In other states, those charged with protecting horses work hand-in-hand with the greater horse community. With cooperation and outreach, horses at risk are placed in good hands, often at no expense to the state.
It happens. We know it does.
(Click here to read NY story)
But in Maine, the Animal Welfare Program is fulfilling a twisted pledge to deliberately keep horses in harm’s way.
In Maine, the AWP is deeply devoted to a strategy of misinformation and subterfuge. Instead of reaching out to the thousands of responsible, compassionate horse owners, it mocks us. It tortures us.
The AWP has moved beyond gentle ineptitude. It’s striding confidently into the realm of malicious purpose as this week’s actions demonstrate.
Well-documented complaints about Brett and Alexis Ingraham were sent to AWP in January, even before NickerNews first reported on the complaint from Meris Bickford.
(Click here to read complaint)
NickerNews has learned that late last year, a couple sent their mare to Fair Play Farm for breeding. She was returned to them this January in very rough shape (and not even pregnant). The horse survived only after intensive veterinary care.
You’re thinking, Slam Dunk, right? A fantastic, hand-delivered opportunity for the AWP to nail an animal cruelty offender, right?
Wrong.
No one from the Animal Welfare Program ever responded to this complaint, according to the couple. Ignored by AWP, this documentation nonetheless has been submitted to Kennebec County District Attorney Evert Fowle as part of the animal cruelty investigation.
This week, AWP director Norma J. Worley suspended agent Susan Metzger. Metzger, according to many, is the one agent who actually works to help horses. She has worked diligently to bring animal cruelty offenders to justice and therefore runs contrary to AWP interests.
Metzger may be involved in the case in Androscoggin County. In that case, Alexis Ingraham allegedly sold diseased horses in March.
(Click here for article)
It's interesting to consider the time line here. If Fair Play Farm was “under investigation” and “being monitored” since February, wouldn’t state vet Christine Fraser have noticed the sick and sold horses?
Metzger ran counter to Norma’s perverse and secret mission, so she’s been sidelined.
Last week, the Department of Agriculture’s wheels of propaganda were churning hard.
Commissioner Seth Bradstreet and Deputy Commissioner Ned Porter issued duplicate statements defending AWP against “the bloggers.”
They claimed 27 horses were seized by AWP in 2009. We asked for information on those seizures. You’d think the department would jump at the opportunity to promote AWP good deeds, right?
Wrong.
We were told to file Freedom of Access Act requests. And then we could expect to pay ten cents a page for the info.
Does this sound like a department ready to toot its own enforcement record?
Nope. It sounds like a bluff-and-stall tactic for a department with something to hide.
I’m one of many still waiting on information requested via FOA months ago.
We hear the shredders in the Department of Agriculture building working overtime!
And we can hear the weak cries of horses STILL in harm’s way.
Let’s push back from the table of bad news and ask ourselves WHY?
Why doesn’t the AWP accept our help?
Why doesn’t the AWP help horses?
Why does the AWP seem to spend more time harassing do-gooders, coddling the abusers, and releasing misinformation, rather than enforcing animal cruelty laws?
It all makes sense if you think of the street gang masquerading as a community service group. At first glance, with their benevolent talk, swagger, and secrecy, they seem alright.
Want to join? (Sue Metzger did. Many others did, too.)
But then you get a peek at the gang’s ugly initiation rites: You gotta be good at denying wrongdoing. You gotta help the bad guys or at least look the other way.
Get Ready, Dear Reader, we can think of no greater injustice than the collapse of the Kennebec County case against Fair Play Farm. But if AWP stays true to form, Norma and her gang will do their best to kick that travesty into the gutter.
Add your comment!
It just makes me sick that they just turn their backs to this. It's not the first time and surely won't be the last.
I have reported horse cruelty to the state in the past with a very good response and outcome. There are so many of these horses in need at that farm, I believe the state just doesn't know what to do with them all. Who will pay for the vet care that they need? I doubt Fair Play Farm will, as they can't afford to care for them now. I have to believe that the State will step up to the plate and do the right thing - especially knowing there are so many expecting them to do their job, and are watching this case with great interest.
