Recent News:

April 6, 2009
Denkai Animal Sanctuary Updates
www.denkaisanctuary.org

Yesterday's Blizzards hammered the Sanctuary hard. Between a heavy snow and 40 mile per hour winds many of the Sanctuary's holding areas for the animals were drifted in completely with six foot snow drifts.

Founder Floss Blackburn along with Johnna Hayes and April spent hours digging animals out by hand. The largest project was Charles, the Sanctuary's 900 lb boar pig. He has been nicknamed pigosaurus due to his enormous size. Needless to say he and his shelter were buried under six foot snowdrifts. So it took three women two hours to dig him out. First came a snout and a snort, and then came his head followed by six feet of body. The three of us ran like our rear ends were on fire when the pigosaurus finally came tearing out of his hut. Really it isn't that bad, but we did run.

It is vital to Denkai's operations to have a skid steer or larger loader on hand for storms like this. The north horse pens are literally drifted full of 6' snow drifts. The animals that normally reside in those pens had to be moved to other areas of the Sanctuary. The little tractor that was so generously contributed unfortunately is not built for this job and has a cracked frame.

Dog yards also snowed shut. It has become imperative that Denkai seeks funds that would go towards building a badly needed facility for the dogs. When the weather is wicked like this, all dogs have to be moved and kept separate due to a few that are aggressive towards other dogs in the Sanctuary's 600 square foot house. YIKES!

To view photos of the aftermath of this storm visit: http://denkaisanctuary.blogspot.com/

Thank you to all of our monthly contributors we could not do this without your support. If you would like to sign up for monthly contributions to our cause, please visit: www.denkaisanctuary.org and click any donation button.

Vaccination Donations Awarded to Denkai Animal Sanctuary
The American Association of Equine Practitioners in Conjunction with Intervet (Schering-Plough Animal Health) has contributed 60 vaccinations to be used towards horses housed at Denkai Animal Sanctuary.

Denkai would like to thank both of these organizations along with Dr.
Michael Suit, (www.suitvet.com) veterinarian for aiding in this contribution.

Arabian Horse Update:
Funding is slowly coming together for the Arabian horses in need. Thank you to the Greeley Tribune for their continued coverage on this situation.
The latest tribune article can be viewed at:
http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20090405/NEWS/904049868/1002/NONE&parentprofile=1001

For more information and individual profiles on these horses visit:
www.denkaisanctuary.org A special thank you goes out to Shannon Canfield for her hard work in putting this together on our website.

Feed Needed:
The many animals here at Denkai rely on your continued contributions to keep their bellies full. There have been no contributions toward senior feed, pig, chicken, or duck feed. This has placed a bit of hardship on the Sanctuary in struggling to gain in kind contributions that will help in the continued care of these special animals. This can be extremely hard to come by; feed stores are not always willing or able to contribute.

We appreciate everything you do for the animals and hope that you will be able to spare even $20 for a bag of feed. This can be purchased over the phone for the Sanctuary by contacting Cache La Poudre Feeds in Fort Collins at (970) 482-5092 or J&T Feeds in Greeley at (970) 378-0240. The Sanctuary will pick up these contributions; all you have to do is call.

FUNDRAISERS
Come on out and have some fun! We need your help spreading the word.

Denkai and Reflections for Youth Bring You a Night of Family FUN!!
Loveland, CO - Join us at Laser Traxx on Sunday, April 26 from 5 - 8 pm for a Family Unity Night (FUN)!
RSVP Today 970-344-1380

Visit http://www.denkaisanctuary.org/pdf/FUN.pdf for a printable flyer made possible by Erich Phillips wit Reflections for Youth.

The Jerre Fisher Memorial Run for the Critters has been established thanks to the help of Bob Grube and the Greeley HOG Group. This will become and annual motorcycle run in Memory of Jerre Fisher. Jerre Fisher recently succumbed to a battle with cancer in Greeley, CO and was an avid supporter of human treatment to animals.

Date: October 3, 2009
Details are to be announced.
Volunteer Help Needed:
Graphic artist to create a logo
Coordination of stops
Obtaining prizes for winners
We need a BAND!
Marketing this event.

If interested, please contact the Sanctuary at: info@denkaisanctuary.org or (970) 895-2337

April 4, 2009
Eighteen Arabian Horses Doomed to Local Kill Sales

Grover, CO - For the last eleven months, the fate of Eighteen Arabian Horses left abandoned by a Niwot, CO Breeder has been stalled. Denkai Animal Sanctuary of Grover, CO has housed these horses in an effort to save them from the ultimate ending that will place them on a dinner plate in European and Asian countries of which horse meat is considered a delicacy.

As a result of the court hearing March 30, 2009, the court has ordered that these 18 horses be sold in accordance with the Colorado State Statute. The lives of these horses will be spared no longer without the help of caring individuals willing and able to provide funding and or take them in.

