No More Homeless Pets Forum
January 10, 2005

Horses, Cows, & Chickens -- Oh My!

What can you do when help is needed for "farm animals"? Susan Wagner of Equine Advocates and Kim Sturla of Animal Place talk about where to find help and how to care for rescued horses, cows, chickens, and other "farm animals."

Introduction from Susan Wagner:

In this week's forum, I can help you better understand why the horse is so beloved in the U.S., but yet is considered to be the most abused domestic animal. I will explain in detail how to rescue a horse and take you on a tour of Safe Home Sanctuary, where every horse has a story and represents an important issue with which Equine Advocates is involved. I'll tell you about the Grumpy Old Men's Pasture, where a group of aged but truly lovable geldings spend most of their time; the South Beach Field, where everyone is on a diet; and Comedy Central, where the mules hang out.

Please join this week's forum if you want to learn more about equine issues from the horse slaughter and Premarin industries, to natural horsemanship, to equine adoption, to handling a horse or mule who was badly abused.

Introduction from Kim Sturla:

If you want to know the sure way to win over a pig, I have the secret, belly rubs and donuts! If you have to restrain a pig, it is a little more difficult, but doable. And if you have to round up 50 chickens to transport them to safety, I can share tricks of the trade. So, whether you want to transport a herd of goats, need to know what to feed a flock of turkeys, or are investigating the housing of rabbits, I can share with you my insights and experiences. Hopefully, I can also get some tips from you!

Questions

Helping farm animals and wildlife peacefully coexist
Caring for geriatric farm animals
When a farm animal companion passes on
Knowing when to say when to taking in more critters
Finding a good large animal veterinarian
Getting horses out of a sticky situation
Where to turn for a cold and lonely pig
Training to be a more effective rescuer
Are horses being slaughtered for pet food?
There's more than one way to shear a sheep
Keeping farm animals securely confined
Is it okay if the public interacts with sanctuary animals?
The wild horse situation in America today

Helping farm animals and wildlife peacefully coexist

Comment from Kathy:

I also worried about my horses hurting themselves in holes. Many years ago I read in a magazine article about putting used cat litter in ground hog holes. I've used that method ever since. After learning a friend's brother had an exterminator out and was unsuccessful in removing the ground hogs (thankfully), I suggested the used cat litter. It took a couple of small garbage bags full, but they relocated. Remember we live in the country, but a former neighbor used to bury the cats' litter in their yard and never had a problem with moles. It really, really works.

Comment from Laura:

Recently I had a coyote problem. I sure don't want to kill it, as was suggested to me by the conservation department, who said they were too smart to trap. I went on a question search to every group I could find. Here's what was suggested to me, and I checked into it and it's true... Lion's poop! If you have a local zoo and can get some then you spread it around and any animal will stay away I think I would too!!!

I'm in the process of moving, but plan on trying this little suggestion since where I am moving is thick with coyotes. For now, my one coyote friend and I are co-existing together, pretty much in harmony...

Caring for geriatric farm animals

Question from Laura:

I have two Hampshire male (neutered) pigs. One is 5-1/2 and the other is 6 years old. Keagan is about 900 lbs and Sebastian is about 1200 lbs. I've had them since they were piglets. I have them on a high fiber-low fat diet that has been especially made for the Wilderness Ranch Farm Animal Sanctuary in Colorado.

Now that they are getting older, I would like to network with others who have older farm pigs and obtain or create a 'best practices' guide for older pigs. Is there anything like this already out there? The Wilderness Ranch is closing, so I want to network the best I can in order to give my boys the best life possible in their elder years. I would like any information about massage techniques, acu-pressure, etc. Would a warmer climate be better for them in their later years (We live in Colorado)? I am very, very blessed to have them in my life.

Response from Kim:

Yes, it seems you are definitely overfeeding Keagan and Sebastian! And, being overweight is not healthy for humans or porcines! Pigs raised for food production, unfortunately, have a short life span; few live beyond 10-years of age. So your boys are middle age and plump and perhaps should go on a weight reduction diet.

Here are a few tips to insure your geriatric pigs lead a comfortable life in their senior years:

- Diet: At Animal Place, we feed our pigs primarily fresh fruits and veggies. They receive a small amount of pig pellets just as a supplement. But, I don't think you can improve upon a diet of fresh produce. Many grocery stores will donate their day-old produce; it just means taking on the responsibility of picking it up daily.

- Liquid: Keeping pigs hydrated during the warm summer months is important, especially as they age. The best way to make sure they are getting sufficient fluids is to mix fruit juice with water. We use a low ratio of 5 parts water to 1 part juice. A large size adult pig will enthusiastically drink 1-2 quarts a day. We have learned that neutered male pot bellied pigs commonly suffer from bladder stones. The best preventive measure is to increase their fluid intake. I have not, however, heard this to be true of full-size neutered male pigs, but we take the extra precaution and offer all the male porcines fruit juice mixture.

- Bedding: All pigs need a deep bedding of straw. However, as they get older (and heavier) the thick bedding material becomes increasingly more important.

- Arthritis: Aging pigs commonly suffer from joint pain. Pigs have been bred to put on weight quickly, because they slaughter them at 6 months of age. We have tried many different pain remedies at Animal Place. Tylenol provides some relief and prescription phenobutazole seems to work the best. Glucosamine and Chondroitin are advisable as a preventive.

