I had some questions asked following my post yesterday about ARC and Scotlund Haisley. There's lots of information about Mr. Haisley online. I particularly like Blue Dog State's write-up about him in 2010 where there are some details about Mr. Haisley's employment history, complete with photos of him kicking in doors and mishandling dogs. Haisley has worked for In Defense of Animals and HSUS, though he was let go from both places, perhaps because of the lawsuits that followed his raids.
You can also read about Haisley in an earlier San Francisco Gate article which provides some personal background.
As for ARC (Animal Rescue Corps), Haisley formed them last year. They are funded by radical animal rights groups like Ady Gil World Conservation group, the same people who fund the Sea Shepherd Foundation and anti-whaling activities, and who aren't afraid to get violent. They are also funded by the Arthur E. Benjamin Foundation which funds lots of animal rights groups. These financial backers are not secret. They routinely put out press releases when ARC conducts one of their animal seizures. I would imagine that anyone who sues ARC and Haisley for illegal animal seizures can expect to be paid lots of money if they win their case. Or perhaps they can accept a big payoff to make the case go away with such rich friends.
I was also contacted by the person who originally posted ARC's plea for donations. She wanted to know what I had against an animal group raising money for a roof. I have to admit that I literally laughed out loud. I don't have anything against animal groups raising money for roofs or for any legitimate purposes. However, I DO have a big problem with dishonesty and with trying to personally benefit by seizing someone else's animals.
Whether or not this situation involved a "dog fighting ring" or any other kind of animal activity that people don't approve of is for the courts to decide. It should not be left up to a group of animal rights vigilantes to come in and take someone's animals. Once those animals were in ARC's custody, ARC is a very well-funded organization and they do not need money from the public to care for the dogs. It is disingenuous for them to solicit money from the public to care for the dogs and then for someone to say, "We're going to use this money to put a roof on a building for this animal group."
You can't just seize someone's animals in order to use them to raise money for your own plans. By all means, let the animal group have a fundraiser or do other things to raise money for their roof. Go for it! But, you can't take money under false pretenses (i.e., we need the money to "care" for the dogs). You can't seize animals just because you don't approve of the owners or how they care for the dogs if they are not actually breaking the law. And at this point the owners have not had their day in court. All too often, not just in Tennessee but everywhere, dogs are seized and spayed/neutered, and even adopted out to new owners before the owners even make a court appearance or see a judge. Dogs and other animals are PROPERTY. They have financial value. No one should be able to do anything permanent with these animals before an owner has due process in a court of law. To be picky about it, the dogs are EVIDENCE. How can an owner receive any kind of justice when animal groups are busy spaying, neutering, and adopting out the animals before the owner has ever gone to court?
Unfortunately, the law is circumvented in many states and dogs are long gone before an owner can do anything to stop it, whether they are innocent or guilty, no matter how they might plead in court. All that's left is for them to try to save themselves and for the animal groups to go on asking for money. And yet, the owner will be expected to pay for the care of the dogs
while the seizing groups have custody of them -- in addition to the
money the groups raise from the public. Is that double dipping?
But for a group to try to raise money for a roof from the seized dogs is pretty hard to swallow, especially when the main group that took the dogs is so very well-funded and does not need public money to care for them.
If there is one thing for you to understand from this situation, it is this: we ALL have rights, whether we are likable or not. It doesn't matter if you like what I do with my property, you cannot come to my house and just take it, then auction it off so you can put a roof on your building. Now, we have laws, and if someone is breaking the law, then qualified law enforcement, with a duly sworn WARRANT, should step in and take action. Then the offender can have his day in court. Due process should be followed. But that still doesn't give vigilantes the right to come on someone's property and take something they like. You don't get to decide, "Hey, I don't like what they're doing. I'm going to take their stuff." Even if their "stuff" is dogs.
