Ex-racehorse among animals killed at illegal horse slaughter ring in Florida
The activist group which obtained footage of the illegal horse slaughter industry warns that the unregulated horse meat could make its way into South Florida’s food supply.
A screenshot from the undercover footage. Credit: Animal Recovery Mission (ARM)
Warning! This article contains distressing content.
An animal advocacy organization has uncovered what it is calling the largest illegal horse slaughter ring in the United States.
Florida-based nonprofit Animal Recovery Mission (ARM) was originally alerted to a potential illegal slaughterhouse after it discovered a Craigslist ad for animals and meat for sale in various Florida regions.
Undercover investigators from the group were then invited to the Ortiz Slaughter Farm in Brooksville, FL, where they saw the farm’s illegal activities firsthand and documented severe animal cruelty.
At the farm, investigators say horses, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, turkeys, geese, and other birds are confined in small pens. Conditions were described as “horrific”, with animals fed the remains of freshly slaughtered animals and often living alongside the deceased.
Among the animals that ARM saw slaughtered was a former racehorse known as Funny Biz. The thoroughbred horse was a descendent of the famous racehorse Secretariat, and the animal’s death was recorded by the undercover investigators to be used in evidence.
A screenshot from the undercover footage. Credit: Animal Recovery Mission (ARM)
“Globally, this is the first time a thoroughbred racehorse has been killed and butchered on film”, a representative from ARM said in a statement. “The State of Florida has the strongest horse slaughter laws in the world and ARM is demanding felony arrest by law enforcement. Lack of enforcement in this case will only increase the cruelty towards horses and other innocent animals.”
Following the filming, federal and state agencies have become involved in the investigation, including the Hernando County Sheriff Office and the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.
The illegally slaughtered meat could pose a risk to human health too. Some of the horse remains and illegally poached wildlife is being sold for ritualistic purposes, according to ARM, who explain that the potentially diseased and contaminated meat is making its way into local markets, butcher shops, restaurants, and catering supply.
While the Hernando County Sheriff Office has launched a probe into the case, no arrests have yet been made and the slaughter farm remains active.
In Florida, the illegal horse slaughter industry is said to be a persistent issue despite state and federal regulations. The state has a specific ban on horse slaughter, which prohibits the sale of horse meat for human consumption. In addition, Florida’s “Good Horse Slaughter Act” which passed back in 2010, makes the sale of horse meat for human consumption a felony crime.
However, the illegal industry continues and is driven in part by the unfounded belief held by some that horse meat is a medical elixir. Some people believe that its consumption can cure the likes of blood disorders and AIDS, while some men believe it helps their libido. None of these claims are backed up by any scientific evidence, ARM says.
This case is the latest that ARM has delivered to government agencies since it began its operations in 2009. The organization's work has led to over 200 tactical and criminal raids, arrests, animal rescues, and illegal farm closures throughout Florida and the US.
ARM has launched a petition to demand action from Hernando County Sheriff and State Attorney so that justice can be served on behalf of Funny Biz and the other slaughtered animals. Visit ARM’s website and add your name to their petition here.
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