- Temperature: I do not know how cold it gets where you live. But, certainly keeping your barn warm and draft-free during winter months is a good idea. I would not use heat lamps due to fire danger, but other options exist. For our aging pigs, we have used several hot water bottles and then cover them with straw and several blankets. You can also make hot pads that you heat in the microwave. They are made with towels sewn together and stuffed with uncooked rice or other substances that will hold the heat. They act as heating pads. You can also purchase the commercially made large electric heating pads for livestock, but I am always fearful of using any electrical heating element inside a barn. A thick bedding of fresh straw allows pigs to burrow underneath and that can keep them quite toasty. I have looked into the barn stalls on cold winter nights and the all I can see is a huge lump of straw! No pigs to be found... except maybe a single cloven hoof peeking out!

Response from Susan:

We at Equine Advocates only deal with horses, ponies, donkeys and mules. However, what I would like to say is that just as with aged pigs, horses also require special care when they reach their golden years. That is true with every animal species when they are newborn or elderly. They have changing needs and require special care.

I always tell people that our animals are our greatest teachers. The horse in the photo with me that appears at http://www.bestfriends.com/nomorehomelesspets/weeklyforum/bioswagner.cfm is Gandalf, the first horse I ever rescued. Gandalf was already aged when I rescued him over twelve years ago but he was thirty-five when he died, quite old for a horse. From what I was told, Gandalf did not have a good life. He had spent most of his years as a "horse for hire" at a riding academy before being purchased by a zoological institution for a petting zoo. However, the curators wanted to unload him soon after he got there because, according to them, "...he did not fit in with the program..." Like many horses in this country, Gandalf had joined the ranks of the "unwanted". Luckily, I was able to rescue him before he ended up in the wrong hands. I did not know at the time that rescuing him would literally change the direction of my life.

As he grew older, Gandalf began to lose weight and developed other problems. His body shape began to change. However, I have to say that aged equines have a much better chance of living longer, quality lives today than they did twenty years ago. In addition to having more information about older horses, in general, we have a huge variety of wonderful senior feeds that even toothless equines can eat and which are both nutritious and can help them successfully keep weight on.

Gandalf taught me how to recognize problems in other horses because of the ones that he had. I cannot stress more strongly how important it is to have a great veterinarian. Unfortunately, many can only seem to handle a situation if it is apparent. However, I have found only the very best equine veterinarians have the talent and capability to diagnose certain problems, which can often mean the difference between life and death. (You can actually say the same thing about veterinarians for all animals.) Try to find a veterinarian who is a good diagnostician.

The following is a list of problems that can occur in older horses and some younger ones as well: Arthritis, Cushing's Disease, loss of appetite, muscle and/or weight loss, colic, infected teeth, no teeth, swelling in the legs and other parts of the body, hair loss, dull coat, worms, heaves and/or other respiratory problems, age-related lameness, kidney disorders, neuritis, blindness, hearing loss, hoof deterioration, laminitis, circulatory and digestive problems, frequent or abnormal urination, chronic diarrhea, cancer, etc.

A good veterinarian will help you with a schedule for regular examinations and check-ups. With older horses, some may need certain exams more often than others, such as dental, for example. Good quality food and hay, a regular worming schedule, good grooming, regular farriery (blacksmith) care, moderate to light exercise (hand-walking is fine) and good supplements, etc. are important elements to ensure the quality of life for the older equine. (Horses who have no teeth may not be able to eat hay at all. In those cases, a high quality senior feed, such as Blue Seal Vintage Senior, which we use, combined with supplements and possibly an oil and/or beet pulp, can help to keep weight on the animal).

I love old horses. In fact most of the horses that we have at Safe Home Sanctuary are aged or cannot be ridden either due to an injury, common in performance and race horses, or from having been abused and/or neglected, common in mares and foals from pregnant mares' urine (PMU) factory farms, overworked Amish buggy horses, work horses and mules, camp horses, school horses, urban carriage horses, etc.

Equines who are used for commercial purposes or in competitions are often sold or discarded when they can no longer perform. Sadly, some do not make it to old age, and the ones who do, often receive a trip to the slaughterhouse as "thanks" for their years of service. Journey, a mare pony who had been used as a camp horse in Rhode Island, was shipped all the way to a slaughter auction in New Holland, PA, to be sold for meat. (We named her Journey because she had traveled so far.) She was at least twenty-five years old and it was apparent that she has received little to no care. Her feet were too long, her coat was dull, she was covered with sores and she was thin. It was on that day that I had an undercover camera crew from Fox News with me. I purchased Journey from the dealer who brought there. Her story was televised in a two-part series on the tragic fate of most camp horses. Like her name, Journey's story carried far.

When a farm animal companion passes on

Question from Chris:

My wife and I adopted three pigs (all spayed) a couple of years ago, and we hope to add a couple of llamas soon. These of course are all pets, same as our cats and dogs. I've always wondered what we'll do from a practical standpoint when they die. We're considering burial or are there crematory facilities for larger animals? I hate the idea of sending a large animal to a rendering facility. What other options are there? Also, do you have a special resting place at your sanctuaries?

Response from Kim:

Your options will depend upon where you live. At Animal Place we bury the animals. The equipment you need is a tractor with a backhoe. If you do not have one, you can rent one for a day at most equipment rental companies. There are crematory facilities that will accept large animals. You just need to call those near you to inquire. We do not accept other people's animals at Animal Place for burial.

Response from Susan:

This is one of the hardest issues with which to deal, as we consider all of our horses a part of our family. When we lose one, even if it is due to old age, it is never easy.

In order to bury any large animal, you have to either live in or have an area picked out where burial is permitted. There are guidelines that then must be followed. For instance, in some areas, it is required that the carcass be covered by at least two feet of dirt and that the site of burial should be at least 100 yards from all wells and streams to prevent water contamination. However, even if you were allowed to bury an animal in your area, it would be impossible to do that at certain times of the year in those parts of the country where the ground freezes. When that happens, one has no other options other than cremation or rendering.