I know we seem to live in a time when property rights are not respected and people don't seem to understand right and wrong anymore, but that's still the law. It seems like people understand that if one person takes your dog, it's theft. But when it's an animal group with a cute name and they say they're doing it "for the animals," people can't comprehend that it's still theft.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
They're Back, and Asking for Money Again
Please do NOT donate to this man or this organization. They have a
terrible reputation among dog owners and breeders. ARC (Animal Rescue Corps) is backed by a
multi-millionaire who pays for their raids, whether they are justified
or not. Scotlund Haisley is being sued in multiple states and cases for
illegal pet seizures. The animals are adopted out as soon as they are
seized and there is never much wrong with them. They only seize them as a
way to scam money from the public.
Carlotta Cooper
Sportsmen's and Animal Owner's Voting Alliance -- Tennessee Director
Seen on a dog e-mail list this morning. Here's a tip: watch the video with the sound muted and form your own conclusions instead of letting the voice over tell you what to think.
[They are asking folks to crosspost their plea for money.]
Uh, yeah. A second part to the story. You know what it sounds like? It sounds like "Cheatham County Animal Awareness" needed a new roof and they said to their friends with ARC, "Hey, why don't you seize some dogs so we can come up with the cash?" Afterall, ARC has done so well raising money from an unsuspecting public in the past in Tennessee when they've seized dogs. All you have to do is come up with a cute name for your group and make up a sad story.
As for that oh-so-fortuitous brushfire, kind of makes you wonder if someone set it intentionally to call attention to the dogs, doesn't it? Someone sets a little fire, gets the authorities out, and then ARC is ready to spring into action so they can help their friends get a new roof, among other things. They can kill so many birds with one stone (pardon the pun), and it all sounds so very innocent. This might sound far-fetched if we weren't dealing with animal rights zealots.
ARC is funded upfront by the Ady Gil World Conservation group, best known for their support of the Sea Shepherd Foundation and anti-whaling activities, among other animal rights groups. You can find that information on their web site. Google "Ady Gil + ARC" and you'll find lots of hits about raids the organization has supported. TThey also put out press releases when ARC does raids. They're quite proud of they're financial support of the group. So, the dogs that have been seized don't need any public financial support. Any money donated is gravy. In this case if someone donates, they will probably be putting a roof on some building for a questionable "animal awareness" group that helped seize some dogs to make money for that purpose.
So, watch the video with the sound OFF. Form your own conclusions. And don't fall for the scam from ARC unless you just want to help put a roof on this building for the group in Tennessee. Personally, I think it would have been more honest if they had just had a fundraiser instead of seizing someone's animals to try to get money.
Carlotta Cooper
Sportsmen's and Animal Owner's Voting Alliance -- Tennessee Director
Seen on a dog e-mail list this morning. Here's a tip: watch the video with the sound muted and form your own conclusions instead of letting the voice over tell you what to think.
Can a brushfire be a good thing? It was on Thanksgiving! 65 Fighting Dogs
were rescued from horrendous conditions because the firemen who put out the
fire noticed the dogs wearing heavy logging chains, no food or water
available, no warm beds, no loving care. Please see the video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TMWimRE4dA&feature=youtu.be
You can donate direct through (deleted)
If you don't want to donate directly, I will take donations and send gift
cards.
They are also collecting supplies, but that is in Indy on Wed and I don't
think we can pull that off.
xxxxx
[They are asking folks to crosspost their plea for money.]
Have you heard about Operation Broken Chain?
A large-scale suspected dog fighting operation has been uncovered in
Ashland City, Tenn.
The dogs were discovered by firefighters who had responded to a brush fire
on property along Buckeye Road on Thanksgiving night.
Dozens of dogs, primarily pit bulls, and some beagles, were chained on the
property with heavy logging chains. Some puppies were behind bars in rusty,
wire cages.
Shoddy, makeshift shelters littered the property and the underweight dogs
were lacking access to food and water.
The overwhelming task of removing the dogs from the property was undertaken
on Saturday by several organizations, including support from the Tennessee
Highway Patrol, Animal Rescue Corp < http://animalrescuecorps.org/ >,
Cheatham County Animal Control, New Leash on Life, Agape Animal and the
Nashville Zoo.