Colorado State Statute; C.R.S. 38-20-206, explains the procedure of sale upon receiving a judgment on an agistor's lien. According to this statute, the sale must take place not more than forty-five days after the judgment at the nearest public livestock market in Colorado. Any public livestock market in Colorado must be licensed through the Colorado Brand Board. Being legally bound to follow this statute, Denkai Animal Sanctuary is forced to take these eighteen Arabian Horses to a livestock auction.

The owner of Dry Creek Arabians failed to appear in court March 30, 2009; Denkai was prepared to ask the owner to sign a bill of sale, which would have saved her eighteen Arabian horses from the hands of local kill buyers by preventing them from having to go through public auction. Denkai was ready to forgive the lien owed against these horses. This would have given Denkai Animal Sanctuary the ability to gain brand inspection and adopt these horses into new homes.

There are many stories, facts and figures blowing across the media and e-mail regarding the number of unwanted horses. The solution that the agricultural industry among others continues to hammer at is slaughter; this is how we dispose of "unwanted horses".

How to dispose of "unwanted" horses is not the solution to this issue; these eighteen horses are a perfect example. Through irresponsible breeding practices due to known defects, housing over 40 horses on a total of 2.7 acres, and the inability to care for these Arabians, their owner has placed them in a life and death situation.

Breeding operations need to be regulated, new and individual horse owners need to be educated in the care and cost of owning horses, economic times are very difficult for many people, funds can be established to aid in gelding expenses, low-cost vaccinations, a 30 day hay supply for those that qualify. Those in the rescue industry are not the only ones finding abandoned horses dumped in their laps, farmers and ranchers are dealing with this as well. There are alternatives that can help to regulate the cause, not the symptom.

The majority of these Arabians are younger to middle aged. A few have had some training and most are very trainable, viable horses. If kill buyers purchase these Arabians, their future will be short. They will be scared, hungry; most of them will end up with injuries from the trip and being crammed in with numerous other horses. Most likely they will encounter lice, ticks, ringworm, broken bones and much worse.

Visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpx5x3ks_qw to understand this process and exactly how close this is to home for all of us.

HOW TO HELP THE ARABIANS

Individuals interested in one of these horses can visit www.denkaisanctuary.org (http://www.denkaisanctuary.org/arabians.html) for a photo and profile of each horse. Photographs courtesy of Ray Reichley. If interested, contact Denkai at: info@denkaisanctuary.org or call (970) 895-2337. Individuals are encouraged to attend and bid on these horses in an attempt to get them to safety.

Denkai is exploring the option to purchase the horses back, thus giving the Sanctuary brand inspection, i.e. ownership and the ability to adopt these horses in to pre-screened homes.

This can happen with contributions totaling $7,000 to purchase them at auction, average cost in this area runs .44 per lb. and a total of $22,000 that would cover costs for the next twelve months to house, train, and adopt these eighteen horses into permanent homes. Denkai can not simply just purchase these horses back without having the funding in place to care for them. If the Sanctuary can raise a total of $29,000 by April 15, 2009, this is a viable option.

There is no limit to what we can accomplish with your help for the animals.

Contributions toward these horses can be made to: Denkai Animal Sanctuary
36710 WCR 126
Grover, CO 80729
Or Via our website at:
www.denkaisanctuary.org, click any donation button.

March 15, 2009
Footsteps give horses a voice
Woman's awareness walk starts in Newark
By JACK IRELAND • The News Journal • March 15, 2009

You could hear the crackling in the voice of Kristina Kremer as she fought backs tears while recounting her horrible firsthand experiences of witnessing the inhumane treatment of horses in slaughterhouses in the United States and Mexico.

Kremer, 32, admits it was the last place she wanted to be, but she felt it was imperative for her to see what was being done. She was accompanied by investigative teams in their successful efforts to have horse slaughterhouses banned in this country two years ago.

However, Kremer and thousands of other horse and animal rights activists are learning there is a determined push for legislation in Montana to legalize a horse slaughter house and have it in operation within the next couple of months.

Kremer, a native of Capulin, Colo., began her Walk Across America for Horses from the lower end of Main Street in Newark early Saturday morning. She is walking for every breed of equine, from the thoroughbred and standardbred racehorses, the riding horse that has become to old to handle his weight, to the farm horses used by ranchers and farmers.

Many horse owners are using the tough economic times as an excuse to abandon their horses or lower the standards of their treatment.

Kremer faces the toughest challenge of her walk early this week. She is carrying approximately 1,200 letters from children and families across the U.S. to the White House.

"A lot of these children and their parents watched President Obama at his press conferences and inauguration," Kremer said. "He seemed like a man who would listen to the smallest of things that people were interested in. I have letters from kids and families from every state, including Delaware. They drew pictures of their horses for the president and want him to know the bad things that are happening as well. They expect these letters to reach him.