There are crematoriums throughout the United States, and while it is an expensive process, particularly if you have to pay a hauler to transport the animal to the facility, it is well worth it. However, not all crematories can accommodate a carcass as large as a horse.

Rendering is not something any of us likes to do, but it is a useful option if you cannot bury or cremate the animal. If you search the Internet, you will be able to find crematories and animal cemeteries in your area.

To find out if you may legally bury an animal in your area and what specific guidelines must be followed, contact the Natural Resources Conservation Service. For information about burials and cremation contact, the International Association of Pet Cemeteries. To find out more about rendering, contact the National Renderer's Association. Valley Protein is one of the larger rendering plants in the northeast, for example. You might even contact them if you live in that part of the country.

I would like to take this opportunity to make an important point about horse slaughter and how it relates to this subject. Horse slaughter is not and never will be a form of humane euthanasia. A lethal injection administered by a licensed veterinarian is. There are some people who like to use the erroneous argument that slaughter is the only way that horses should be put to death, because it is too difficult to remove or bury a large animal carcass. That simply is not true. Large animals die all the time on farms. For a fee, rendering plants will pick up equine, bovine and other large animal carcasses. Cremation and burial (where permitted) are also good options. For burial of a large animal, such as a horse, you will need a piece of equipment known as a backhoe, in order to dig a hole that is deep enough and large enough. If you do not own one, a backhoe can be easily rented, especially if you are in a rural area... or sometimes a local farmer might have one and do it for you. With cremation, one needs to find a way to transport the body to the facility.

Knowing when to say when to taking in more critters

Question from Fran:

It seems too many well-intentioned people start sanctuaries only to find themselves in over their heads with rescues and intakes. How do you determine the number of animals you can save (house, feed, provide medical and general care) and how do you handle (and emotionally come to terms with) turning animals away?

Would you briefly explain how you balance/prioritize rescue/sanctuary work with education (making the public/legislature aware of your cause, building a donor and volunteer base, and bringing about change in the way animals are treated) particularly as it relates to a newly established sanctuary?

How does a small sanctuary maintain fiscal health and live within its resource means with so many animals in need of rescue and a safe haven?

Response from Kim:

I don't have a simple answer for this excellent question. Starting a sanctuary is probably one of the toughest challenges. Most people get into animal rescue work because they care so deeply and want to save lives. They are not necessarily interested in running an organization. But, you quickly find, that if you want a financially stable and viable organization, you do need a business plan. I strongly recommend contacting your local Non-profit Resource Center. They are located throughout the United States and are an excellent resource. They offer workshops for affordable prices that cover everything, including Board development, grant writing, fundraising, employee management, computer training, etc.

With respect to your question about determining the number of animals we can save... we base those decisions on our acreage, barn space, money and staffing. Over the 15 years Animal Place has been in existence, we have expanded on all of the above.

Balancing rescue work with preventive education programs has always been foremost in my mind. I cannot justify spending a lot of money to rescue a couple hundred animals while ignoring the millions whom we cannot save. Further, sanctuaries are excellent educational tools, and I believe those of us operating sanctuaries must maximize their educational value. Animal Place recently expanded its education programs and just published our Barnyard Campus Catalogue. This 28-page booklet lists all the sanctuary happenings in 2005 -- farm tours, vegan cooking classes, volunteer training dates, farmed animal workshops and more.

Response from Susan:

This country is so fortunate to have some really terrific animal sanctuaries that take great care of their animals and set wonderful examples for the way animals should live and how they should be treated and handled. I agree, however, that while well intentioned, some people do get in over their heads when starting a sanctuary. Some become "collectors" and end up harming the very animals they intended to protect.

Our staff and Board all agreed that we would never attempt opening a sanctuary unless we were completely ready to take on this huge responsibility. Equine Advocates had been in existence for over eight years before we decided to establish our sanctuary in upstate New York. If we could not have done it right, we would not have done it at all. I can say with confidence, that Equine Advocates' Safe Home Equine Rescue & Sanctuary is a solid and well-run operation.

One has to set limits on the number of animals a sanctuary can accommodate. This not only applies to the room and budget that is available, but also to the employees and help who are there to care for the animals properly. Before we moved horses into the sanctuary, we kept our horses in boarding facilities and in foster homes. We are still doing that; and while we would like to eventually discontinue boarding horses, we always hope to have good foster homes on call for animals waiting to come into the sanctuary. We have plans to build a small barn complex on the property as a quarantine area and for animals that are rescued under emergency circumstances. For years, we would send those animals directly to an equine hospital for evaluation before allowing any contact with our other horses. We will have to continue doing that until we build a quarantine area away from our other horses, so as not to expose them to Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA), strangles, lice or any other contagious diseases or parasites.

We try to help every situation that comes up whether we can take the horse(s) involved or not. We have been fortunate to be able to network with several very good equine organizations around the country. We help each other all the time; they have taken horses because of us and Equine Advocates has taken horses because of them. We also try to advise people about other options and how to solve a problem themselves.

Some of the worst situations are created by individuals known as "indiscriminate backyard breeders" who basically just breed horses to sell, and if they cannot sell them, they take them to the slaughter auctions. The Amish are among the biggest offenders of indiscriminate breeding. We have rescued over two hundred equines just from Amish farms alone. Another such case, in Ohio, involved a person (not Amish) from whom we bought several horses in order to prevent them from going to a meat auction. After having numerous discussions about stopping this indiscriminate breeding, we finally had to discontinue dealing with this person. The only way to stop people like this is for state initiatives and federal legislation to be passed that would end horse slaughter once and for all. That would take away the ability for people to get rid of their unwanted horses quickly and for a profit. If that happened, it would put a stop to these irresponsible breeding practices.