ARC President Scotlund Haisley stated:
“We believe this is the largest dog fighting rescue in Tennessee history,”
“The conditions Animal Rescue Corps found on this property are the worst I
have ever seen at a dog fighting operation in my 22-year career in animal
protection.”
In the end, rescue officials were able to move 65 dogs to an emergency
shelter in Nashville.
The dogs rescued from the property will be cared for by the American Rescue
Corp. until they can be assessed for placement and transported to rescue
organizations.
But, there is a second part to this story. Many of the dogs will be placed
with our friends at Cheatham County Animal Awareness, who have their own
struggles right now. They are in the process of putting a roof on their
shelter to keep the residents out of the elements. They need to get this
roof completed in order to get as many of the former fight ring dogs moved
to their facility.
Mobile Mutts has committed to help BOTH groups....
Uh, yeah. A second part to the story. You know what it sounds like? It sounds like "Cheatham County Animal Awareness" needed a new roof and they said to their friends with ARC, "Hey, why don't you seize some dogs so we can come up with the cash?" Afterall, ARC has done so well raising money from an unsuspecting public in the past in Tennessee when they've seized dogs. All you have to do is come up with a cute name for your group and make up a sad story.
As for that oh-so-fortuitous brushfire, kind of makes you wonder if someone set it intentionally to call attention to the dogs, doesn't it? Someone sets a little fire, gets the authorities out, and then ARC is ready to spring into action so they can help their friends get a new roof, among other things. They can kill so many birds with one stone (pardon the pun), and it all sounds so very innocent. This might sound far-fetched if we weren't dealing with animal rights zealots.
ARC is funded upfront by the Ady Gil World Conservation group, best known for their support of the Sea Shepherd Foundation and anti-whaling activities, among other animal rights groups. You can find that information on their web site. Google "Ady Gil + ARC" and you'll find lots of hits about raids the organization has supported. TThey also put out press releases when ARC does raids. They're quite proud of they're financial support of the group. So, the dogs that have been seized don't need any public financial support. Any money donated is gravy. In this case if someone donates, they will probably be putting a roof on some building for a questionable "animal awareness" group that helped seize some dogs to make money for that purpose.
So, watch the video with the sound OFF. Form your own conclusions. And don't fall for the scam from ARC unless you just want to help put a roof on this building for the group in Tennessee. Personally, I think it would have been more honest if they had just had a fundraiser instead of seizing someone's animals to try to get money.
Friday, August 24, 2012
Friction at the Celebration Between Local and USDA Inspectors
Another good article in today's Tennessean about what's happening at the Celebration in Shelbyville. According to the latest news, there is tension between the local group inspecting the horses and the USDA inspectors. An outside veterinarian from Lexington has been called in to offer his opinion but the only opinion that really matters is that of the USDA inspectors. If they reject a horse or trainer, they are immediately out of the Celebration.
We're glad to see that U.S. Representative Scott DesJarlais has become involved in the inspection issue:
Representative DesJarlais, from Tennessee's 4th District, is a good person to tackle Secretary Vilsack and the USDA. He sits on the Committee on Agriculture and the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry in the U.S. House of Representatives. From a number of angles, horses in our state (and in the U.S.) are one of his concerns.
We'll see how things go today, but the Celebration is only getting started. There is still over a week to go. Things could get even more interesting.
We're glad to see that U.S. Representative Scott DesJarlais has become involved in the inspection issue:
It was the second night of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, the biggest show since the local industry and the U.S. Department of Agriculture squared off in federal court over the fairness of new, standardized penalties for horse abuse.
The USDA, which certifies 12 local groups to perform inspections in its place, is threatening to decertify the one based in Shelbyville over its failure to adopt the new rules. The local group, known as SHOW, is arguing that the rules don’t allow an appeals process for trainers who are cited, denying them due process.
U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais waded into the fray with an Aug. 16 letter to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack that claimed USDA penalties against trainers have increased more than tenfold since SHOW joined a lawsuit against the USDA in June.
Vilsack hasn’t responded yet, but DesJarlais said he spoke to a USDA representative at the Celebration.