"I have to find a way to get these letters to the White House. Hopefully, when I get closer to Washington some of the media in that area will pick up on this. I won't let these kids down. Even if he doesn't read them, I need to get them there. It's important to them and to me.

"I am nervous about doing this, but it is going to be something to change my life," said Kremer, who owns and operates Snowy River Rescue Farm in Capulin, Colo. "I have 120 acres and 120 rescued horses there right now."

Kremer visited a slaughterhouse in the U.S. when it was operational and one in Mexico. The details are too gruesome to print, but Kremer said one very emotional side of the horses drives her to never give up.

"It was amazing to watch the horses stand pat there with honor waiting to die. I also watched the older horses pushing the younger horses back in the line, trying their best to protect them," she said. "They tried to protect them to the end. As inhumane and cruel as the slaughterhouses were here, they are even worse in Mexico and I have been there as well.

"After seeing that, I say why can't I use my two feet to walk and walk and try to make people around this country understand and become more aware," Kremer said. "I owe those horses that much. We just can't let them bring the slaughterhouses back."

Kremer said abuse has been going on for years less than 80 miles from Delaware at the New Holland, Pa., Horse Sales. That's where horses have been sold, to what Kremer describes as "killer buyers," and sent to slaughter houses, first in the U.S. and now in Mexico and Canada.

That's what brought Kremer across the country on a 21¼2-day bus ride last week to reach Newark. She found the support of Susan Pizzini of West Grove, Pa., a horse rescue advocate.

Kremer admits she was nervous, even scared, about making a walk that will likely take her six to eight months and end up in California.

"I just feel that something has to be done to better raise the awareness of horses that are being abandoned across our nation, being mistreated in so many different ways by owners and former owners," Kremer said.

So why did she pick Newark to start the walk?

"The response we have received from Wilmington, Newark, Delaware and the surrounding tri-state area has just been wonderful," Kremer said. "I found out there are so many horse people in this area. It seemed like the right place to begin. There's horse racing in the state and Fair Hill (Md.) and its training center is so close by."

To keep track of Kremer's progress or get more information on her cause, go to www.awalkforhorses.webs.com. Horse rescue advocates can also receive information from Pizzini at (610) 999-1990.

March 3, 2009
11 wild burros shot and killed on govt land in AZ
Link to Article
I have been in contact with the BLM and they have provided the following contact:
Pamela Mathis pamela_mathis@blm.gov or 623-580-5509

She will making a data base of resources and also folks that want to donate money (to increase reward) or other resources to help catch the people that did this.

Pamela confirmed that there were indeed 11 burros shot and killed. She also confirmed that one of the females that was killed was in the process of delivering a foal when she was shot. She is looking for any and all resources to assist to solving this crime.

Please forward this to all that love donkeys and ask to have this put in all donkey / mule publications and on web sites, etc. The more people know about this the more likely the guilty parties are to get caught. Obviously the larger the reward, the greater the chance that someone will turn them in. It has only been published in AZ and has not been picked up by the AP for national publication, nor has the national news picked it up, yet.

If you have a leads on this case call 800-637-9152
Thanks for your help
Cady Ness-Smith
517-281-9139
sascns@flash.net

January 18, 2009
Debate over slaughtering horses gains new life
Congress pressed to ban U.S. trade in meat destined for dinner tables
The emotional debate over slaughtering horses for human consumption gained new life in Washington this week as a House committee approved a measure that would ban the practice nationwide and halt the export of U.S. horses destined for dinner tables in other countries.

Read the full article

July 29, 2008 - Attention: Equine Rescues, Horsemen's Groups, Veterinarians, Stable Owners & All Other Horse Industry Stakeholders

Your letters in support of the Conyers-Burton Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2008 (HR 6598) are urgently needed!

We would like to present our bill sponsor and House Committee on the Judiciary Chairmen, John Conyers Jr. with as many letters of support from equine industry stakeholders as possible. Please address your letters --on your letterhead to : Chairman John Conyers Jr. and fax your signed letter to Chris Heyde at AWI. Please fax to - 888-260-2271.

Time is of the essence, so please fax your letters as soon as possible.

July 29, 2008 - Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2008

On July 24, 2008 Representative John Conyers (D-MI) introduced the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2008 (H.R.6598). The bill, which has twelve cosponsors, was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. Mr. Conyers is chairman of that committee.

This bill would criminalize the possession, transport, sale, delivery, or receiving in interstate or foreign commerce of a horse or horse meat with the intent that it be used for human consumption. It would thus apply to the transport and sale of horses for slaughter in the U.S. or a foreign country. Read more...

March 12, 2007 - Senator Landrieu fight to end horse slaughter..please sign up today!