Education and public awareness are key to protecting and taking care of horses. The reality is that the 35 horses who live at our sanctuary are ambassadors for the ones who still need to be saved. We cannot help all of them, but we can teach people how they can do their part and make a difference. Now that we have the sanctuary, we have new opportunities to have more direct contact with the public and our supporters. We are still in the very early stages of setting it up, but we plan to hold seminars on equine adoption, care, natural horsemanship, and other areas of equine protection and equine issues. However, for the most part, we will have to reach most people through the mail and the Internet.

The sanctuary is a major part of what we do, but we are first and foremost horse advocates. So we hope to be able to illustrate more clearly the issues affecting horses today by telling the stories of those who live at the sanctuary. Every face tells a story. Our web site is www.equineadvocates.com. We have been a non-profit and tax exempt organization since our inception in 1996. Like all non-profits, we depend on public support to continue our investigations, rescue operations and maintenance of our sanctuary. To receive our most recent mailing, please contact us at equineadvocates@mindspring.com or write/call us at Equine Advocates, P.O. Box 354, Chatham, NY 12037, (518) 245-1599.

Finding a good large animal veterinarian

Question from Justin:

How do you find veterinary help for your animals, particularly difficult cases? How do you find a doctor experienced and motivated to save an animal that our society largely deems disposable?

Response from Susan:

The legendary movie star, Mae West, once said, "A good man is hard to find". Unfortunately, the same can sometimes be said for equine veterinarians. Right now, we deal with about ten different veterinarians regularly, because we have horses in a variety of locations. Since 1996, we have had some wonderful experiences with vets and some really terrible ones.

I mentioned in one of my other responses that finding a vet who is a good diagnostician is difficult, but that it could make the difference between life and death. I had the heartbreaking experience of learning about Cushing's Disease in older horses the hard way. I had noticed one day that the groin on one of our older geldings was enlarged. I called the vet we were using at the time and he said it was nothing. I called him again because it was not getting any better. A simple blood test taken at the time when I first called him would have revealed that the horse had Cushing's Disease. The horse could have been put on medication right away, which would have prevented the terrible effects that he had to suffer three months later as a result of his foundering due to the disease. I had learned through this experience that all older horses should be tested for Cushing's Disease regularly, even if they do not exhibit the usual symptoms. Ultimately the horse had to be hospitalized and had to be put down. I believe that had that veterinarian been more observant, that particular horse might still be alive today.

When dealing with a new vet, I always make sure that he or she understands that the value of the lives of our rescued horses are every bit as valuable and precious as high-priced race horses or show horses. It is true, that some vets do not feel that way, and if they don't, then you should not use them. That is one of the things I like so much about the equine veterinarians at Cornell University Hospital in Ithaca, New York. They are top notch, and they have remarkable facilities. We have also had good experiences with Ohio State University Hospital and with Tufts University Hospital. Unfortunately, in a real emergency, Cornell, which is the closest to us, is over four hours away. However, we are fortunate right now to have a really wonderful vet who can answer all of our calls and is located less than twenty minutes away. Although this vet does not have an operating facility, he can handle most of our routine work and can get our horses into a good equine hospital, if necessary.

The best advice I can give people is to get good references and talk to people about the vets that they use. If you have a serious problem where you feel that the vet acted improperly or seriously mishandled a case, you can lodge a formal complaint with the Office of Professional Discipline in your state.

Response from Kim:

Finding high quality large animal veterinarians has been easy for Animal Place, because we are located just 20 miles from UC Davis. Most of our animals are taken there for diagnosis and treatment. We have a couple of large animal veterinarians in private practice that we use, but often, we find that we need specialists and the proper diagnostic equipment. Therefore, more often than not we are transporting the animals to UC Davis. Working closely with other sanctuaries who rescue farmed animals is also a big help to us, United Poultry Concerns, Wilderness Ranch (before they closed) and Farm Sanctuary. Since most farmed animals are raised to be slaughtered at a young age, large animal vets do not often see the medical issues that we deal with. I have learned as much from my colleagues as I have from veterinarians when it comes to troubleshooting an ailment, making a diagnosis, or determining what pain relief will work best.

Getting horses out of a sticky situation

Question from Jeff and Pam:

We have driven by this small corral near our home for a couple of years now, it seems that the conditions worsen as they acquire more horses. The owner has hauled in clay-like fill for this corral to build it up, possibly to raise the elevation. As a result, every time it rains or snows there are a number of horses that have no place to escape this mud bog. We don't know if they're being fed or watered properly but we can see they don't have the room to live a healthy life that a horse deserves. We would like to have this corral looked at by someone who can determine if these horses are in danger. The location is Magna, Utah. We believe that he has other animals but we do not know their living conditions. Where, and how, should we get started?

Response from Susan:

This is a difficult situation, but we deal with them all the time. Somehow, one needs to find a way to get on to the property and often a good imagination is necessary. I am not encouraging anyone to break the law or to trespass, but if you can obtain photos of the area and can show that the horses do not have food and/or potable water, or that they have live lice, then a formal complaint can be made and a warrant can be issued by the proper authorities to enter the property and conduct an inspection. It would be advisable to contact the local humane society or SPCA and ask a humane officer to go there. It is possible that they may have received complaints before from other people. Also, the state police are required by law to respond to cruelty complaints. The problem in most states is that unless an animal is down or exhibiting obvious pain or distress, the cruelty laws do not allow for those animals to be seized. If you cannot get any results from the state police or the local shelters, then I would contact the media. As a last resort, and if all else fails, there is nothing better than having a reporter call the police or the local humane societies and inquire as to why the conditions at a particular place in their area have been allowed to deteriorate.