“Everybody seems to want the same thing,” he said. “SHOW wants a fair event; the USDA wants to prevent the abuse of animals.
“I’m making sure what both parties say makes sense.”
Representative DesJarlais, from Tennessee's 4th District, is a good person to tackle Secretary Vilsack and the USDA. He sits on the Committee on Agriculture and the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry in the U.S. House of Representatives. From a number of angles, horses in our state (and in the U.S.) are one of his concerns.
We'll see how things go today, but the Celebration is only getting started. There is still over a week to go. Things could get even more interesting.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Walking horse event helps fuel economy
Written by
state Rep. Pat Marsh
Today, Middle Tennessee kicks off the 74th annual Tennessee
Walking Horse National Celebration. The Celebration is one of
Tennessee’s most treasured, age-old tributes to one of the state’s most
valuable assets: the Tennessee Walking Horse.
Founded in 1939 by Henry Davis, a walking horse enthusiast from Wartrace, the 11-day annual summer festival takes place in Shelbyville. More than 1,500 horses compete in 171 classes and the event names 39 world champions. The Celebration’s culminating event is the crowning of the world grand champion on the Saturday night before Labor Day, a momentous occasion filled with a multitude of festivities.
For more than 70 years, this tradition has exalted the rich history of the sport and at the same time left an indelible mark on the state that is both economic and civic. The Celebration brings in nearly $40 million annually to the Middle Tennessee economy in direct spending, and provides a venue for local civic clubs to raise funds to support their chosen charities. The well-being of the horses is a top priority. The Celebration partners with the strictest Horse Industry Organization in the business to ensure that the treatment of all the animals complies with regulations, and that they are safe and content. The event is truly a celebration of one of Tennessee’s richest cultural traditions, as well as a means of bringing revenue back to the state and giving back to the community.
Drawing more than 170,000 fans from more than 40 states, the Celebration’s impact on Middle Tennessee’s economy is undeniable. The festival is one of the top revenue generating events in Middle Tennessee. Many of the area’s local civic clubs and charities depend on the 11-day event each year to ensure that they raise the funds needed to serve their community. Last year 17 civic clubs, such as the American Legion, the Quarterback Club and the Kiwanis Club used the Celebration as their annual fundraiser. The groups raise funds through the sale of food, concessions and other services at the event. The proceeds are donated to various initiatives throughout the county, including youth programs, sports leagues, scholarship funds, schools, veterans, impoverished children and many other notable causes.
The Celebration is not merely a sporting event, but a means for founding organizations such as the Shelbyville Lions Club and the Shelbyville Rotary Club to raise awareness about new community initiatives. This year, their theme for the Celebration is “Civic Pride,” and they are using the festival as an opportunity to involve more young people in helping to build and strengthen their local community.
Most importantly, the Celebration seeks to preserve the integrity of the Tennessee Walking Horse tradition, which has become such an integral part of the state’s culture as well as a regional pastime. The safety of the horses is an unquestionable priority for the organization. Their inspection process is the strictest, their penalties the strongest, and their compliance rating the highest, at 98.5 percent.
The organization is deeply invested in ensuring that its greatest assets, the horses, are trained safely and humanely. After all, the Celebration centers on the unique Tennessee tradition of the walking horse, one that we hope endures for years to come.
I encourage everyone in Middle Tennessee to head over to Shelbyville and visit the Celebration! It runs from Aug. 22-Sept. 1 and is a great way to spend a day with friends or family immersed in Tennessee tradition.
Founded in 1939 by Henry Davis, a walking horse enthusiast from Wartrace, the 11-day annual summer festival takes place in Shelbyville. More than 1,500 horses compete in 171 classes and the event names 39 world champions. The Celebration’s culminating event is the crowning of the world grand champion on the Saturday night before Labor Day, a momentous occasion filled with a multitude of festivities.
For more than 70 years, this tradition has exalted the rich history of the sport and at the same time left an indelible mark on the state that is both economic and civic. The Celebration brings in nearly $40 million annually to the Middle Tennessee economy in direct spending, and provides a venue for local civic clubs to raise funds to support their chosen charities. The well-being of the horses is a top priority. The Celebration partners with the strictest Horse Industry Organization in the business to ensure that the treatment of all the animals complies with regulations, and that they are safe and content. The event is truly a celebration of one of Tennessee’s richest cultural traditions, as well as a means of bringing revenue back to the state and giving back to the community.
