The terrible news of the passing of legislation to resume funding of inspections of horse slaughter plants is an outrage. The commercial slaughter of horses is NOT humane euthanasia but a brutal and terrifying death where many horses are conscious and struggling as they are hoisted by their rear leg to have their throats slit.

• Horse slaughter is a profit making business
• The plants that operated in the United States were foreign owned operating at the US taxpayers expense
• One Texas plant paid five dollars in federal tax on twelve million dollars in sales
• Slaughterhouses negatively impact communities with their fluid runoff, stench and documented cruelty
• Horse slaughter promotes more cases of abuse and neglect as it encourages irresponsible breeding and treats horses as a disposable commodity rather than sentient beings, who like us ,experience pleasure and pain
• Young and healthy horses, such as children’s ponies, carriage horses, race horses, show horses, Premarin mares and foals are sent to slaughter regularly
• Some animal advocates believe it is more humane to reopen plants in the US rather than send the horses to Mexico or Canada; yet it is a fact that while slaughter plants operated in the US, tens of thousands of American horses were still exported and slaughtered in foreign countries every year

Reopening US slaughter houses is not the answer. The answer is elimination of breeding incentives, the creation of foal impact fees, the establishment of low cost euthanasia programs and the passage of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. These steps will prevent much horse suffering.

Please contact your US Representative and Senator and ask him or her to support The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act House Bill 2966 and Senate Bill 1176 and tell President Obama to honor his campaign promise and issue an executive order to ban horse slaughter and the exporting of America’s horses for slaughter.

Contact the White House and President Obama

Honored at the dedication was Mr. Jim Evans, Kaeli’s uncle, who had the vision of transforming an old, dilapidated stable into a peaceful and functioning sanctuary, and Mr. Luciano Marquez, who worked tirelessly clearing land, and constructing fencing and stalls, while caring for the Foundation’s horses.

Family gathered on a sunny October afternoon, as Jeanne Anselmo led the blessing of Kaeli’s Sanctuary:

May all beings be happy and safe,
and may all hearts be filled with joy.
May all beings live in security and peace.
Let no one do harm to another.
Let no one put the life of any being in danger.
Let no one out of anger or ill will wish anyone harm.
Let a boundless love pervade the entire universe.
Let our hearts be free from hatred and enmity.
This is the noblest way of living.

Kaeli’s Foundation has partnered with The Animal Rights Alliance (TARA), an Orange County, New York  organization which provides low-cost spay and neutering of dogs and cats to the community.  In recognition of Kaeli’s love of cats, the Foundation is providing assistance to their Feral Cat program, and has adopted several ferals who now live at the Sanctuary with our horses and goats.

Old school horses, young at heart!

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Unfortunately, the August 29th ASPCA Hampton Classic Adoption Day was cancelled due to Hurricane Irene. Instead  on Thursday, the Kaeli Kramer Foundation attended a panel discussion sponsored by the ASPCA at the Classic about humane issues facing the equine community. Topics discussed included the fate of the wild mustangs, the carriage horse industry,horse slaughter and  current legislation to improve the quality of life for all horses.

You can help by supporting the following legislative initiatives:

Sheila Rogers, owner of Good Shepherd Farm  and Sue Mercil , dressage instructor presented the first Year End Horse Trial award in memory of Kaeli Kramer. Ms. Alison Mooney won the award at the beautiful 35 acre farm. Alison was the series champion meaning she obtained the highest scores in her division for the season. Each Horse Trial consists of three events: a dressage test, stadium jumping and a cross country jumping course. This perpetual award in memory of Kaeli will be given annually at Good Shepherd Farm where Kaeli showed regularly with Sundance and Gia.

Sheila Rogers and
Sue Mercil

Alison Moony Winner of the Memorial Cup

Kaeli Kramer Memorial Trophy

Re: Whose Credit, Whose Blame?: original article

The article “Whose Credit, Whose Blame” fails to recognize that it was widespread public opinion, mobilized by PETA, HSUS, ASPCA and other animal welfare organizations which brought the previously hidden horse slaughter industry to the attention of the American public.This public awareness raised support for the legislation which resulted in the closure of America’s horse slaughter “processing” facilities.  When the American public saw first hand the horrors of horse slaughter, they reached out to Congress and the result was the legislation which unfortunately did not fully address this issue.

Kaeli’s Foundation believes in the importance of kindness and humanity to all creatures– not just those for whom we view “romantically” , and not just companion animals. We believe that no animal should be treated unkindly or with disrespect. We believe that all people should “Be kind to all that live.”

The tragedy of horse slaughter must be addressed on several fronts.  First and foremost is EDUCATION and RESPONSIBILITY.

Horses are overbred in enormous numbers.  They should not be bred like puppies in puppy mills.  We also need federal legislation which will prohibit the trafficking and transportation of horses for slaughter in Canada and Mexico.

We need to educate horse owners on their lifelong duty to their horses, and we must create some affordable means for well-meaning horse owners to address the issue of affordable euthanasia, where that is appropriate.

We owe a great debt of gratitude to PETA, HSUS and the other groups who exposed the nightmare of horse slaughter, so that this issue could be discussed and addressed.  Hopefully, we will soon see a more global recognition that horses, and all creatures, must be treated with kindness.

That was, and remains Kaeli’s dream.

The Kaeli  Kramer Foundation hosted our first Humane Education Summer Program at the Holtsville Ecology Center.  Our program ran for one week, July 18-22 and was open to children ages 8-16, without charge.  The experience was both educational and fun. Every day guest speakers educated the students on various aspects of animal care and rescue as well as humane issues.

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