Where to turn for a cold and lonely pig

Question from Katt:

I live in upstate NY, where there is much snow and very cold weather. On my way to work I passed a poor pig out in an open pen with no shelter of any kind. If I drop off a large wooden crate and a couple of bales of hay for him, would that provide adequate shelter for the kind of winter weather we get here? Or should I contact the local authorities with an animal cruelty report? Frankly, I am not likely to get much of a response from them.

Response from Kim:

I dealt with a similar situation in California last year. An adult pig was left in a muddy pasture with no graze, no shelter, no care. He was skin and bones when I went out to investigate after receiving a call from a concerned neighbor who contacted animal control, but nothing happened. After investigating myself, I filed a cruelty complaint with our animal control department. Animal Place received custody of the pig within 48 hours. Bruce, the starving pig we rescued, is now doing very well. He has put on a lot of weight, has several pig pals, and enjoys fresh produce, a warm barn with lots of straw, and loving caretakers. If only all cruelty cases had happy endings.

I should mention, though, that I first tried speaking with the guardian of the pig. I asked him if he would consider letting Animal Place take over his care. Since he said no, I pursued the legal route.

In your situation, I suggest visiting the site again and taking photographs and documenting in writing what you see. Next, find out what the anti cruelty laws are in New York. Call your local SPCA and animal control department and ask them to intervene. Actually, you first might want to call Farm Sanctuary and ask for their assistance, since they are located in your state; they should be a great resource.

I think it is important to work at either getting the pig removed from the situation or seeing if the guardians are receptive to improving the animal's care. Oftentimes animal neglect is the result of ignorance.

Training to be a more effective rescuer

Question from Cherie:

I'm curious about whether veterinary technician training would be a good and worthwhile background to bring to rescue, or are other skills needed as much or more? I don't have the training yet, but am thinking of it.

Response from Susan:

I think that vet tech training is an excellent quality to have, and in many ways gives you an advantage of being able to deal with medical emergency situations better than the average person because of the veterinary training that you would have acquired.

However, if you talking about establishing a rescue facility or sanctuary, you will need other attributes as well. One of the most important is tenacity. It is true that while many rescues and other non-profit organizations are started by people who have a lot of money behind them, I can tell you that I was not one of those people. In fact, for the first few years, I didn't know whether we would survive. It has only been over the past five years out of nearly nine, that I can now say that we are really on our way. Dedication is also a necessary quality that you must have.

Whether you start your own rescue or work for one, you will never make a lot of money yourself. This is a humanitarian pursuit and personal wealth, is not something that you will ever reach in the field of animal rescue. With that said, I can tell you from experience that while there is not a lot of monetary gain, you will earn a great deal of satisfaction from the work itself. I can say that we at Equine Advocates have made a huge difference in the lives of hundreds of horses, most of whom would have been brutally slaughtered had we not come to their rescue. My sense of satisfaction in placing a pony in a loving home, or saving a blind gelding who would have otherwise been sent to a slaughter auction, or traveling to Canada, as we have done many times, and rescuing the last forty-six mares on a PMU factory farm that closes its doors forever is a feeling that is priceless.

Having business sense is important, but when you are dealing with rescue, sometimes you have to make something happen that seems to be impossible at the time. You have to get on the phone and raise money for your project or emergency even if you start with none. I remember in 1997, having to raise $15,000 so that we could go to court and save twenty-seven camp horses and ponies from being sold to a killer buyer. We did it, and we found homes for all of them as well. It was our first major rescue operation and news of the rescue appeared in the local papers nearly every day for about a month. From that point, we began to develop a reputation for doing good work. I believe that one not only has to be imaginative and creative, but you also must possess the drive and determination to convince others to want to help and give money to your cause. I do not know if that is something that can be taught. It has to come from your heart and you have to be able to communicate that urgent need for the animals you are trying to help. I believe that the public in general will support an organization because of the person or persons who head it, simply because they trust them and feel that they have integrity. I would not be telling the truth if I said that funding was not a concern. Every day is a challenge to raise the funding to keep the organization and the sanctuary going. The difference is that now we have more support and many more members. There will always be emergencies, animals to rescue and money to raise, but if you can demonstrate that you can get the job done and prove that yours is an organization that is making a difference, the support will come over time. You have to be completely dedicated and have a clear vision for what you want to accomplish... then just go for it!

Response from Kim:

Absolutely veterinary tech training would be extremely valuable in any animal care field. The most important skills I find we need in rescue work are compassion, vigilance, and dependability. The best animal caretakers at Animal Place have the animal's needs first and foremost in their mind. And, equally important, they are mindful at all times... they notice if one hen seems listless, they are aware if one of the pigs didn't finish her breakfast, they pick up on the slightest change in the animal's behavior and then immediately follow up with a physical exam. Compassionate observation of the animals is essential. We can hire anybody to muck out a barn or rake a pasture. But, finding a committed and kind animal caretaker is priceless. Rarely does a day go by when I don't give thanks for having Varina Heilman supervising the Animal Place sanctuary.

Are horses being slaughtered for pet food?

Question from Chris:

I read somewhere that horses in the United States are slaughtered for human consumption. I always thought horsemeat was used in dog food. Why is it necessary to have a horse slaughter industry in this country when no one here eats it?

Response from Susan:

Horse slaughter is one of the major issues with which we are involved and we deal with it one way or another on a daily basis. The horse slaughter industry took off in the early 1970's when foreign interests saw the great potential of opening equine slaughter plants in the United States due to the massive equine over-population problem which existed here.