Drawing more than 170,000 fans from more than 40 states, the Celebration’s impact on Middle Tennessee’s economy is undeniable. The festival is one of the top revenue generating events in Middle Tennessee. Many of the area’s local civic clubs and charities depend on the 11-day event each year to ensure that they raise the funds needed to serve their community. Last year 17 civic clubs, such as the American Legion, the Quarterback Club and the Kiwanis Club used the Celebration as their annual fundraiser. The groups raise funds through the sale of food, concessions and other services at the event. The proceeds are donated to various initiatives throughout the county, including youth programs, sports leagues, scholarship funds, schools, veterans, impoverished children and many other notable causes.
The Celebration is not merely a sporting event, but a means for founding organizations such as the Shelbyville Lions Club and the Shelbyville Rotary Club to raise awareness about new community initiatives. This year, their theme for the Celebration is “Civic Pride,” and they are using the festival as an opportunity to involve more young people in helping to build and strengthen their local community.
Most importantly, the Celebration seeks to preserve the integrity of the Tennessee Walking Horse tradition, which has become such an integral part of the state’s culture as well as a regional pastime. The safety of the horses is an unquestionable priority for the organization. Their inspection process is the strictest, their penalties the strongest, and their compliance rating the highest, at 98.5 percent.
The organization is deeply invested in ensuring that its greatest assets, the horses, are trained safely and humanely. After all, the Celebration centers on the unique Tennessee tradition of the walking horse, one that we hope endures for years to come.
I encourage everyone in Middle Tennessee to head over to Shelbyville and visit the Celebration! It runs from Aug. 22-Sept. 1 and is a great way to spend a day with friends or family immersed in Tennessee tradition.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Tennessee Walking Horse Celebration opens with intense scrutiny
Tennessee Walking Horse Celebration opens with intense scrutiny
Jordan Howell rides Gi Gi's Majestic, winning first place in the
Trail Pleasure English Class on the first day of The Celebration,
Tennessee's largest walking horse event, August 22, 2012 in
Shelbyville, Tenn. / Dipti Vaidya/The Tennessean
Written by
Heidi Hall
The Tennessean
10:33 AM,
Aug 22, 2012
The Tennessee Walking Horse Celebration opened this morning with the most intense horse inspections in its 74-year history.Trainers took their horses through a chemical swabbing station sponsored by their own professional association. The results will be posted on the Walking Horse Trainers Association website in 24 hours.
If trainers are found to have chemically sored the horses -- burned them to induce their gait -- they will be stripped of their ribbons and prize money and immediately suspended.
Inspectors checked 144 horses by noon and found no evidence of soring.
The show will attract an estimated 200,000 fans and runs through Sept. 1.
HSUS Goes After Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration
This story has a lot of twists and turns so please bear with me. I love horses but I'm not a Tennessee Walking Horse aficionado.
Earlier this year HSUS came out with video that showed a well-known, big-winning Tennessee Walking Horse trainer abusing his horses. As usual, HSUS had this video in its possession for quite some time and did nothing with it. They sat on it until it could be most useful to them. In this case, that was when the Tennessee legislature was considering an Ag-gag bill that would have made it illegal for such groups to go undercover on farms or agricultural businesses under false pretenses and videotape. Similar bills have been passed in other states. The reason for these bills is because some animal rights groups have used deception in editing and making these films to accuse farmers and agricultural businesses of cruelty, which can be fairly easy to do with film.
However, in this particular case, the video of the trainer, Mr. Jackie McConnell, appears to have been accurate. Mr. McConnell subsequently pleaded guilty to the charges in court. The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration took the following action:
Sounds reasonable, right? But HSUS was not satisfied. This was a huge opportunity for them. They have been bashing and complaining about Tennessee Walking Horses and "soring" for a long time, so finding a high profile trainer guilty of this bad practice was just what they had been hoping for.
