Should rescues buy from the meat man.

I have sold a horse for meat and I have also purchased a horse from the meat man.

The purchase was a yearling. A bit under weight with some rain scald going through a typical gawky stage. He was about 14.2 when I got him. A bit of TLC and doctor green and he grew to be about 16hh and was sold on to a girl who has since broken him in. He's turnt out to be a fantastic, smart animal. This is not something I would normally do, however he was closely related to another horse we had so wanted him.

The one I sold was an *** hole. She would charge people that went into her field, barge through her stable door and run directly over the top of people, booted the farrier(he refused to ever come back!) reared under saddle, put a previous owner in hospital etc. If she ended up 'rescued' I would be fuming.

I do know people that have sold broken, useful ponies for meat. There is no market for a green pony it would seem, so it can be more financially viable to send them for meat than deal with potential buyers who may only end up paying a token more than meat prices anyway. So I don't doubt there are some horses that end up at the meat man that could still make fantastic horses BUT you need to know what your doing before taking such a risk!!
 
If you pay a purchase price, it isn't a "rescue" - it's just a purchase. As long as people will pay to buy these animals, not only is there an incentive to keep breeding, but there is incentive to keep them as poorly as possible.

If you buy a horse in that state, you fuel demand and you contribute to the problem.

If you take on a horse that a "rescue charity" has paid for, you are contributing to the problem.

I would donate to a charity which took on horses (without payment) and gave them an immediate and humane end. To address the issue we need to stop production, and cut down the vast numbers currently unwanted. Horribly harsh, but that is the reality.
 
I have followed this rescue for a while and I can't say I agree with their conduct. They have a tendency to foster and adopt out horses that are still in an awful state. There is no way that after two weeks these still thin, weak animals anywhere near rehabilitated and or assessed on health or their suitability for adoption. A lot of rescue horses can have health or behavioural issues that require an experienced home or will only come to light as the horse improves. It's not rescue, it's dealing. It's shameful to continue offering this man a means to buy more animals and arrogant to think his attitude will be changed. I don't buy it at all. What bothers me further is prolonging the pain of animals who are gone beyond help, then the animal disappearing without a trace.
 
chillipup said:
I've taken the time to have a look at this rescues site. It's in Ireland. It appears to me to be pretty well from the looks of things. They take in all sorts of animals, are involved in actual physical rescues involving horses, donkeys and dogs, you name it. They don't mind getting their hands dirty. All the animals brought in, (they collect the death row dogs from the Kerry Dog pound weekly it seems, including Bitches with pups, lots and lots of abandoned Border Collies) are given vet checks and any that need it, receive veterinary treatment. The have a large team of what appears enthusiastic, reliable and willing volunteers. The raise their own funds and the owner/manager sounds capable and competent. (they intend to get charity status approval in the future) They seem to be all working very hard ,continually fund raising, but that's rescues for you! Of course they do? How else do you think they run? At least they seems very open and honest about what they are spending donated funds on. They have lots of foster carers, which I feel is much better than being kenneled for the dogs. They have good contacts with the dog wardens, police (or Guarda?) other dog/cat charities both in Ireland and the Uk. All the animals rescued/taken in, which are suitable, are put up for adoption and this too appears successful.

If this Rescue wishes to buy horses and ponies from the meat man, the odd pony or two from local horse fairs, a Macaw parrot from a pet shop, I don't see the problem. They are taking in far more abandoned, neglected, stay and unwanted animals than they actually purchase. It seems well run and very organised. Good on them. It's an often thankless, never ending and heartbreaking task running such an organisation.

But don't take my word for it -perhaps before jumping to conclusions and slagging them off, I suggest you take some time and take a look on the their site for yourselves. At least then, you can make an informed opinion.

OP, from the photos provided of these ponies on the site, I'd say it was more than legit and as for having to rake in more funds...they have to do this all the time! how else do think they are able to feed, house, provide bedding, veterinary treatment, pay farrier bills, vehicle running costs (to pick up the animals) and all the other associated costs? It's what every other rescue/rehoming centre has to do, including WHW, BHS, RSPCA Dogs Trust, Blue Cross etc etc.
Click to expand...

