The Arizona Department of Agriculture is required by an antiquated state law to send horses that have been seized for abuse or neglect to auction. The agriculture department investigates cases brought to its attention by the public. It confiscates horses that have been abused or neglected and can hold the horse for a period of seven to 14 days. If the owner is not found and the horse is not claimed or turned over to a rescue, then the horse will be sent to any of Arizona’s livestock auctions, including the Pacific Livestock Auction.
John Hunt, the associate director of the animal services division for the agriculture department, and Pat Haight, president of the Conquistador Program, an equine rescue and advocacy program, hope to reduce the number of horses auctioned off to kill buyers.
They propose a voluntary plan that would allow horse rescue organizations to register with the state. The organizations would be inspected once a year by a certified equine veterinarian. This will ensure that the organizations maintain the expected level of care for the horses, especially in times of economic crisis.
Some horse rescue organizations take in too many horses and eventually run out of money to properly care for the animals. Haight says. Then the rescue itself needs to be rescued.
Currently, horse rescue organizations can hold their own auctions, Haight says.
This opens the possibility that some horses are purchased by kill buyers.
Under the voluntary plan, registration with the state and annual inspections would improve the horse rescue organizations’ credibility with the public, both Hunt and Haight say.
It doesn’t worry Haight that kill buyers who ship the horses to Mexico for slaughter will attend auctions held by registered horse rescue organizations.
“The kill buyers know they are not wanted,” Haight said.
“So they don’t show up.”