Soring is the use of painful chemicals to cause the horse to lift his hooves higher in the show ring and it is illegal under the Horse Protection Act. Tennessee Walking Horses have a natural running walk which is flashy and can be quite spectacular to watch. Some horses naturally have a higher action than others. Training can teach the horses to move out. Length of hoof, pads under the hooves, and some training devices are also used to encourage higher action. Most people who follow Tennessee Walking Horses know what is legal and what is illegal to do.
APHIS inspectors (yes, they do something besides harass dog breeders) are on hand at Tennessee Walking Horse shows to check for the use of foreign substances on the horse's hooves and legs and for prohibited devices.
And, yet, HSUS is still hounding the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration this year. They sent a letter this summer to the Celebration calling for reforms. The Celebration board replied:
Nice reply.
One part of HSUS's letter is interesting. It's the PS.
hehehe If you are on the Petlaw list you know who this is. If not, I'll fill you in. Mr. Pacelle is referring to Mr. Frank Losey, who seems to be a constant thorn in his side. Here's Mr. Losey's confession:
I CONFESS!!!!!!!!!
I am the the "advocate" who Mr. Pacelle was referring to, and I was
permitted to give my presentation, as scheduled, on July 28, 2012 to
270 Attendees who traveled from not only all over Tennessee, but also from NC, FL, GA, AL and KY to hear me speak. My presentation lasted for about an hour. If anyone wishes to watch the video, it may be found on the following link:
http://www.walkinghorseclubky.com/frank-losey-seminar/#comments
Frank
If you will take a look at the link above, you can enjoy Frank's presentation to the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration and see why he drives Wayne Pacelle nuts.
The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration begins today, August 22, and runs through September 1, in Shelbyville, Tennessee. There's a huge billboard across from the Celebration grounds this year as HSUS tries to encourage people to report anyone who sores or abuses horse by calling their tipline. I believe they're offering $10,000 for tips that lead to convictions. They even sent out a press release in Spanish yesterday to try to get Spanish-speakers to report anything they see. They REALLY want to get something on somebody at the Celebration.
The Celebration folks came out with their own news this week:
Really, between instantly testing for chemicals and announcing the results, and APHIS inspectors on site, it sounds like it would be hard to do any soring but, as I said, I'm not a Tennessee Walking Horse person. I do know that I wouldn't trust HSUS or their supporters as far as I could throw them so anyone with a horse at the Celebration should be on guard. Do not allow HSUS to tamper with your animals. If possible, keep video cameras handy and have someone in your horse's stall area at all times so no one unauthorized can come near your horses. HSUS can and will fake evidence. It would be nice if the Celebration has video monitoring on site so they can see who is coming and going and what they are doing.
I don't ever want any horses to be harmed in any way but HSUS will never be satisfied when it comes to horses or any other animals. It's Tennessee Walking Horses right now, but it could be eventing next, or racing (which already draws AR criticism), cutting horses, jumping, or dressage. HSUS and ARs will always find something to criticize about riding and using horses. They go through one industry at a time criticizing it, offering their "reforms" and suggestions, and trying to take over until they can eliminate it. Don't let them do it.
If you love Tennessee Walkers or you're a fan of saddle seat equitation, I hope you can go to the Celebration in Shelbyville over the next few days. These are beautiful, gentle, wonderful horses and their running walk is glorious. Go out and enjoy them. Send a message to HSUS that they aren't going to get rid of Tennessee Walkers. Tennesseans and many others love these horses and they're not going away.
Earlier this year HSUS came out with video that showed a well-known, big-winning Tennessee Walking Horse trainer abusing his horses. As usual, HSUS had this video in its possession for quite some time and did nothing with it. They sat on it until it could be most useful to them. In this case, that was when the Tennessee legislature was considering an Ag-gag bill that would have made it illegal for such groups to go undercover on farms or agricultural businesses under false pretenses and videotape. Similar bills have been passed in other states. The reason for these bills is because some animal rights groups have used deception in editing and making these films to accuse farmers and agricultural businesses of cruelty, which can be fairly easy to do with film.