I suggest you go back and look at their page, see if you can find any posts asking questions that normal rescues would be happy to answer, ask them a few yourself such as funds. Have a look and see how many updates you can find considering the amount of animals they take in.

The Parrot was actually bought by one of their patrons and her friends, they donated the money after the manager had told them it was in a terrible state and once back to full health she was going to pass it on to a wildlife sanctuary, this was all lies.

How do we know what vet treatment the animals receive as there are never any receipts from the vet, my point being is you have to take so much on trust with this rescue without them providing a shred of evidence to back up their claims. People go on that site and believe what they are told, they fall for the long blogs from the manager with her over the top emotional pleas for money.
 
I've had friends whom have had *very* bad experiences with this rescue.

That poor Parrot they rescued (bought) from a pet shop in Tralee is horrific. The shop then had their name dragged through the media for mistreating the bird, which was very unfair on the business who have very reputable name and care for the animals they sell, contrary to the norm. That did serious damage to the shop and its owners through an online smear campaign to raise funds to "save" the parrot.

The Parrot was then meant to go to a local wildlife park according to the charity but never did because the park rejected the bird over health concerns. When contacted the wildlife park said that they were never asked to take the parrot, but would gladly have taken it on. This was in writing and shown on one of the many FB pages set up to expose this charity.
 
Last edited:
I wish we as a rescue had such disposable money ! she claims they have rehoused loads and more going out so have space!!."all they need is money"?? What about space needed for any returns if there homes don't work out and continued funds to feed these horses and vet care?...thinking to much with heart and not head! never makes for a good rescue imo. Sound like one of those rescue where the animals are crammed in and end up as cruelty cases in the rescue its self. Running beyond their means.
 
CAYLA said:
I wish we as a rescue had such disposable money ! she claims they have rehoused loads and more going out so have space!!."all they need is money"?? What about space needed for any returns if there homes don't work out and continued funds to feed these horses and vet care?...thinking to much with heart and not head! never makes for a good rescue imo. Sound like one of those rescue where the animals are crammed in and end up as cruelty cases in the rescue its self. Running beyond their means.[/QUOTE
I've just registered reading this threat...have personal experience with this rescue and all I can say is stay away. There is very often no follow up on horses which has previously been collected for, money donated for one cause gets spent on another without explanation where it's spent. Horses are re homed without microchip and passport ( have 3 of them - non had any paperwork and the third girl was in terrible condition when she came after having been in their care for 10 days.She never even saw a brush).They have neglected a husky to skin and bone condition, and their treatment of a donkey foal dying of pneumonia is to bring it in into a hot living room, wrap it up in a blanket before and open fire and takes pictures of herself lying next to it..horses have been rehomed with strangles...So, them buying horses form the meatman..? It springs to mind that people are copping on and are not really willing to let this crowd 'rescue' their horses..and to answer the question? It's a resounding NO. Same with buying from fairs. You create a false economy and if you buy neglected horses/animals from fairs you only encourage the behavior. As much as my heart breaks at the suffering of those animals, it needs to be reported to and through the right channels. Frankly , those fairs and markets should be shut down.:(
Click to expand...
 
Agree with Mollylittle- my friend had a horse from AHAR, chose it off their re-homing page, where it said it was a 14.2 4yr old gelding...... when it arrived (lice, no chip or passport, very thin) it was a 2 yr old COLT!!! luckily she's expperienced and realised, suppose he had gone to an inexperienced person who turned him in with mares...
 
WeeLassie said:
Not right at all- Theyve (AHAR) just bought (bought, not rescued) another 12 from this 'meat man'/dealer. Can they not see the more they buy the more there will be......
Click to expand...

Exactly. It's a trade. They are trading on the misfortune of these poor animals and I find it all very worrying.
 
Totally agree with Mollylittle. I don't agree with rescues buying from the meat man as it just creates a market. They know full well that these people will take on anything. To be honest I'm not a fan of this particular "rescue" either. Animals that have been rescued once, could with no one keeping an eye on the re -homed animals, end up needing to be rescued again.
 
that 'rescue' is a disgrace. i was disgusted when they had a pygmy goat crated and kept alone. anyone know you cannot keep them on their own as its extremely stressful for them. they have no idea about what's in the best interest of the animals they have, they just use them as pawns to get money.
 