French, Belgian and Japanese owned and operated slaughterhouses opened for business to kill and butcher horses here and then export their meat for human consumption abroad. Horsemeat was and still is a delicacy, costing between $15 and $25 per pound. This became a secretive industry that most Americans knew nothing about. It flourished, because while Americans have always had a love affair with horses, most were unaware that horses were being over-bred by many factions of the horse industry, which resulted in hundreds of thousands of surplus equines.

By 1990, there were fourteen equine slaughterhouses operating in the United States with the majority of them in Texas... which is still the case, only today there are three remaining U.S plants with two in Texas and one in Illinois. U.S. bred equines were and still are being shipped live over the Canadian and Mexican borders for the purpose of slaughter. Horses from the northern part of the country are often shipped to Canada. Shelby, Montana is the site of one of the largest, and worst, equine feedlots in the nation. Horses are fattened and stockpiled there before being shipped to Canada for slaughter. In the northeast, Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds coming off the tracks in New York and New England, also often end up being shipped to Canada or sometimes they will go as far as Texas, depending on the killer buyer who purchases them.

Killer buyers are middlemen for the slaughter plants with quotas to fill. Every unwanted equine in this country is in danger of ending up at a slaughter auction and being sold for meat, including camp horses, race horses, Amish work horses, buggy horses & mules, urban carriage horses, donkeys, PMU mares & foals, former show horses, Arabians, ponies... they come from every possible background and from every state in the nation.

It is a myth that horses are being slaughtered for pet food. Very little is used, and all of it comes from horses who are slaughtered for human consumption. There are no plants operating in the U.S. that slaughter horses for dog food. In fact, the companies that produce dog and cat foods, make a very big point in their advertising to assure the public that the contents are only "pure beef" or "pure chicken." Americans are so repulsed by the thought of eating horses that they won't even feed it to their pets.

To answer the last part of your question, there is no need to have an equine slaughter industry in the United States and the fact is that the majority of Americans are strongly opposed to this vile practice. This is a cultural issue. Americans do not eat horses. They view their horses just as they do dogs and cats and strongly believe that a horse is entitled to a peaceful end through humane euthanasia, the same as is done with dogs and cats. If an election and vote on this issue were held today, horse slaughter would be banned without the need for a recount. We know this because every major state and nationwide poll that has been taken show that Americans are strongly opposed to this practice.

In 1998, a historic state initiative was passed in California prohibiting the slaughter of horses for human consumption. Since 1995, horse slaughter in the U.S. was on a steady decrease until recently when the numbers started going up again. The people who want to keep it legal are those involved in agri-business and some in the horse industry who want to be able get rid of their unwanted equines quickly and for a profit.

Sadly, two of the largest veterinary organizations in the nation are in favor of horse slaughter. Those organizations are the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). The American Horse Council (AHC) was once pro-slaughter, but now claims to be neutral. However, the fact is that many of the subsidiaries of the AHC, are strongly in favor of horse slaughter and are quite vocal about it. The American Farm Bureau Federation, the American Quarter Horse Association, the California Cattlemen's Association, the Professional Rodeo and Cowboys' Association, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, the American Welfare Council and a small group of other organizations are fighting to keep horse slaughter legal. However, there are thousands of organizations that oppose horse slaughter. It is just a matter of mobilizing and unifying the support of all of those groups and the American public in order to outlaw horse slaughter once and for all. Please write to your Senators and Representatives in Congress and let them know how you feel.

Comment from Dorothy:

My concern (and I am already in trouble with horse lovers here in my home state) is that when you stop horse slaughter here, you (and you have made this point) will only push it over the borders into Mexico and Canada. What makes you think that slaughterhouses unregulated by any US laws will be more humane than those that exist here? Is it more humane to load the horses onto ships and slaughter them outside the three-mile limit? I say, be careful what you wish for.

It would seem to me more realistic and, in the end, more humane to make sure our legislators carefully regulate the slaughterhouses here. We should not delight in the idea that we have accomplished the goal of not having horses slaughtered for food when we have only pushed it out of sight.

I should tell you I have only sent two horses to slaughter in 40 years of horse ownership and both were dangerous to humans. Out of the 15 horses I own, 8 are 19 years of age to 37 years of age. They
may no longer be as fast and surefooted as they were, but neither am I. I have owned the 37 yr. old for 33 of his 37 years, and when he dies both my husband and I will be inconsolable.

Response from Susan:

Proposition 6, the historic state initiative which passed in California in 1998 bans the slaughter of horses for human consumption in California and prohibits any equine from being shipped out of the state of California for the purpose of slaughter. The federal legislation that Equine Advocates would be supporting would not only ban horse slaughter for human consumption in the U.S., but would prohibit any equine from being transported live over the Canadian and Mexican borders or shipped across the seas for that purpose. There is nothing humane about horse slaughter. It is just a question of someone choosing a humane and dignified way for the horse to die or taking money to get rid of the animal quickly and for a profit. My feeling is that if you can afford to keep a horse you should be able to pay to humanely euthanize that horse.

There's more than one way to shear a sheep

Question from Patti:

Standard shearing procedures appear to be a very stressful, inhumane experience for sheep, although I've heard it is necessary to maintain the health of the sheep who are bred by humans to have unnaturally thick/long wool. How does your facility handle shearing and is hand shearing (shearing scissors) a kinder, gentler way if done correctly?

Response from Kim:

We have used several sheep shearers at Animal Place and always have a staff person monitor the hair cut. I am not sure whom you have used, but our experiences have been fairly positive. The two methods used with our sheep have been the cradling them on their back and leashing them to a grooming table. The later seems less stressful. Our shearers take their time... 30-40 minutes per sheep depending upon size and breed. It actually seems less stressful than when I groom my own dog! I do know of some sanctuaries that have rescued large number of sheep and the shearers they have used are working at a much faster pace and all the commotion can be fearful to the animals. Actually, catching the sheep the night before and confining them inside the barn seems to be the toughest part for them!