Let the AWP be forewarned that horse lovers in the state of Maine are not going to take it any longer. Enough is enough. We are putting them under a microscope and are going to be hollering at the tops of our lungs about the injustices we see. Fair warning Norma....the fire has been turned on and the water is heating up..........
As far as the state not having the funds to handle the FPF issue, maybe they don't but the management of the AWP budget is another whole issue and one they use constantly as a smoke screen and a reason why they don't ...I have it on good authority that AWP, Norma Worley was told that HSUS would aid financially in this matter with FPF and she has not taken them up on the offer! One has to wonder why?
Please know that for YEARs, and most recently months, regarding the Pelletiers and now Ingrahams, we have contacted the media, legislators, Governor, AWP, Attorney General, DAs. We continue to seek out interested and concerned parties. Often, they come to us for information. I encourage you to do the same. Call and write your state Rep and Senator. Enlighten them. Every single one of these horses could have been rescued, at NO cost to the state, yet they refused to allow us to do that. Over 50 people volunteered their trucks, trailers, barns, assumption of vet and farrier expenses for the horses in life threatening situations, yet we were not taken up on our offer. Then ask yourself WHY?
Everyone is talking about Alexis selling a diseased horse -- give the facts here as some of us might be able to shed some light on this animal. Whats the animals name, breed and what is the disease?
I don't remember seeing any post specifying that Sue was 'part of the problem.' As far as I know, everyone here who knows Sue, thinks very highly of her. Sue is a very respected and liked Humane Agent.
Its ok if you don't remember seeing any comment specifying about Sue -- it was there. I did want to ask what you meant by "everyone here" who knows Sue. Where is "here?" Sue has been slammed just like the other agents. Again, who is "we" when you are talking about "we" totally support Sue? And I'll be the bigger person and say I was in error to assume. Assumption is dangerous and can misconstrue any situation as we've seen in the past. I understand that it can be frustrating to hear "open and under investigation" but no matter how much you crab and moan about open cases, agents and the likes are bound by privacy. As to the closed cases -- you are talking about some over 10 years old. Sincerely now I'm not being factitious here --if there is such an injustice as you believe, why hasn't your group been successful in partnering with AG (AW), not been able to disect those closed examples and come up with a clearer, more concise solution so there is no repeats in 10 years time? I don't have anything to lose here so I'm just laying it on the fence -- when you have two groups that want to take control with neither group relenting, it ends up that no one wins. Why does any one group have to win? Why can't the horses win? Someone has to start the process of progress. There is so much water over the dam between your groups that its going to take lots of effort on all sides to keep the communication open but someone needs to step up to the fence and swallow his/her pride. It takes a lot of guts to do that.
Forgive me for obviously being new to the inaction of AWP on behalf of Maine equines regarding the history of the agents and what they do and do not do. Sadly, I would say that we all are batting zero here. If being on the outside or being NEW to the equine issues is a travesty so be it. Sometimes a person on the outside with nothing to lose, looking in, has a broader picture. I see a group who is determined to help equines anyway they can. I see that same group has become just what they are fighting against. (The other group.) Giving the similiarities -- both groups jump when there is a complaint; both groups investigate the horse in question; both groups take pictures called evidents; both groups report that evidents back to lawmakers; ONE group has the right to actually check out the situation at the place in question, to get the story. The other group does all of the above BUT ONE THING IS MISSING -- check out the situation and speak with the homeowner to get the story. You are all concerned citizens and well you should be. You are citizens in a city or town. You have neighbors who are citizens. A suggestion...maybe you have tried this but have skipped this step somewhere along the way. Wouldn't it be easier to do a neighbor to neighbor call and work with the family that has an animal that needs help? If you start there you save the starving, injured, and freezing to death horse. (That's the goal right?) Just my opinion again for what its worth, you are trying to change the system in reverse. You are trying to tackle changing the laws first. Thats like moving into your new house before its built. Why not start at the foundation -- neighbor to neighbor. (Step One) Step two can be getting that horse taken care of. Step three can be professional documentation or proof. Step four - keep records....
"You are trying to tackle changing the laws first." I don't believe we have made many references to 'changing' the laws .. What we want is for the laws that are already clearly on the books to be enforced. Maine has some very good laws on the books ... if they were enforced properly!!