Animal Cruelty

We already knew that Greyhounds at racetracks suffer immensely. But today, Greyhound advocate group GREY2K USA released a report that shows just how bad things are for dogs forced to race in Texas.

The report, produced with funding from the ASPCA, showed that at Texas racetracks:

• Greyhounds are forced to live in confined, stacked cages, with large Greyhounds being unable to stand fully erect in their cages.
• In 2012, six Greyhounds died at Gulf Greyhound Park from a form of canine influenza, often a recurring epidemic in cramped living situations.
• In 2011, a Texas Greyhound trainer failed to obtain veterinary care for an injured Greyhound until two days after the injury occurred.
• Greyhounds are fed 4-D meat from diseased animals to reduce costs.

The report also showed that1,507 greyhound injuries were reported at Texas racetracks from January 2008 through December 2011. Fifty-six of these injuries were fatal or required euthanasia, with the most commonly reported injury being broken legs. Other serious injuries reported included torn muscles, puncture wounds, a fractured skull and paralysis.

Frankly, we don’t see why the Texas dog racing industry doesn’t just throw in the towel—Lone Star State residents are way over dog racing. The report shows that gambling on dog racing and dog race attendance are way, way down.

Angry? Join the ASPCA Advocacy Brigade to stand up for animals.

Join us in supporting The Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act, introduced in Congress yesterday by Senators Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Representatives Patrick Meehan (R-PA) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL). This vital legislation will stop the transport of American horses to slaughter in Mexico and Canada, as well as permanently prevent it from occurring here in the United States. Please ask your Members of Congress to cosponsor the bill and help usher it to passage!

We’ve known for years that horse slaughter is an exceptionally cruel practice—whether it happens in the U.S. or elsewhere. Due to their biology and their psychology, horses cannot be slaughtered in a commercial setting without tremendous suffering and fear. 

We also know that horse meat is not even safe to eat! Horses are fed de-wormers and other toxic drugs that can cause terrible reactions—including death—in people who eat their tainted meat. Consumers in the E.U. are just discovering the dangers they have unwittingly been exposed to, and the scandal grows daily.

In spite of this mountain of damning evidence, the USDA is currently processing an application for a horse slaughter operation here in the United States. Roswell, New Mexico, may soon become ground zero for horse suffering.

The ASPCA has worked closely with federal legislators and other advocacy groups to develop the SAFE Act. This bill will stop the pain and the suffering of equines caught up in this grisly business. Please visit the ASPCA Advocacy Center to take action now to urge your U.S. senators and representative to cosponsor the SAFE Act.

Tinkerbell at intake, and again two months after receiving treatment.

The ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement (HLE) department has made arrests in two truly shocking cases of neglect.

On February 26, HLE Agents arrested Manhattan resident Peter Morin, 60, over the neglect of his 11-year-old Shih Tzu, Tinkerbell.

Staff at a dog grooming salon knew something was wrong when they met Tinkerbell, so they did the right thing: They called the ASPCA. Our Agents located Morin, who agreed to relinquish Tinkerbell. We rushed her to get the veterinary attention she needed.

At ASPCA Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital, veterinarians found Tinkerbell to be blind and in pain due to untreated kidney disease. They also found her to have dental disease, hair matting, dried discharge, debris all over her coat and overgrown nails.

Under our care, Tinkerbell has regained some sight and is recovering from her other ailments. She’ll eventually be made available for adoption.

Just a day after Morin’s arrest, ASPCA Agents arrested Brooklyn resident Marvin Silver, 24. Last April, Silver surrendered his dog, a three-year-old Pit mix named Biggie, to Animal Care & Control of NYC. At the time, Biggie was just 45.2 pounds and showed signs of neglect. Staff at the shelter alerted the ASPCA to his condition, and we responded right away.

ASPCA veterinarians found Biggie to be weak, emaciated and dehydrated. They concluded he had been starved. Two months after receiving treatment, Biggie’s weight increased to 71.1 pounds—a 57 percent gain. Biggie was adopted February 7 by a Staten Island family.

Both Morin and Silver have been charged with one count of misdemeanor animal cruelty. If they are convicted, they face up to a year in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.

If you suspect you’ve witnessed animal abuse or neglect, please report it. You may just save a life.

Biggie upon intake at the ASPCA’s Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital, and again on the day of his adoption with his new family.

In a shocking revelation, the U. S. Department of Agriculture just confirmed that it will process Valley Meat Co. LLC’s application for a grant of inspection to begin slaughtering horses for human consumption in Roswell, New Mexico. The confirmation comes just days after furniture giant Ikea removed its signature Swedish meatballs from markets across most of Europe after they were found to contain horse meat.

“Given the current firestorm of outrage over horsemeat entering the food supply in Europe, it is time for Congress to prevent even one more American horse from suffering this terrible fate and stop horse slaughter in the U.S. once and for all,” says Nancy Perry, Senior Vice President of ASPCA Government Relations.

Despite the fact that an overwhelming 80% of Americans oppose the slaughtering of horses for human consumption, Valley Meat will be the first facility to butcher horses for human consumption on U.S. soil since 2007 if its application is approved. Horses are not biologically suited for commercial slaughter and are difficult to stun before dismemberment. They will endure terrible trauma and cruelty if the plant opens for business.

“If the USDA moves forward with allowing the cruel and toxic horse slaughter industry to enter our country, this administration is leading our nation in precisely the wrong direction,” says Perry.  

Please Take Action Today!

Please call the White House message line at (202) 456-1111 and urge the Obama administration to stop horse slaughter! Here’s all you need to say:

“Please use your power to prevent any horse slaughterhouses from opening in the U.S. and to prevent the slaughter of our horses in other countries. Horses are not raised for food. This industry is cruel to horses and endangers consumers, who are eating a toxic product.”

Thank you!