It is considered illegal to slaughter horses for their meat in Florida. However, despite the laws in place, horses are still being stolen and slaughtered for their meat. The increasing number of crimes has kept a lot of horse owners on their toes, including a woman from Zephyrhills, Florida.
Brena Kramer was fully aware of the threat to her horses.
When she heard her rottweiler dogs creating a commotion one early Sunday morning, she knew something was wrong. She rushed to see her dogs and horses and was shocked by what she saw.
Brena believes that about three intruders tried to get to her horses. She thinks that they used the side gate to enter her barn and property. Living in a remote area with little activity made her an ideal target.
Upon getting to her barn, she noticed that the power supply had been shut off. One of her horses suffered some cuts and scrapes while another one has a rope tied around its neck. She was also able to see rope burn on her horses’ faces.
Good thing that Brena’s rottweilers were patrolling the area.
They probably scared off the intruders by barking and biting them. Unfortunately, the dogs didn’t win without injuries. Dallas, her 3-year-old Rottweiler, was left with two puncture marks on its head. It was proof that there was a struggle. If it weren’t for the dogs, Brena could have lost her horses.
Because of what happened, Brena wants to warn other horse owners within her area to always stay vigilant.
She said:
“It is common down south, it’s something most horse owners know about, especially in Florida. They will bleed them out and start butchering while the horse is bleeding.”
Equine slaughter, particularly when done illegally, is bad not just for the community but for the people who consume horsemeat, too.
Generally speaking, horses aren’t raised to be consumed as food. They routinely receive substances that the government prohibits in animals meant for human consumption.
Some horses are also given multiple medications, like ointments, dewormers, and steroids. There are also horses that receive bute which is a known carcinogen. It causes a couple of health issues in humans, such as aplastic anemia.
Because of the danger to humans, the horses, and the environment, everyone at the Pasco County Police Department is doing everything to prevent as many cases as possible. They strongly encourage horse owners to take the necessary precautions to ensure that their horses remain safe all the time.
Horse owners can brand or permanently mark their horses so that they’ll be easier to track or recover. Implanted microchips can also help recover stolen horses. It’s also ideal that horse owners avoid leaving their horses’ halters on as well as feeding them near the road or close to the pasture gate.
Installing some motion-sensor lights and alarm systems can prevent horse theft, too. If possible, try to check on pastured horses at varying times to prevent predictability.
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