However, in this particular case, the video of the trainer, Mr. Jackie McConnell, appears to have been accurate. Mr. McConnell subsequently pleaded guilty to the charges in court. The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration took the following action:
CELEBRATION SANCTIONS JACKIE MCCONNELL
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
In a precedent setting move, the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration took decisive action today, both denouncing and condemning the actions of trainer Jackie McConnell, who was both videotaped abusing a horse and admitted to a Horse Protection Act violation in federal court today.
The TWHNC Board of Directors voted to suspend McConnell for life and also took the following action:
(1) suspended McConnell for life from entering the TWHNC grounds for any and all events, regardless of the event's affiliation or ownership.
(2) voted to permanently remove Mr. McConnell's name from the list of Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration Hall of Fame inductees. Any picture, plaque, image or other mention of his name from Hall of Fame data will be permanently removed from this day forward and his name will be forever erased from Hall of Fame rolls.
(3) voted to permanently remove any and all pictures and signage on the Celebration grounds carrying either the name of Jackie McConnell or the likeness.
(4) banned from entry onto the TWHNC grounds any horse under the custodianship or presumed to be under the custodianship of Mr. McConnell.
"This action is the strongest we can take and it clearly reflects our disgust with the actions of Mr. McConnell,"said Dr. Doyle Meadows, TWHNC CEO. "His actions are not reflective of the Tennessee Walking Horse industry, and we in no way want him associated with our show."
Sounds reasonable, right? But HSUS was not satisfied. This was a huge opportunity for them. They have been bashing and complaining about Tennessee Walking Horses and "soring" for a long time, so finding a high profile trainer guilty of this bad practice was just what they had been hoping for.
Soring is the use of painful chemicals to cause the horse to lift his hooves higher in the show ring and it is illegal under the Horse Protection Act. Tennessee Walking Horses have a natural running walk which is flashy and can be quite spectacular to watch. Some horses naturally have a higher action than others. Training can teach the horses to move out. Length of hoof, pads under the hooves, and some training devices are also used to encourage higher action. Most people who follow Tennessee Walking Horses know what is legal and what is illegal to do.
APHIS inspectors (yes, they do something besides harass dog breeders) are on hand at Tennessee Walking Horse shows to check for the use of foreign substances on the horse's hooves and legs and for prohibited devices.
And, yet, HSUS is still hounding the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration this year. They sent a letter this summer to the Celebration calling for reforms. The Celebration board replied:
TENNESSEE WALKING HORSE NATIONAL CELEBRATION RESPONSE TO HUMANE SOCIETY’S OUTDATED DEMANDS
(Shelbyville, TN) – The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is coming late to the game on this one. Rather than working to reform the industry to rid it of soring trainers, the HSUS is going after the very people who have led the reform effort.
SHOW HIO, which does the inspections at The Celebration, has the strictest inspections and the harshest penalties in the business. In fact our process goes above and beyond what is required by federal regulations. If the HSUS looked at The Celebration’s record it would see that we are doing much of what the organization proposes, and have been for years, and the things we are not doing have nothing to do with protecting the horse but everything to do with the HSUS’s sensationalistic media tactics.
In terms of the HSUS’ requests:
1. We don’t allow soring horses in the ring. We have the strictest inspection business and the harshest penalties in the business. Already being done.
2. Already being done.
3. It would not make sense to do something that could harm the horse when there are a number of things we already do to ensure that the horse has not been sored.
4. This is a ridiculous request as the USDA and The Celebration inspectors are allowed to enter anywhere at anytime.
The HSUS can keep talking about caring for horses but we are actually doing it. The difference between The Celebration and the HSUS is when inspectors at The Celebration see evidence of soring they send the trainer home and punish him or her severely. When the HSUS sees evidence of soring, they send a film crew, spend six months watching abuse, a few more editing a video and use it as a fundraising tool.
When the HSUS becomes more interested in stopping abuse when they see it than watching enough that they can make money off it, maybe someone will listen.