Comment from a member:

I took care of some rescued sheep and would take them to be sheared one by one, rather than in a group. I always felt good about the way they were handled, and recall a time when Wetherby, a Suffolk wether (castrated sheep are called wethers) was so relaxed while being sheared at an outdoor rig, that he was eating the grass around the station, whilst lying upside down. Can't be too stressful, I thought.

The status of the pregnant mare urine (PMU) industry

Question from Pat:

The PMU (pregnant mare urine) industry in Canada has undergone changes recently, due to the new information about post-menopausal women not really benefiting and possibly being harmed by taking Premarin. What has been happening to the unneeded and/or unwanted horses and what responsibility have the drug companies taken?

Response from Susan:

Sadly, PMU mares, foals and stallions are still being slaughtered, despite the fact that the industry has decreased significantly over the past two and a half years. This was due to the dramatic findings of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) of 2002 where it was revealed that women who took the hormone replacement drug, Prempro (Premarin plus Progesterone) were found to be at risk for:

* Increase in blood clots by 100%
* Increase for strokes by 41%
* Increase for heart attacks by 29%
* Increase for breast cancer by 26%
* Increase in heart disease by 22%
* Increased risk of dementia

We believed, as did many medical professionals that this was, in fact, the beginning of the end of the pregnant mares' urine (PMU) industry. How could doctors continue to prescribe these potentially dangerous drugs? Incredibly, many still are and there are large numbers of women who, despite all the negative findings, are still not aware of the risks involved or how horses are used in the production of PMU drugs. Since 1942, horses have had to suffer and be brutally slaughtered as part of the vicious "cycle of cruelty" involved in producing drugs made from PMU. We have all been reading of late about how the pharmaceutical company, Merck & Company voluntarily pulled its arthritis drug, Vioxx, off the market when it was discovered that it increased the risks of heart attacks and strokes. At least Merck voluntarily did it, and Vioxx had not been on the market for very long at all... certainly nowhere nearly as long as Prempro. Remember that Spike Lee film, "Do The Right Thing?" What will it take for the FDA and Wyeth to do the right thing?

Last year, we published a booklet called, "The End of the Line", meaning the horrific PMU lines that tens of thousands of mares have to endure during their pregnancies every year while their precious estrogen-rich urine is collected for the production of PMU drugs. I have been to Canada and have seen these PMU factory farms in operation. PMU production is a cruel and inhumane process that should be considered obsolete. There are so many cruelty-free alternatives to treat the symptoms of menopause, including synthetic forms of conjugated estrogens made from plant material. (Premarin is a form of conjugated estrogens made from horse urine). After the startling revelations of the WHI became public, we were cautiously optimistic that the PMU industry was on the way out... and so it seemed. One well-respected obstetrician told us, "There are confirmed reports that Wyeth is now working to produce a plant-based conjugated estrogen product." We were hoping that was the case and maybe it is. However, Wyeth is now peddling Prempro in lower doses and advertising it on television. They just won't stop!

I sincerely believe that we will live to see the day when this 63-year catastrophe for horses will come to an end. Until then, the rescues of PMU mares, foals and stallions will continue and tragically, so will the slaughter.

Keeping farm animals securely confined

Question from Michele:

I understand pigs can be difficult to keep confined, burrowing under fences, etc. What is the best type of fencing to use to keep pigs in their yard/pasture and should consideration be made in the type of foundation/flooring used in the barn as well? In general, what are your feelings about electric fencing to confine farmed animals?

Response from Kim:

My experience is that if we give pigs enough space and an enriching environment, they leave the fences alone. However, if you are limited on space, I find that using either field fencing or hog panels securing attached to metal field fencing posts is sufficient to keep pigs confined.

When pigs work at a fence, you are correct, they tend to root at the base, quickly working their snout underneath the wire and lifting it up. I do not have experience using an electric fence, so am unable to comment upon their effectiveness. It is my understanding that you can have it set with a low voltage so that the animal gets a mild shock. I think this is acceptable if other types of fencing have been tried and prove unsuccessful.

With respect to the type of flooring in a barn, it is important that pigs be either on a dirt floor or on stall pads. Straw bedding is needed for both. As with other livestock, a cement floor is not advisable unless you have stall pads on top. Remember that adult pigs spend the vast majority of their time lying down. In the winter months they, therefore, spend much of their time inside a barn. A deep cushion of straw is essential for their comfort and health. Additionally, older pigs often have difficulty sitting up from a lying position. They will thrash their body while trying to right themselves. Again, a thick bedding of straw not only cushions them but also allows them the ability to make a wedge of straw behind themselves against which they can lean. This helps to give them leverage when sitting up.

Is it okay if the public interacts with sanctuary animals?

Question from Susan:

I know that petting zoos and other County Fair-type attractions often exploit animals and treat them poorly. However, people relate with and respond better to animals with which they personally interact. How do you feel about sanctuaries and rescues allowing the public to pet, feed, or groom the residents and adoptables? Do these cause problems, or is it a good idea in order to further the cause and garnish donations?

Response from Kim:

Not only do I think it is a good idea to invite the public for educational tours of sanctuaries who care for farmed animals, I think it is essential. When someone comes nose to snout with pigs, to rub their belly, feed them a slice of apple and then learn how pigs are raised on factory farms, it is an experience they never forget. Sanctuaries provide the best educational tools we have. The visitor can see a free-roaming chicken taking a dust bath while learning about how laying hens (also called layers) are crammed into cages where they cannot even perch or spread their wings. Sanctuaries give us a positive environment while educating people about a horribly sad issue.