We need your help to make this vital piece of legislation law, so I hope you'll click on the link below to join me in signing on as a citizen co-sponsor Read more...

September 9, 2007  - Horse Slaughtering Inspires Plant's Last Gasp Amid Illinois Ban

DeKalb, Illinois, might brag about being the hometown of Cindy Crawford, but the supermodel moved away long ago. All the more reason to embrace the town's other claim to fame: It's the U.S. horse-slaughter capital. Read More

August 2, 2007 - U.S. House of Representatives Votes to Stop Horse Slaughter, Again

In 2003, 50,564 horses were cruelly slaughtered at two foreign-owned slaughter plants for human consumption in Europe and Asia. There are now three foreign-owned slaughter houses in operation and over 60,000 horses will be slaughtered this year. Tens of thousands more of America's horses were exported and slaughtered in other countries. Read More

Sick and old horses to slaughter
Question: Is it true that slaughter is used only as a last resort for horses that are infirm, dangerous or no longer serviceable?
Answer: The USDA's own Guidelines for Handling and Transporting Equines to Slaughter state that 92.3% of horses arriving at slaughter plants in this country are in "good" condition.

Neglect and abuse
Question: Will horse abuse and neglect cases rise significantly following a ban on slaughter?
Answer: There has been no documented rise in abuse and neglect cases in California since the state banned horse slaughter for human consumption in 1998. No similar rise has been documented in Illinois following closure of the state's only horse slaughter plant in 2002.

Cost of caring for unwanted horses
Question: If horse slaughter is banned, do horse rescue and retirement groups have the resources to take care of unwanted horses? Should the government have to pay for the care of horses voluntarily given up by their owners?
Answer: Not every horse currently going to slaughter will need to be absorbed into the rescue community - many will be sold to a new owner, others will be kept longer, and some will be humanely euthanized by a licensed veterinarian. Opponents of this legislation admit that passage of the bill won't necessarily lead to an increase in the number of horses being sent to rescue facilities precisely because humane euthanasia is such a widely used method of disposal. It is not the Federal government's responsibility to provide for the care of horses voluntarily given up by their owners; these animals are private property and should be cared for by their owners. However, the AHSPA allows fines collected under the Act to be distributed to legitimate horse rescue groups caring for horses confiscated under the Act. Hundreds of horse rescue organizations operate around the country, and additional facilities are being established (list available).

Safe and humane disposal of sick, old and unwanted horses
Question: If slaughter isn't an option, how will we safely dispose of sick, old and unwanted horses?
Answer: Approximately 690,000 horses die in this country annually (10% of an estimated population of 6.9M) - the vast majority of which is not slaughtered, but euthanized and rendered or buried without any negative environmental impact. Humane euthanasia and carcass disposal is highly affordable and widely available. The average cost of having a horse humanely euthanized and its carcass safely disposed of is approximately $225, while the average monthly cost of keeping a horse is approximately $200.

Export of horses for slaughter abroad
Question: If horse slaughter is banned in the US, won't there be an increase in the export of horses for foreign slaughter? Won't horses suffer more as they are transported further for slaughter in countries where there may be weaker welfare laws?
Answer: Although horse slaughter has, over all, declined dramatically in the US over the past decade, there has been no correlating increase in the number of American horses being exported for slaughter abroad. Further, the AHSPA prohibits the export of horses for slaughter abroad, and contains clear enforcement and penalty provisions to prevent this from happening. Risk of federal prosecution and the high costs associated with illegally transporting horses long distances for slaughter abroad are real deterrents.

Standards of care at sanctuaries and rescue organizations
Question: Is it true that no standards exist for horse rescue facilities that take unwanted horses?
Answer: The Association of Sanctuaries and the American Sanctuaries Association provide accreditation programs, a code of ethics and guidelines for the operation of sanctuaries and rescue organizations. Horse rescue groups must also provide for the welfare of horses in their custody in compliance with state and local animal welfare laws. The National Horse Protection Coalition and several of its member organizations working with horse organizations and sanctuaries have developed guidelines specific to equine rescue facilities.

Information provided by:
The National Horse Protection Coalition
PO Box 1252
Alexandria, VA 22313
Tel (703) 836-4300
Fax (703) 997-1134
Website: http://www.horse-protection.org/
Email: info@horse-protection.org

Further more, more than 50,000 horses are stolen each year as compared to about 20,000 cattle. About 60 percent of the stolen horses end up in slaughter plants, where they are processed and sold as meat for human consumption in Europe and Japan. There owners grieve terribly not knowing what ever happened to their pet horse. If we can ban slaughter many fewer horses will be stolen for slaughter as evidenced in California when they banned slaughter in 1998 and theft of horses dropped 34%.

For more information about horse slaughter and what you can do to help end this atrocity please visit the links above.