Nice reply.
One part of HSUS's letter is interesting. It's the PS.
P.S. We have become aware that you will be hosting a meeting with a commercial dog breeding advocate on the Celebration grounds. Associating with an individual hostile to animal welfare will not help the process of dialogue. It will only align the industry with puppy mills, animal fighters, and others where this individual has a following. It is an example of a looming public relations threat for the industry, and I hope you will take action before that occurs.
hehehe If you are on the Petlaw list you know who this is. If not, I'll fill you in. Mr. Pacelle is referring to Mr. Frank Losey, who seems to be a constant thorn in his side. Here's Mr. Losey's confession:
I CONFESS!!!!!!!!!
I am the the "advocate" who Mr. Pacelle was referring to, and I was
permitted to give my presentation, as scheduled, on July 28, 2012 to
270 Attendees who traveled from not only all over Tennessee, but also from NC, FL, GA, AL and KY to hear me speak. My presentation lasted for about an hour. If anyone wishes to watch the video, it may be found on the following link:
http://www.walkinghorseclubky.com/frank-losey-seminar/#comments
Frank
If you will take a look at the link above, you can enjoy Frank's presentation to the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration and see why he drives Wayne Pacelle nuts.
The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration begins today, August 22, and runs through September 1, in Shelbyville, Tennessee. There's a huge billboard across from the Celebration grounds this year as HSUS tries to encourage people to report anyone who sores or abuses horse by calling their tipline. I believe they're offering $10,000 for tips that lead to convictions. They even sent out a press release in Spanish yesterday to try to get Spanish-speakers to report anything they see. They REALLY want to get something on somebody at the Celebration.
The Celebration folks came out with their own news this week:
Celebration changes testing to detect horse abuse
SHELBVYVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration is changing procedures at its annual competition that are used to detect signs that a trainer has applied painful chemicals to the horses' legs in a banned practice known as soring.
The celebration's board of directors on Monday announced the changes that will, for the first time, make the results of chemical tests public and result in trainers immediately losing their trophies and prize money if caught abusing horses.
In the past, chemical test results were delayed, but this year the show is expediting the results so they will be available during the event that begins Wednesday and runs through Sept. 1 in Shelbyville.
Soring is a banned practice that exaggerates the breed's high-stepping gait in competitions.
Really, between instantly testing for chemicals and announcing the results, and APHIS inspectors on site, it sounds like it would be hard to do any soring but, as I said, I'm not a Tennessee Walking Horse person. I do know that I wouldn't trust HSUS or their supporters as far as I could throw them so anyone with a horse at the Celebration should be on guard. Do not allow HSUS to tamper with your animals. If possible, keep video cameras handy and have someone in your horse's stall area at all times so no one unauthorized can come near your horses. HSUS can and will fake evidence. It would be nice if the Celebration has video monitoring on site so they can see who is coming and going and what they are doing.
I don't ever want any horses to be harmed in any way but HSUS will never be satisfied when it comes to horses or any other animals. It's Tennessee Walking Horses right now, but it could be eventing next, or racing (which already draws AR criticism), cutting horses, jumping, or dressage. HSUS and ARs will always find something to criticize about riding and using horses. They go through one industry at a time criticizing it, offering their "reforms" and suggestions, and trying to take over until they can eliminate it. Don't let them do it.
If you love Tennessee Walkers or you're a fan of saddle seat equitation, I hope you can go to the Celebration in Shelbyville over the next few days. These are beautiful, gentle, wonderful horses and their running walk is glorious. Go out and enjoy them. Send a message to HSUS that they aren't going to get rid of Tennessee Walkers. Tennesseans and many others love these horses and they're not going away.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Our Tennessee State Reptile
Official Tennessee State ReptileThe Eastern Box Turtle, Terrapene carolina, was designated official state reptile by Public Chapter 367 of the 99th General Assembly in 1995. This peaceful creature usually reaches a length of less than six inches and has a shell of black or brown with spots of yellow, orange and red. This reptile usually lives between 30 to 60 years and never ventures far from its place of birth.
LETHAL According to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
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