Cruelty Stats Bill Draws Mixed Reaction

caliber · Cruelty Stats Bill Draws Mixed Reaction

Cruelty Stats Bill Draws Mixed Reaction
by: Pat Raia
August 11 2008, Article # 12451

A measure aimed at collecting and making animal cruelty crime data public is drawing praise from animal welfare advocates as a means to raise awareness of animal cruelty crime.

"For one thing, it would legitimize the data, so law enforcement wouldn't have to take a rescue's word for it when it comes to the volume of crimes," said Sara Isaacson, president of the Heart of the Redwoods Horse Rescue in California. "Also, keeping data in one place is better than having nonprofits trying to keep their own databases."

Introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee by Judiciary Committee Chairman U.S. Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) last month, HR 6597, "The Animal Cruelty Statistics Act of 2008," would require the U.S. Attorney General to collect data on all animal cruelty crimes and to make that data available to the public through the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS).

But Joseph Michael, deputy states attorney for Washington County, Md., is not convinced the legislation represents a new crime fighting tool.

The BJS system collects data to track and analyze crime trends, but these statistics do not contain specific information about offenders, Michael said. These data are collected when offenders are fingerprinted upon arrest or conviction and stored in the FBI's National Crime Information Center database.

"A better idea would be mandatory fingerprinting of people arrested or convicted for animal cruelty crimes," he said.

Michael also worries the measure will burden local animal control authorities with the task and cost of data collection.

"My fear is that this will be an unfunded mandate," he said.

Still, Kathy Schwartz-Howe, director of Days End Horse Rescue in Maryland, sees value in the measure. "I think the statistics will make the animal abuse issue real for people," she said.

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AAEP's Walking Horse Directives Labeled Costly, Unrealistic
by: Pat Raia
August 09 2008, Article # 12449
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The American Association of Equine Practitioners' (AAEP) Tennessee Walking Horse Task (TWH) Force recommendations to eradicate the practice of soring drew strong reaction from Walking Horse industry members who label the directives costly and unrealistic.

In a "white paper" issued on Aug. 8, the AAEP called for several changes in Walking Horse industry enforcement of Horse Protection Act of 1970 prohibitions against soring--the use of pain-causing caustic chemicals, cutting, and other techniques to achieve a higher-stepping gait. Recommendations include strict drug testing, 24-hour security systems at show stabling sites, and the use of independent veterinarians to examine horses for soring evidence.

"That's an impossibility," said Earl Rogers, president of the Kentucky Walking Horse Association. "Out here in the country (Rogers lives in Bath County in northeastern Kentucky) we can't even get a large animal vet to treat our animals, let alone have one at every show."

National Walking Horse Association Executive Director Don Vizi worries that implementing the AAEP plan will burden associations and horse industry organizations financially.

"We do 60 shows a year, not counting our national show," Vizi said. "I don't think they've even thought about cost yet."

Task Force Chairman Midge Leitch, VMD, Dipl. ACVS, of Cochranville, Pa., admits the recommendations represent a financial commitment. But the investment is necessary to abolish a long-standing "culture of abuse" reflected in 103 HPA competitor violations at TWH shows in 2007, and the failure to crown a 2006 World Champion due to the high volume of disqualifications at the TWH National Celebration that year.

"Exhibitors, owners and trainers are going to have to pay a lot of money to clean this up," she said.

The AAEP has no legal authority to make its recommendations mandatory, Leitch said. However, she hopes public animal welfare sentiment will pressure the Walking Horse industry to implement them.

"One has to be hopeful," she said.

View the entire white paper at www.aaep.org.

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HSUS Applauds AAEP White Paper on Horse Soring
by: Press Release
August 08 2008, Article # 12476
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The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) today applauded recommendations set out in the American Association of Equine Practitioners' newly released white paper, "Putting the Horse First: Veterinary Recommendations for Ending the Soring of Tennessee Walking Horses."

The Association's recommendations include: immediate implementation of a drug testing program at horse shows; the abolishment of the industry-run Designated Qualified Persons self-regulation program, turning inspection duties over to qualified veterinarians; 24-hour security personnel and inspectors in the stabling areas of show grounds where violations are known to occur; and the establishment of much more severe penalties for Horse Protection Act violations than in the past.

"The soring of Tennessee Walking Horses is one of the most egregious forms of equine abuse and it is time for it to be brought to an end", said Keith Dane, HSUS director of equine protection. "Ending soring is a top priority of The HSUS and the AAEP paper echoes many of the same concerns we've raised and the changes we've been recommending. We are very pleased that AAEP has taken a stand for the welfare of the horse and believe its influence will be a valuable asset in the continued fight to end soring. We urge the Walking Horse industry to immediately end the cruel treatment of its horses."