Court Date Set in Aspen's Case

There has been a court date set in Aspen's case. Larry Pahl is scheduled to appear April 20 at 9 a.m. in courtroom 1a. I noticed the name had been removed from the gotwarrant website, so I called the clerk of courts and got this information.

Larry Pahl is an employee at Kramers livestock. It's on their website.
We heard from someone who attended Kramers sale last Saturday. She said the Vet made an announcement that due to PETA, no one can bring really skinny and long-hooved horses there. If they do, they will be reported. The person who went to the sale also told us that an auctioneer said he got in trouble for having a couple of thin horses and had to pay $500. She didn't know the vet or the auctioneer's name.

I called the Vet who does the sales there though. Shanda Meyers. She said yes, she made an announcement. It came from the State Vet. She said there are concerns about things looking bad for horses in south dakota and that it's bad publicity for the livestock industry. Meyers told me she didn't talk to anyone at PETA. She thinks it was just "animal rights" in general.

I had a nice chat with this vet. She told me horses "not fit for sale" have never been allowed through the sale ring. but that there is no clear definition of what that is, so each Vet kind of makes that determination individually. She said if horses are not fit for sale, they are sent home and reported to the state vet.

Anyway, it would be nice if we could make some guidelines or laws just because we care for the horses' welfare, instead of just because it "looks bad" for the livestock industry. I mean, how does that help the horse? sending it back where it came from in the same "unfit for sale" condition! Instead of sending an emaciated horse back "home," perhaps the horse could get immediate equine vet and rescue assistance. You know, maybe we could make saving a life priority. Now that, I would think, would be some pretty positive publicity for horses in South Dakota, and for the people and officials in charge of enforcing the welfare laws.