So, yes, I absolutely think it is a good idea to have sanctuaries for farmed animals open to the public IF the farm tours are educational and supervised, and IF those animals who care not to interact with humans have the freedom not to. The Animal Place residents look forward to the tours, as we invite visitors to bring healthy snacks for the animals. The people enjoy feeding the bunnies kale, the goats grapes, the cows apples, the chickens melons and the pigs all of the above!

The wild horse situation in America today

Question from Arthur:

I was recently appalled when I heard on the news that wild horses are going to be sold for slaughter. How can this happen when they are supposed to be protected? Haven't we as taxpayers been supporting programs and the public lands where they were being protected? What can we, as Americans, do to stop this from happening?

Response from Susan:

For years, the cattlemen have wanted the laws protecting our wild herds (in existence for over thirty-six years) to be lifted. Their greed was rewarded when Senator Conrad Burns (MT) slyly attached a rider (Section 142) to the omnibus Appropriations Bill, which recently passed both Houses of Congress. His goal to secure all public lands for cattle ranching, combined with the plans of others to drill for oil, have materialized into a giant death warrant for wild horses and burros. Unless this deadly legislation is repealed immediately, the U.S. government will be able to eliminate thousands of the remaining 37,000 wild horses off of the public lands (and the horses' rightful homes) so that the cattlemen can have their four million cattle graze there at the bargain rate of $1.49 per acre per month. That program is often referred to as the "Biggest Welfare Scam in America." We now have word that thousands of wild horses over the age of ten already in captivity on government "sanctuaries" have been separated and are being sent directly to slaughter.

In addition, the so-called Congressional Horse Caucus (with 59 members), not only failed to catch, act and remove this disastrous language before the bill passed, but did not alert other members of Congress or any of the national animal welfare and equine protection organizations so that preventative measures could have been taken. With friends like these, our horses do not need enemies. A slaughterhouse in Illinois, which had burned down, was recently rebuilt and reopened under the Horse Caucus' "watch", bringing the number of equine slaughterhouses in this country from two back up to three. There are two operating in Texas.

Congress was asleep at the wheel. All of our taxpayer dollars which went into protecting our treasured wild herds for well over three decades have gone down the drain as President Bush signed legislation privatizing them with the stroke of a pen. The notion to try to force Americans to accept slaughter as a common practice will occur unless immediate steps are taken to reverse this dangerous trend. This is just the beginning. The U.S. government is now promoting and escalating the slaughter of America's horses. It appears as though Representatives Bob Goodlatte (VA) and Charles Stenholm (TX) are leading a pro-horse slaughter movement in Congress. Politicians with radical agendas like Senator Conrad Burns (MT) and others who want to destroy our wild horse and burro herds and allow them to be sold for slaughter need to be exposed.

To take immediate action, contact President Bush and let him know how upset you are by the sneaky and underhanded manner in which thirty-six years of wild horse and burro protection was lifted without a word, a warning or a hearing. Let him know that you oppose this legislation and want it repealed. Call the President at (202) 456-1111; Fax: (202) 456-2461 E-mail: President@WhiteHouse.gov and/or write to him at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500.

It is just as important that we convey the same messages to your U.S. Senators and Representatives. By visiting www.senate.gov and www.house.gov you will be able to download all their contact information. Please take action now and voice your opinion. That is the only hope we have in restoring the precious protection that was cruelly taken away without the American people's consent or knowledge. Equine Advocates will remain involved and on top of this issue. Stay tuned for more developments...

Note from Forum Moderator:

In our No More Homeless Pets Forum Archive you can find entire weeks dedicated to answering questions about "Knowing when to say when to taking in more critters" or starting a sanctuary and prioritizing your options, senior animals, co-existing with wildlife, finding volunteers, working with/increasing donors, etc.

Find the Archive at: http://www.bestfriends.org/nomorehomelesspets/weeklyforum/forumarchives.cfm.

Happy reading to those who are interested in learning more on these and many more animal-related topics. Thanks for being part of the solution for animals!

Horses, Cows, & Chickens -- Oh My!

Introduction from Susan Wagner:

Introduction from Kim Sturla:

Questions

Helping farm animals and wildlife peacefully coexist

Question from Charles:

Response from Susan:

Response from Kim:

Comment from Kathy:

Comment from Laura:

Caring for geriatric farm animals

Question from Laura:

Response from Kim:

Response from Susan:

When a farm animal companion passes on

Question from Chris:

Response from Kim:

Response from Susan:

Knowing when to say when to taking in more critters

Question from Fran:

Response from Kim:

Response from Susan:

Finding a good large animal veterinarian

Question from Justin:

Response from Susan:

Response from Kim:

Getting horses out of a sticky situation

Question from Jeff and Pam:

Response from Susan:

Where to turn for a cold and lonely pig

Question from Katt:

Response from Kim:

Training to be a more effective rescuer

Question from Cherie:

Response from Susan:

Response from Kim:

Are horses being slaughtered for pet food?

Question from Chris:

Response from Susan:

Comment from Dorothy:

Response from Susan:

There's more than one way to shear a sheep

Question from Patti:

Response from Kim:

Comment from a member:

The status of the pregnant mare urine (PMU) industry

Question from Pat:

Response from Susan:

Keeping farm animals securely confined

Question from Michele:

Response from Kim:

Is it okay if the public interacts with sanctuary animals?

Question from Susan:

Response from Kim:

The wild horse situation in America today

Question from Arthur:

Response from Susan:

Note from Forum Moderator: