the Lancaster County SPCA, said the animal shelter got involved after receiving a tip about the transaction.

Martin said the horses were allegedly being sold on a Sunday evening in the parking lot at New Holland Sales Stables, 101 W. Fulton St.

The defendants apparently were hoping to sell the horses to a Florida-based horse rescue group, Martin said; she noted that the transaction took place during off-hours at the auction house.

“The auction had nothing to do with this,” Martin said. “They just met in their parking lot.”

The SPCA took immediate custody of the horses, she said, and Brandywine Valley Veterinary Hospital in Coatesville stabilized them and provided critical care treatment for the surviving mare for three weeks.

“Out of the three, only one survived. That’s pretty bad,” Martin said. “The other two were put down right away, the next day.”

According to information provided by the SPCA, the surviving horse was taken on Aug. 13 to Days End Farm Horse Rescue in Woodbine, Maryland.

“She had to go somewhere she could get round-the-clock care,” Martin said.

A release from DEFHR said the horse had a body condition score of 1 (on a scale of 1 to 9, with 1 being extremely emaciated), as well as severe parasite infestation and rain rot.

She has been named Anastasia’s Ally and is recovering.

“She will need extensive critical care for up to 90 days,” the statement, from DEFHR development director Caroline Robertson, said. “Her rehabilitative care will take several months before she will be ready to be evaluated for adoption.”

Martin said the SPCA, which is most often associated with dogs and cats, does get a significant number of calls about other animals, from baby alligators to draft horses.

They’ve handled about a dozen horse-cruelty cases in the past month and a half, Martin said — this was by far the worst she’s seen, and is the only case where any horses had to be euthanized.

Lancaster County SPCA is planning a benefit trail ride Oct. 25 in Lancaster County Central Park to help offset the mare’s rehabilitative costs. Details on the event will be posted online at lancasterspca.org.

More information on DEFHR, a nonprofit organization, is available at defhr.org.

http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/three-horse-dealers-charged-with-animal-cruelty-in-case-that/article_16c92e44-36d7-11e4-b1c9-001a4bcf6878.html

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A trio of horse dealers in Pennsylvania are facing multiple animal cruelty charges after they allegedly attempted to sell three allegedly maltreated animals through a New Holland, Pennsylvania, auction.

A spokesperson for the Lancaster County Courts said that Charles and Lori Fisher and Patty Sherwood each face multiple animal cruelty charges stemming from the alleged July sale of three horses through the New Holland auction. The spokesperson said the Fishers and Sherwood attempted to transport and sell three allegedly maltreated mares. Of those, two animals died. A third is receiving rehabilitative care.

Authorities subsequently charged the Fishers with multiple animal cruelty counts, multiple counts of transporting an animal in a cruel manner, and using a disabled animal. Sherwood is charged with multiple animal cruelty counts as well as three counts of transporting an animal in a cruel manner and three counts of using a disabled animal.

The Fishers and Sherwood were unavailable for comment.

Lancaster County Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Director Susan Martin said her agency led the investigation into the incident. An anonymous call resulted in the organization’s involvement, she said, declining to comment further.

The case remains pending.

http://www.thehorse.com/articles/34526/pennsylvania-horse-dealers-face-animal-cruelty-charges

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Patty Sherwood, Charles Fisher, Lori Fisher

09/09/2014 16:40

Patty Sherwood,  Charles Fisher,  Lori Fisher – Pennsylvania/

Pennsylvania horse sellers charged with animal cruelty in deaths of two horses

27 animal cruelty citations issued to 3 people in New Holland incidents

Read more: http://www.animal-voices.com/news/fisher/

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Pennsylvania horse sellers charged with animal cruelty in deaths of two horses

Two emaciated and lethargic Arabian horses had to be humanely euthanized in an alleged case of animal cruelty on July 27 involving three Pennsylvania horse brokers reported LancasterOnline.com.

Brandywine Valley Veterinary Hospital, Dr. James Holt, in Coatesville provided emergency care for the two horses and treated the surviving mare for three weeks.

The surviving horse, a 17-year-old mare, was transferred to Days End Farm Horse Rescue in Woodbine, Maryland on August 13 for around the clock care. Personnel evaluated the horse’s condition to be a “1” on the horse body rating Henneke scale. (“1” being the worst)

Charged with nine counts each of transporting horses in a cruel manner, using a disabled animal and animal cruelty, are horse brokers Charles and Lori Fisher, of Mifflen County and Patty Sherwood, of Snyder County.

According to the Lancaster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, an anonymous call reported that three emaciated horses standing in the New Holland auction parking lot in horrible conditions were about to be transported. There are no horse auctions at New Holland on Sundays when the incident occurred.

On one of the horses, humanely euthanized, the citation stated:

“Transportation of said horse caused the horse to fall down in the trailer while being hauled.

One was “extremely emaciated and lethargic.” A second horse “was unable to sustain its weight for transport due to the emaciated state.” The surviving roan mare was “in severely dilapidated” condition according to the published report.

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http://www.examiner.com/article/pennsylvania-horse-sellers-charged-with-animal-cruelty-deaths-of-two-horses

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Animals’ Angels USA shared a LINK. September 8 We’re thrilled to see charges finally filed in this horrific case!

 

USDA DEfunds Horse Slaughter Plant Inspections in 2014 Budget

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Breaking News From | Equine Welfare Alliance

Secretary Vilsack has added language to the FY14 budget submission to DEFUND HORSE INSPECTIONS. While this does not impact the current budget, it is a clear indication that the USDA recognizes the dangers to our food supply and exports into the foreign food supply if horse slaughter was to resume in the US.

This is the first time the USDA has actually included the defunding language in the budget request.

A huge thank you to Secretary Vilsack for backing up his recent statements by making food safety a top priority in addition to not wanting to spend tax dollars inspecting horse slaughter facilities.

Here is the language:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/Appendix

Page 197 of Dept. of Agriculture Appendix

 

SEC. 725. None of the funds made available in this Act may be used to pay the salaries or expenses of personnel to-(1) inspect horses under section 3 of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 603); (2) inspect horses under section 903 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 1901 note; Public Law 104127); or (3) implement or enforce section 352.19 of title 9, Code of Federal Regulations.

Send an Automatic Letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack ~ Prevent Horse Slaughter

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Advocates Opposing Horse Slaughter… This is a fast, easy action to take for Our Horses.

CLICK HERE to send an Automatic Letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack.

The Animal Welfare Institute applauds Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack for joining AWI and the majority of Americans who feel there are better, more humane, more responsible options for horses nearing the end of their lives or their careers than being slaughtered for meat.

Secretary Vilsack, while speaking with reporters earlier this week, called on Congress to come up with other ways for this country to handle aging horses than to slaughter them for meat for human consumption. Secretary Vilsack, a former governor of Iowa, noted that in his home state horses work with inmates in prisons, and that this helps prisoners acquire job skills for when they rejoin society.

An additional factor that weighs heavily in favor of Secretary Vilsack’s call for humane alternatives is the federal government’s growing budgetary crisis. If the Department of Agriculture were to resume inspection of horse slaughter facilities—something it has not done for several years—the department would be forced to divert limited manpower and funding in order to finance the effort because Congress did not provide additional funding when it removed the annual prohibition on inspecting these facilities.  The timing could not be worse, given the current congressional emphasis on shrinking, not expanding, government expenditures.

“A recent national survey found that over 80 percent of Americans support a ban on horse slaughter and Secretary Vilsack is right in representing that position,” said Heyde. “AWI urges everyone who supports an end to horse slaughter in favor of more humane and responsible alternatives to write Secretary Vilsack and urge him to work with Congress on passage of the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act.”

Please share this AWI eAlert with family, friends and coworkers, and encourage them to write too. As always, thank you for your help; your action does make a difference!

Horse Slaughter Debate Not Over in Oklahoma

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Background | Tulsa World

Oklahoma lawmakers and Gov. Mary Fallin might have thought that quick passage of the horse slaughter bill would bring the controversy to an end. Instead, they probably just guaranteed that the controversy will continue to drag on, perhaps for years.
And the awful irony is we might have had to endure this dreadful experience, and the damage it’s done to our already lousy reputation, for naught   –  because there’s a good chance Oklahoma will never end up with a horse slaughterhouse. Let’s hope so, anyway.

But perhaps there might be at least one good outcome from this awful chapter in our legislative history: If Tulsa World readers follow through with their vows, lots of those lawmakers who supported horse slaughter and blithely ignored the wishes of voters might get booted out of office. (To learn how lawmakers voted go to http://www.tulsaworld.com/horsevote or http://www.tulsaworld.com/senatehorse.)

Several developments in recent years could mean there won’t be a slaughterhouse anywhere in the U.S. any time soon: pending federal legislation; stricter requirements for exported horse meat; persistent documentation issues, and a growing meat-fraud scandal.

And, there’s a growing movement across the country, articulated by the nation’s top agricultural official, to find a solution other than slaughter for managing the country’s horse population.

Just a few weeks ago, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack called for developing a “third way” to deal with unwanted or unneeded horses.

Vilsack called on Congress to “come up with a better solution for handling unwanted horses than slaughtering the animals for meat for human consumption.”
Vilsack’s agency is reviewing five applications for slaughterhouses, including reportedly one from Oklahoma, although it is unclear if the Oklahoma application is still being pursued.

The secretary wasn’t specific about what he meant by a third option, but suggested as examples that these horses could be used in programs to help returning war veterans or prison inmates.

Apparently a number of federal lawmakers agree with his stance. Pending federal legislation would ban the slaughter of American horses for human consumption and prohibit transporting them across the U.S. border to Mexican and Canadian slaughterhouses.

The measure, called the Safeguard American Food Exports Act, is in part a response to reports that horse meat has been found in food products in Europe and wrongly identified as beef.

Russia to ban meat from most Canadian and Mexican suppliers

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New meat labels would specify where cows and pigs were born, raised and  slaughtered. Canada and Mexico claim it is protectionism and have filed  objections with World Trade Organization

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Background | Equine Welfare Alliance

Drovers

Russia plans to ban meat imports from most Canadian and Mexican suppliers from April 8 over concerns about the use of the feed additive ractopamine, Russia’s veterinary and phytosanitary service (VPSS) said on Friday.

“More than 50 percent of Canadian companies will be excluded from the list of suppliers,” VPSS spokesman Alexei Alekseenko said.

Russia also plans to ban about 80 percent of Mexican meat importers from April 8, Interfax news agency reported earlier on Friday, citing the head of VPSS Sergei Dankvert.

Canada was the largest pork supplier to Russia and accounted for 25 percent of its imports in 2012, Sergei Yushin, head of Russia’s National Meat Association, told Reuters. About 5 percent of imported beef came to Russia from Mexico last year.

VPSS’s list of Canadian pork suppliers, published on its website http://www.fsvps.ru, includes about 88 companies, while the list for Mexico includes 20 names. A VPSS spokesman could not comment on whether these lists had been updated.

Used as a growth stimulant to make meat leaner, ractopamine is banned in some countries over concerns that residues could remain in the meat and cause health problems, despite scientific evidence indicating that it is safe.

Since December, Russia has only accepted meat from Canadian livestock that were never fed ractopamine – which was already a tiny portion of the cattle herd, said John Masswohl, director of government and international relations at the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association.

Now Russia will only accept meat from ractopamine-free animals that are processed in Canadian plants that do not also handle livestock that have been raised on the stimulant – and such plants do not exist in Canada, Masswohl said.

“You’re taking a very bad existing situation, which limits (beef) trade to almost nothing, and making it nothing.”

Cargill Ltd and JBS USA Holdings Inc, are the biggest beef packers in Canada.

“Our government is disappointed that despite our collaborative efforts, the Russian government is moving forward with this measure not rooted in science,” said Canadian Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, in an email statement to Reuters. “We continue to work aggressively with Canadian industry to restore their access into the important Russian market.”

Russia is a small, but fast-growing market for Canadian beef, worth about C$15 million ($14.7 million) in 2011. Russia is the third-largest market for Canadian pork, worth about C$500 million a year, said Jacques Pomerleau, executive director of Canada Pork International, a marketing promotion agency.

Click HERE for the Russian site on Mexico that specifically calls out horse meat.  Rosselkhoznadzor / Import. Export.Transit. Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance.

New York Daily News

Meat labels will include where animal was born and slaughtered, irking Canada and Mexico.

If the feds get their way, meats on supermarket shelves will include some  unappetizing details, such as where the animal was slaughtered.

Find that stomach-turning?

Better get used to it: Labels on meat products sold in the U.S. could soon  read like a sad mini-biography of the ranch-raised beasts.

In a little-known regulatory action that has produced a storm of criticism,  the U.S. Department of Agriculture has moved to rework how meats are sold at  retailers, including grocery stores, are labeled. Under the Obama administration’s  plan, meats would have to include labels informing the consumer where the animal  was born, raised and slaughtered.

The USDA touts it as a thrust toward transparency that will benefit  consumers. But outraged critics, including Canada and Mexico — the leading beef  exporters to the U.S. — and retailers themselves, howl that the proposed rules  are thinly veiled protectionism.