Investigation of Sugarcreek Livestock Auction

For my senior project, I decided to write about the connection of U.S. slaughter auctions and Mexican slaughterhouses.  Below is one of the sections of my paper translated into English.  These posts are better read in order.  This is Post #3.

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

In Ohio, Sugarcreek Livestock Auction is a slaughter auction that is very well-known for its cruelty and is operated by Leroy Baker.  Finch, a writer, says that Sugarcreek is "probably the worst livestock auction in the country as far as animal handling and cruelty is regarded" (Finch, 2012).  In 2014, investigators from an animal rights group called Animals Angels went to Sugarcreek and found horses with untreated injuries and draft horses with feet in poor condition.  Other horses were fatigued and showed signs of emotional trauma.  Some horses were already marked for slaughter before passing through the auction (Sugarcreek horse auction 1/31/14, 2014).  Animals Angels returned to Sugarcreek in 2016 and noted that some horses were being sold for as little as $20.  They also observed that there were too many horses in one ring and that Sugarcreek was selling cows and mules as well.  The horses were described as very thin (Sugarcreek horse auction 4/1/16, 2016).

The operator of Sugarcreek Livestock Auction, Leroy Baker has worked in the slaughter auction industry since 1985 (Zippy, 2009).  He has violated Commercial Transport of Equines to Slaughter regulations and other regulations that protect animals (Sugarcreek horse auction 4/1/2016, 2016).  The accusations from 2008 include not carrying proper documentation for horse transport, failing to notify the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) when horses died during transport, the incorrect identification of stallions, the mistreatment of blind and injured horses and lack of documentation saying that the horses rested, ate and drank water six hours before transport.  In addition, Baker transported 1,345 horses in only 35 loads.  These accusations are from between 2003 and 2009.  In 2009, Bake said that the accusations were false and alleged that if there had been a problem, the USDA had waited a long time to fine him.  Also, Baker said that the evidence was false because the USDA had said that the same load of horses had gone to two different slaughterhouses at the same time and that the photos do not coincide.  According to Baker, the USDA had pictures of the same horse at "two different locations"  (Zippay, 2009).  As of 2016, Baker had not paid the $162,800 fine (Sugarcreek horse auction 4/1/16, 2016).

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

There are thousands of horses that go for slaughter each year and the numbers aren't slowing.  If you would like to donate to save horses, please go to this link: Gofundme.com/saved

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

References:

Finch, J. (2012, Aug 08). Horse slaughter: revealing the truth, part-two-the process. Retrieved from http://www.habitatforhorses.org/horse-slaughter-revealing-the-truth-part-two-the-process/

Sugarcreek horse auction, OH 1/31/14.  (2014, Jan 31). Retrieved from http://www.animals
angels.org/investigations/horses/sugarcreek-horse-auction-oh-1-31-14

Sugarcreek horse auction, Ohio; 4/1/16. (2016, April 1). Retrieved from http://www.animalsangels.org/investigations/horses/sugarcreek-horse-auction-ohio-4-1-16

Zippay, A. (2009, March 5). Sugarcreek auction fined $162,800 for equine violations. 

Retrieved from http://www.farmanddairy.com/news/sugarcreek-auction-fined-162800

-for-equine-violations/11351.html

All photos are courtesy of Happy Tails Farm & Rescue Center and Thunder Ranch Horse Rescue Project.

Nazareth College Creative Activity & Research Showcase 2018

Presenting about the horses at Happy Tails at the research showcase today. I am thrilled to be able to share their stories.

Slaughter Auctions -- An Overview

For my senior project, I decided to write about the connection of U.S. slaughter auctions and Mexican slaughterhouses.  Below is one of the sections of my paper translated into English.  These posts are better read in order.  This is Post #2.

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

The first step in the process of horse slaughter is the sale of horses in slaughter auctions.  The horses that are sold in the auctions are old, sick, stolen or badly behaved.  Often times, retired race horses are sold in the auctions (Finch, 2012).  Also, some families that bring their horse to auction do not realize that by entering the auction ring, the horse has a chance of being bought for slaughter (Spears, 2017).  In the auctions, horses are put in small rings that are dirty and packed with way too many horses.  They do not separate the sick or the pregnant (Finch, 2012).  Also, they keep horses that are aggressive toward other horses.  Those horses start fights with more docile horses and injure them.  These horses are scared and are in a highly stressful situation.  Often, this is translated into their behavior at the auction (Sugarcreek horse auction, 2014).  At the auction, the workers use small flags as whips in order to move horses.  They hit the horses and pinch them in the head or in the eyes (Finch, 2012).  The horses normally do not have water or hay and the floors are made of concrete.

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

There are thousands of horses that go for slaughter each year and the numbers aren't slowing.  If you would like to donate to save horses, please go to this link: Gofundme.com/saved

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

References: 

Finch, J. (2012, Aug 08). Horse slaughter: revealing the truth, part-two-the process. Retrieved from http://www.habitatforhorses.org/horse-slaughter-revealing-the-truth-part-two-the-process/

Spears, T. A. (2017). Mexican horse slaughterhouses: Bloody work: Mexican slaughterhouses. Retrieved from http://www.ontheroadin.com/mexican-horse-slaughterhouses/

Sugarcreek horse auction, OH 1/31/14.  (2014, Jan 31). Retrieved from http://www.animalsangels.org/investigations/horses/sugarcreek-horse-auction-oh-1-31-14

All photos are courtesy of Happy Tails Farm & Rescue Center and the Thunder Ranch Horse Rescue Project.