Mollylittle said:
CAYLA said:
I wish we as a rescue had such disposable money ! she claims they have rehoused loads and more going out so have space!!."all they need is money"?? What about space needed for any returns if there homes don't work out and continued funds to feed these horses and vet care?...thinking to much with heart and not head! never makes for a good rescue imo. Sound like one of those rescue where the animals are crammed in and end up as cruelty cases in the rescue its self. Running beyond their means.[/QUOTE
I've just registered reading this threat...have personal experience with this rescue and all I can say is stay away. There is very often no follow up on horses which has previously been collected for, money donated for one cause gets spent on another without explanation where it's spent. Horses are re homed without microchip and passport ( have 3 of them - non had any paperwork and the third girl was in terrible condition when she came after having been in their care for 10 days.She never even saw a brush).They have neglected a husky to skin and bone condition, and their treatment of a donkey foal dying of pneumonia is to bring it in into a hot living room, wrap it up in a blanket before and open fire and takes pictures of herself lying next to it..horses have been rehomed with strangles...So, them buying horses form the meatman..? It springs to mind that people are copping on and are not really willing to let this crowd 'rescue' their horses..and to answer the question? It's a resounding NO. Same with buying from fairs. You create a false economy and if you buy neglected horses/animals from fairs you only encourage the behavior. As much as my heart breaks at the suffering of those animals, it needs to be reported to and through the right channels. Frankly , those fairs and markets should be shut down.:(
Click to expand...

Ah yes the donkey incident. That was a hoot. Of course the best treatment is a blanket on the sofa!
Click to expand...
 
Theres an unbelievable amount of money pouring in to that rescue, if you look at tha Animal Heaven Animal Rescue FB pages its unreal how much they get! 100's if not 1000's for every sob story...
 
Wow, just had a nosey at their page and it's unreal! Her 'army' worship her like a saint and she's even getting donations from the US...
 
It sounds very suspect. I wouldn't trust an Irish system to highlight inaccuracies or corruption either. Let alone to act upon it.
 
kamili said:
It sounds very suspect. I wouldn't trust an Irish system to highlight inaccuracies or corruption either. Let alone to act upon it.
Click to expand...

I agree that being a registered charity in Ireland isn't like being one in the UK. To be fair I think the system is pretty new still, I believe Ireland only bought in registration of any kind in 2014. It does say elsewhere on the page:

Part 4 of the Charities Act 2009 gives the Charities Regulatory Authority statutory powers of investigation with respect to charitable organisations. This Part of the Act has not yet been commenced so we are not currently empowered or resourced to conduct statutory investigations of charities.
 
laura_nash said:
I agree that being a registered charity in Ireland isn't like being one in the UK. To be fair I think the system is pretty new still, I believe Ireland only bought in registration of any kind in 2014. It does say elsewhere on the page:

Part 4 of the Charities Act 2009 gives the Charities Regulatory Authority statutory powers of investigation with respect to charitable organisations. This Part of the Act has not yet been commenced so we are not currently empowered or resourced to conduct statutory investigations of charities.
Click to expand...

Thanks for explaining, yes, charities are not regulated (like most things here) and regulations are rarely enforced.
 
equi said:
Have you heard of the RSPCA? lol

I don't identify as Irish, but i doubt this is the fault of the Irish "system" and your post was quite derogatory.
Click to expand...

Sorry I don't mean to offend.

DSPCA which is an Irish equivalent has paid puppy farmers for puppies they "seized".
http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto...e1630333.ece?CMP=OTH-gnws-standard-2015_11_07

If the Irish charity system can't or doesn't regulate the charities then I'd see it as the fault of the Irish system.

In ireland our own minister for agriculture who oversees animal welfare has said on numerous occasions that there is no animal welfare crisis in ireland. I find that disappointing. http://www.thejournal.ie/horse-welfare-ireland-1252307-Jan2014/

If one of the countries largest charities in animal welfare pays off puppy farmers, then what's to stop others doing it/? Particularly as charities aren't regulated here.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top