DESERT ARABIAN COMMUNITY UNITES
TO CARE FOR 76 SEIZED HORSES
UPDATE - October 30, 2009 - RE-HOMING COMPLETE
The Humane Society has placed the 76 horses seized in August. We are grateful to the many people who stepped forward to offer permanent homes and who made contributions for feed. HSNT and their volunteers deserve our deepest appreciation, too. This represents the largest seizure in the US where the court, the local humane society, and the Arabian community have cooperated to identify registered horses and place them into potential breeding homes so they will not be lost.
UPDATE - HSNT STATEMENT AUGUST 26
The following statement was released by the Humane Society of North Texas. Obviously there are many details yet to be worked out. Please be patient, and check here for updates on the plans.
On August 26, 2009 the Humane Society of North Texas received permanent custody of all 77 horses owned by Gordon Dennis Key of Renazans Arabians, Pilot Point, TX. Custody was granted after several hours of non-courtroom negotiation between legal representatives. Pertinent to the negotiation was the issue of registration paperwork for all horses, and by forgoing monetary settlement, HSNT will receive all paperwork relevant to registrations for each horse. HSNT staff felt that this paperwork was key to the arabian industry, and will benefit the future of each horse.
HSNT recognizes that this is a special herd of intrinsic value within the Arabian world and is currently working hard on a suitable adoption plan for the herd. At this time the most likely scenario will be an online adoption auction scheduled within the next 30 days, (subject to change as plans progress) with each horse having a minimum adoption bid preset and each bidder being assigned a bidder number after approval of a pre-submitted adoption application. It is the ultimate goal of HSNT to place these animals into homes where they will be well cared for and properly housed for the remainder of their lives.
The issue of reproduction of some of these noble animals will be allowed to be decided upon by approved bidders who are successful in the bidding process, as HSNT recognizes that this herd does not represent any group of animals currently overpopulated or commonly neglected. HSNT also understands the importance of some of the genetics represented in this herd, and wishes to allow responsible arabian enthusiasts the ability to continue improving this fine breed of horse as has been so thoughtfully done for decades. HSNT believes these animals will now have a chance to contribute their fine lineage to the promotion and endurance of the egyptian arabian heritage.
Please continue to go to HSNT’s website and fill out an adoption application so it can be pre-approved. Approved applicants wil be notified by phone or email. Details on the adoption auction, as they are determined, will be posted on HSNT website and will be disseminated via arabian website locations as appropriate. HSNT is proud of this victory for the horses. Donations to continue their care until new homes are found can be made at www.hsnt.org
Further details as to the exact time, location and manner for the Adoption Auction as well as a listing of horses, photos and information on each will be released to everyone as soon as it is prepared. Please be patient as this is a large undertaking.
Donations are of course encouraged and welcome. A heartfelt Thank You to those that have already donated to help these animals in need. The arabian community has been setting the standard for other equine breed organizations as this case has progressed, and the horses are the direct benefactors of your support.
Sincerely,
Sandy Grambort
Equine/Livestock Program Coordinator
HSNT
UPDATE - COURT ACTION AUGUST 26
Susan Mayo, a Board member of the Institute, was in court this morning. There was no hearing, as the parties met first in the judge’s chambers and reached an agreement. Based on Susan’s oral report (we do not yet have a copy of the official court order in writing):
- Mr. Key will surrender the horses to the Humane Society of North Texas
- He will provide the “papers” for all the horses (we do not know what will be done about currently unregistered horses that may be registerable under AHA guidelines).
- He will pay $5000 to the court, which will go toward the care of the horses.
There was no comment on whether he will face any misdemeanor charges or if this closes the entire matter.
We do NOT yet know how the Humane Society will handle adoptions. As soon as we have that information it will be posted here. We DO know that you cannot be considered if you have not filled out an adoption application (see link below).
AUGUST 23
On Friday, August 15, Denton County (Texas) Sheriff’s Deputies seized 76 horses at Renazans Arabians in Pilot Point. Most are Straight Egyptian. The horses are in the temporary care of the Humane Society of North Texas (www.hsnt.org) pending further legal action. A hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, August 26. If the court so determines, the Humane Society may be given responsibility for re-homing some or all of the horses. The outcome of the hearing and any additional news will be posted here.
While the court determines the disposition of this matter, the Institute Board of Directors urges the Arabian community to support the Humane Society to cover all direct expenses.
