By Keith Dane
Miracle Horses Touch American Hearts
Friday, April 6, 2007
The news of Operation Miracle Horse, in which 30 horses were saved from slaughter by a federal court order in an HSUS case, is spreading like wildfire as horse rescue groups, sanctuaries and compassionate people all over the country hear about the story. The rescue facilities have contacted The HSUS with offers to provide the horses with permanent sanctuary, or to adopt them out to good homes. And we are being flooded with calls from the public with questions about how to help, where to send donations for the Miracle horses' care, and how to adopt one of the animals.
This tremendous outpouring of generosity and compassion confirms what The HSUS already knows—there is a huge community of horse lovers in America that is ready, willing, and able to care for the old, the forsaken and the forgotten.
There truly are no unwanted horses—only those who have not yet found their rightful home.
Today, the veterinarian examined Sherman, a pinto gelding named for his tank-like build. We were concerned that a large swollen area near his groin might be cancerous. Such a prognosis would have been very bad news, and may have required Sherman's euthanasia. But to the immense relief of all Operation Miracle Horse team members, no cancer was found.
We now believe that Sherman was kicked by another horse during his lengthy trip from Cheyenne, Wyo., to the Illinois slaughterhouse. Sherman is receiving penicillin to treat the injury and resulting infection, and we expect a full recovery.
And I'm happy to report that Spirit, the wild stallion who was gelded yesterday, is recovering nicely from his operation and already seems to be gaining trust in humans.
We also welcomed several new arrivals today, though not of the equine variety.
Nancy Perry, The HSUS' vice president for Government Affairs and an avid horse lover, arrived on the scene to help care for the herd and to assist with planning for the horses' transfer to rescue facilities to find new, loving homes.
The first of a two-part news story on Operation Miracle Horse, which aired April 4 on the local NBC affiliate, KGWN, also drew some visitors to the Cheyenne Stockyards. Local Air Force riding club members stopped by to say they were horrified to learn of the ordeal but so excited to hear that the horses had been spared from slaughter. They plan to raise funds for the Miracle horses' care and rehabilitation. Area horse lovers also dropped in throughout the day, hoping to meet the horses in person, make donations, adopt horses and contribute a special (and also costly) formulation of feed for the older horses.
KGWN reporter Justin Joseph visited the stockyard to conclude his two-part series. I spoke with Justin about how these horses managed to escape certain death, and the inherent problems in the transport of horses to slaughter. The piece turned out great, and I was grateful for the opportunity to spread the word about the gruesome nature of the horse slaughter industry.
A Day of High's and Low's
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
It is the end of day two of Operation Miracle Horse and we have examined and treated all but three of the horses. We saw many high points today but suffered one setback in our efforts to save this group of 30 animals that went through hell and back on their fateful journey to an Illinois slaughterhouse. The horses were on the kill floor and minutes from death when The HSUS won a court ruling that halted operations at the plant. They are now in our care in a Cheyenne, Wyo. stockyard, awaiting transportation to animal sanctuaries.
These horses faced a grueling journey on their path to the slaughter plant. They had been crammed into trailers and trucked around for days, and were understandably hungry. Yesterday, as we offered the horses bales of hay, they rushed for them and picked up every blade of grass off of the dirt-floored corrals that provided their temporary housing and sanctuary. The older and less aggressive horses have clearly suffered malnourishment.
Today Suzi Hansen, The HSUS’ Northern Rockies Regional Program Coordinator, arrived on the scene.
“It’s not every day that our staff can help to save such a symbolically important group of animals,” she told me as she offered some welcome relief and assistance.
A highlight of the day was when a beautiful but untamed pinto stallion, nicknamed Spirit by the rescue team, was successfully given necessary vaccinations. Spirit was difficult to handle—we suspect because of a lack of human contact—and he had to be corralled into a chute so workers could administer his medications. He was displaying aggressive and potentially dangerous behavior, so we decided that he needed to be castrated. But as the veterinarian attempted to administer the necessary sedative before the operation, Spirit protested, rearing up and attempting to escape the chute. Our team gently persisted and we eventually calmed Spirit and completed the operation—a first step toward a life of harmony with fellow horses and humans.
Another pinto had a much less fortunate outcome. The five-year-old mare was a favorite among the rescue crew because of her beautiful face, distinguishing coat, and her kind, trusting disposition. Several team members had hoped to take her home. But the injuries she suffered during transport, which are so prevalent in horses bound for slaughter, were too much.
She had received deep puncture wounds in her hind legs during the final days on the crowded trailer. The wounds became infected and swollen, and the infection spread through her body. Her vital signs became very worrisome, she was in great pain, and the veterinarian advised us that there was no hope for recovery.
We made the heartbreaking decision to euthanized her and, as the mare drew her last breath, we gathered around to sooth and reassure her.
As I hugged one of my team members, I suggested that we name the horse Mercy. After all, that is what we demonstrated today—the mercy to end a horse’s life without any further suffering and pain.
A Second Chance for Slaughter Bound Horses
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Today I arrived at the Cheyenne Stockyards in Cheyenne, Wyo., where 30 horses bound for slaughter now rest in safety, waiting to be transferred to an animal sanctuary in Colorado.
Just a few days ago these horses were standing in line at the country’s last operating horse slaughter plant—Cavel International, located in DeKalb, Ill. They were just minutes away from being killed when officials at the plant received news of a federal court order issued the evening before that forced them to cease operations. The HSUS filed this case in 2006 and waited until now for a ruling.
Unfortunately, almost all of the horses remaining at the plant were routed to slaughterhouses in Mexico and Canada. But hope remained for these 30 horses, who were reloaded onto a truck bound for the Cheyenne, Wyo., stockyard where I now stand.
Upon learning of Cavel’s closing, the horses’ owner considered shipping the horses to Mexico to be sold, but decided to contact The HSUS instead. The HSUS agreed to pay the owners’ expenses for transportation, and took possession of the horses today.
A team immediately sprang into action to deploy a ground crew to Wyoming, to identify local veterinarians and volunteers to assist with the effort, and to locate new homes for the animals.
We have dubbed this rescue Operation Miracle Horse because we believe these are the only horses who have seen the inside of a slaughter plant and lived through it. These horses were stuffed into trailers, trucked for days, and led to the very brink of slaughter, only to be rescued at the last possible moment.
Working in partnership with staff and volunteers from the Denkai Animal Sanctuary in nearby Carr, Colo., compassionate people from the surrounding area, equine rescue consultant Allan Schwartz, and Cheyenne veterinarian Dr. J.D. Fox and his expert team of assistants, we began assessing the condition of the horses and providing necessary veterinary care.
We sorted the horses by those that needed immediate care and those that endured the arduous journey in better shape. Many of the horses had lacerations, puncture wounds and open lesions—a common occurrence among slaughter bound horses, who are packed into tight, crowded trailers with unfamiliar horses and whose only defense is to kick, bite and strike.
Our team worked efficiently, treating the horses’ wounds, administering medicines and vaccines, and drawing blood for tests that are required for horses being transported.
Once the horses are stable and their test results are confirmed negative, we can begin moving them to the Denkai Animal Sanctuary and other equine rescue facilities in the region, where they will be rehabilitated and placed in loving, caring homes, or given permanent sanctuary.
Keith Dane is the director of Equine Protection for The Humane Society of the United States. Before coming to The HSUS, Dane was executive director of Friends of Sound Horses, an organization he helped establish to eliminate cruelties in the Tennessee Walking Horse industry.
