Where is the Media When We Really Need Them?

There have now been 21 horses butchered for their meat in the Miami-Dade area of Florida as of November 2. The facts of these killings should be exposed in the most blinding light the media can turn on them, so that the horse murderers are caught and punished. I wonder why there hasn’t been more in the media about what is happening in The Sunshine State. Is it politically incorrect to speak of these killings because some cultural groups like to eat horsemeat? Maybe it’s because many people dislike horses or just don’t care what happens to them, thus providing no grist for the media mill.

A little history. Horse lovers were relieved in September when two men were arrested on charges of horse poaching. Although two more men were caught selling horsemeat in October, the police believe they are not involved with the killing of the 21st horse, a Thoroughbred mare. Her remains were found on Saturday, October 31, by horrified trail riders. Richard Cuoto of the South Florida Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals thinks the mare was killed elsewhere and then dumped.

The reward for solid information resulting in the conviction of these horse killers is $20,000. Call Crime Stoppers at 305/471-8477 or 866/471-8477. To read Pat Raia’s article in the online magazine theHORSE.com, go to http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=15052.

Debi Metcalfe, founder of the nonprofit organization Stolen Horse International, has put together these commonsense suggestions for horse owners.
1. Trespassers should know you have plenty of surveillance. Use warning signs, motion lighting, a farm light, animal alarms, Debi mentions donkeys and peacock among other animal sounds, and video or deer cam coverage.
2. Your neighbors should band together to watch the neighborhood and each other’s horses.
3. Gates should be consistently bolted.
4. Horses should be moved closer to your home when sleeping and away from easy entry to your property.
5. Horses should have a plainly visible ID and a microchip number.
6. By all means, work with law enforcement about suspicious people on your property. Get tag numbers from trucks and cars if you can, but don’t take any risks. Use your cell phone to take pictures of suspicious vehicles. For more on this, go to http://netposse.com/Floridahorseslaughter.html.