From: Tammy Keener
To: againstslaughter@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2004 10:30 PM
Subject: Re: [SPAM] [againstslaughter] Another message from Branstock Farm

Hello, I am new to this and just want to say my piece, I just want to say it's the people who either do not care where they go or do not have the money at the time to sell, or pay the price to do a auction that sells to people verses sells to the slaughter house. I live in Indiana and even though I do not have a sanctuary non-profit license, I purchase horses from our local slaughter auctions to resell at no profit and I make them fit at my expense, so someone can have a horse to love an give them a chance at life. You evidently have not seen the conditions these animals come here in. I have seen them beat up due to being crammed in a trailer that does not support that many horses, get out with legs broken or starved cause the owner finally says I can not feed them no more. I have seen just 4 weeks ago, 6-9 month old yearlings, beautiful, nothing wrong with them the owner just sold out of business. I do not think that they asked to be there, ripped from the mother in the next pen. The 52 foot trailer held after the auction, anywhere from 30-40 horses heading to Texas or our local fertilizer plant in Plymouth, Indiana. I heard it was shut down, was it? They start the sales of these horses in Shipshewana, Indiana at the same time that they sell the ones that the owners can afford to auction off to a good home, that way others don't know what is going on. Is this fair?  But, I looked and I was sickened. I had to look, one gentleman at the auction told me he brought in 6 horses because his neighbor owed him money and were there because they couldn't handle them, but the same horses were get their shoes ripped off and just standing there being good. The person sounds like someone with no patience.

I stopped a vet from ever coming to my house. He punched my stud because he was looking through the stall bar as he took care of another mare that had a eye problem. He said that he would of bit him. Please, through the bars in another stall. NO patience or understanding. Horses know something is going on otherwise he wouldn't of been interested.

Did you know to put in to the regular auction it cost $65.00 to sell, but to put in the slaughter auction a mere $35.00. No wonder so many horses end up there. Can something be done about that?

My horse was almost stolen from the stable that I boarded at, luckily she was trained not to let anyone handle her unless I give them the reins or lead rope and that means she would throw you off her too, if you try to get on. They, the thieves, had already loaded up a prized champion halter mare and the stables stud, but mine threw a fit, fought them and the neighbors heard and alerted the police. Of course they were caught and from Texas, so don't tell me they don't steal them

There is no difference to stopping the mass reproduction of dogs by spaying and neutering verses a horse being raised as a pet or hobby in showing of either, they too could be spaded. We may not be able to take in 50,000 horses, but neither would we 50,000 dogs. Yet there are those that take in dogs and it is a health hazard, but they do it, but they do it or there is a limit on how many in towns, so they get arrested. If both would not raise more than they can sell and handle than we would not have this problem with any animals and there would not be a shortage of any either. We raise only what we can handle and if any babies, yearlings, or trained horses don't sell we do not breed that year.

The slaughter house ignore tags, freeze brands, or electronic chips due to the expense and costly equipment. I have never seen it used at our auction houses.

I too am NOT an activist. Someone needs to teach people about slaughter and auction houses. At least in Shipshewana they have to have a vet and he decides that if they are fit they get to go to the regular auction, but who made him god that only a few get to live that day or anyone else for that matter. Thou shall not kill. Does this mean people or anything alive. I am not a church goer, but I do know right from wrong. Seeing is believing and I've seen.

Tammy Keener