To contribute to the interim care of these horses, please make your donation directly to the Humane Society of North Texas, which is a 501(c)(3) public charity. Download a donation form at www.hsnt.org/pdf/donation_form.pdf and mail it to the address shown, or use the PayPal link at www.hsnt.org/donate.php .
Indicate your donation is for the 76 Arabian horses and the money will be used for feed, veterinary, lab, farrier, and other costs directly associated with their care. Sending donations to the Institute will only delay getting the money to the Humane Society.
To be considered to adopt a horse if the court determines that the HSNT should be responsible for re-homing, please fill out the application form at www.hsnt.org/pdf/horse_adoption_app.pdf and fax it to (817) 332-2164. The adoption fee has not yet been set. If given such responsibility, the Humane Society will move very quickly, so please fill out the form NOW if you have any interest.
We understand that the Society will consider out-of-state homes. Until the court makes its determination, there is no information on whether horses could be adopted with registration papers.
There is not currently a list of horses that may be available, as the court has not yet ruled on the matter. However, you may find an indication of horses that are involved in the seizure at www.renazans.com/ForSale.html or through DataSource.
The Board of Directors of the Institute has issued the following statement on this matter:
Dear Friends of the Desert Arabian horse,
A number of people have asked what The Institute for the Desert Arabian Horse can do to help with situations such as the one in Texas that has dominated our thoughts for the past week. As a 501 (c) (3) organization devoted to education, research, and conservation of the Desert Arabian horse, the Institute has many options for helping.
To date we have done the following:
1. Contacted our network of donors to solicit contributions directly for the care of the horses while in the custody of the Humane Society of North Texas. We advocate direct donations as being most expeditious, rather than channeling them through the Institute. The response from our donors, and from people around the country who are aware of the sitution through the many on-line forums, has resulted in donations of feed and money to care for the horses for the immediate future, pending disposition by the courts. The forum administrators who publicized the need for donations and those who have made contributions deserve a huge thank you. If the Humane Society of North Texas continues to have responsibility for the care of horses in the coming weeks, we will redouble our fund-raising efforts with the goal that the greater Arabian community fund ENTIRELY the direct costs of the Humane Society.
2. Researched pedigrees of the seized horses that are registered as Straight Egyptian and/or Al Khamsa-eligible and developed a list of horses that may be important breeding stock. We provided that list to local authorities as part of our advocacy that at least some of the horses be re-homed with the potential for future breeding, even though this is not the usual practice in such situations. We advocated for potential placements outside of Texas if necessary.
3. Contacted volunteers from the Arabian Horse Foundation Advisory Panel on Rescue and Re-homing and the AHA sub-committee on rescue and re-homing (part of the Equine Stress/Research and Education Committee) and offered our assistance. We look forward to future collaboration with both groups on policies and procedures that will safegard Arabian horses that are in danger of abuse or neglect and allow the Arabian owners community to respond quickly and cohesively in emergency situations.
4. Offered both the organization that may be granted custody of the horses (Humane Society of North Texas) and the owner the opportunity to use the Institute’s 501 (c) (3) status and our expertise to assist in re-homing critical breeding stock. The Institute has an on-going project, the Desert Arabian Reproduction and Research Effort (DARE) through which breeding stock can be donated for study and breeding.
5. Encouraged people with an interest in the horses (whether as retirement homes, family use, or breeding) to make proper application for re-homing.
6. Informed the local authorities and the custody organization of our availability to mentor new owners through the registration-transfer process so that new papers can be issued by AHA and that the horses will not become “lost.”
7. Coordinated through the AHA Genetic Diseases Task Force with Cornell University to identify horses that are of interest to the Cornell LFS study and arrange for samples to be obtained for the study if such horses become available for re-homing.
Our efforts are guided by the following principles:
1. Do what is best for the horses, working cooperatively with local authorities and non-profit organizations.
2. Identify horses of rare bloodlines or exceptional merit whose loss to the genetic pool would have adverse consequences for the genetic diversity and health of the Desert Arabian herd. Work to identify potential adoptors or new owners who will take responsibility for such horses and breed them according to the principles of conservation breeding. The Institute is uniquely able to provide an independent assessment to local officials regarding the bloodlines.
3. Solicit widely for potential new homes for all horses that need to be re-homed.
4. Work with and through the local authorities to maximize the opportunity for any new owner to transfer ownership and retain registration through AHA. This includes maximizing the registration of unregistered stock and encouraging new owners to transfer registration, regardless of plans for future breeding or showing.
Anita Enander, Chair