Outrage over kill-penned former Paragallo mares..

[KirisClown]

Paragallo's explanation..


"This is Ernie Paragallo and I am writing to let every one know exactly what happened, I really don't care what any one on this board thinks about me but I want to get the facts out there so maybe some good can come from this and maybe it can stop it from happening in the future. The mares that are in question were the lucky one's in this terrible tragedy, there were a total of 24 mares that were given away to a breeder in florida in mid december. These mares were a part of a package of 60 horses that I had advertised with several bloodstock agents and breeding farms, I had offered the barren mares with a free breed back to any of my NY stallions or to my stallion King Of All Storms in florida. All the horses in this package of 60 were offered for free to the Bloodstock agents and farms, of the 60 horses we had given away about 6 to people in NY at a rate of 1-2 horses per person, in December I received a call from a person in florida who said he had received the list from a bloodstock agent and was interested in the horses, I asked how many and he answer ALL. This was a home run for my business we were going to move 60 horses that had limited value to us and were going to get the added benifits of having the mares bred back to our stallions and we had the potential to earn stallion awards for there offspring. Of the 60 horses 24 were barren mares withe breed back options, 13 pregnant mares where we were going to be co-breeders of the off spring, 10 old racehorses that were going to be used as ponies or pleasure/show horses and 13 2 Yo and 3 yo colt and fillies that they were going to race on a 60/40 split of income with then retaining the greater amount and also paying the entire upkeep. In December two vans arrived at our farm and picked up the 24 barren mares, the drivers said they would be back in a couple of days to pick up the rest. After a week we called back the gentleman who had called us but I never got an answer, safe to say he never came back for the rest. This morning I was called by my girlfriend crying to me about what she had been told and had read on the Rescue Website, I immeadiatly called the Rescue Group and try to find out what had happened. After speaking to them they told me that they knew who had sent the horses there and they believed he had done it before, they let me know that 8 horses had been rescued from the killing pen but believed the others had been slaughtered. This made me sick to hear as most of those mares I either foaled or had since they were babies and did not deserve that faith. This is what happened and I believed I had made the proper business decision but it did'nt turn out that way and it was a terrible tragedy. Like I said I don't care what any one thinks about me because you can not make me feel any worse about myself than I already feel. I have never sent a horse to the killer and I have never mistreated any horse i have ever own, I have gone to great lenghts to keep horses alive even when vets have told me to put them down, I was told by one of the most knowledgeable horsemen I know if they are eating and moving around and look happy there is no reason in the world to put them down."

[SuffolkGirl]

Originally Posted by KirisClown

Paragallo's explanation..


"This is Ernie Paragallo and I am writing to let every one know exactly what happened, I really don't care what any one on this board thinks about me but I want to get the facts out there so maybe some good can come from this and maybe it can stop it from happening in the future. The mares that are in question were the lucky one's in this terrible tragedy, there were a total of 24 mares that were given away to a breeder in florida in mid december. These mares were a part of a package of 60 horses that I had advertised with several bloodstock agents and breeding farms, I had offered the barren mares with a free breed back to any of my NY stallions or to my stallion King Of All Storms in florida. All the horses in this package of 60 were offered for free to the Bloodstock agents and farms, of the 60 horses we had given away about 6 to people in NY at a rate of 1-2 horses per person, in December I received a call from a person in florida who said he had received the list from a bloodstock agent and was interested in the horses, I asked how many and he answer ALL. This was a home run for my business we were going to move 60 horses that had limited value to us and were going to get the added benifits of having the mares bred back to our stallions and we had the potential to earn stallion awards for there offspring. Of the 60 horses 24 were barren mares withe breed back options, 13 pregnant mares where we were going to be co-breeders of the off spring, 10 old racehorses that were going to be used as ponies or pleasure/show horses and 13 2 Yo and 3 yo colt and fillies that they were going to race on a 60/40 split of income with then retaining the greater amount and also paying the entire upkeep. In December two vans arrived at our farm and picked up the 24 barren mares, the drivers said they would be back in a couple of days to pick up the rest. After a week we called back the gentleman who had called us but I never got an answer, safe to say he never came back for the rest. This morning I was called by my girlfriend crying to me about what she had been told and had read on the Rescue Website, I immeadiatly called the Rescue Group and try to find out what had happened. After speaking to them they told me that they knew who had sent the horses there and they believed he had done it before, they let me know that 8 horses had been rescued from the killing pen but believed the others had been slaughtered. This made me sick to hear as most of those mares I either foaled or had since they were babies and did not deserve that faith. This is what happened and I believed I had made the proper business decision but it did'nt turn out that way and it was a terrible tragedy. Like I said I don't care what any one thinks about me because you can not make me feel any worse about myself than I already feel. I have never sent a horse to the killer and I have never mistreated any horse i have ever own, I have gone to great lenghts to keep horses alive even when vets have told me to put them down, I was told by one of the most knowledgeable horsemen I know if they are eating and moving around and look happy there is no reason in the world to put them down."

Free to a (good) home is generally not a good idea for re-homing an animal.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by SuffolkGirl

Free to a (good) home is generally not a good idea for re-homing an animal.

\

especially when it's 60 free to a good home. outrageous and absolutely disgusting.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by Danzig

\

especially when it's 60 free to a good home. outrageous and absolutely disgusting.

very true Zig. How the heck did he not know what was going to happen? Now he's coming off as sounding very ignorant in that note.

this is a very sad story.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

very true Zig. How the heck did he not know what was going to happen? Now he's coming off as sounding very ignorant in that note.

this is a very sad story.

you'll never convince me he didn't have a thought it wasn't on the up and up. but he chose to give them all away anyhow, didn't he? turn away and ignore his conscience.

[jezebel]

I have been working with rescue groups in the Southern California area for awhile, and this sort of story is all too common (though not usually on such a large scale with so many horses dumped from the same source). Sorry, I just don't buy the "I made a business decision and had no idea what would happen, I trusted the guy who picked them up" story when this jerk offered up in bulk a large amount of horses FOR FREE (according to the comments he's apparently made). That's a kill buyer's dream situation, and you can't tell me he didn't have a clue that those horses were in serious danger of being sold to slaughter. What he did was not illegal - but certainly inhumane and morally wrong IMO. Its so sad....

[GBBob]

Originally Posted by jezebel

I have been working with rescue groups in the Southern California area for awhile, and this sort of story is all too common (though not usually on such a large scale with so many horses dumped from the same source). Sorry, I just don't buy the "I made a business decision and had no idea what would happen, I trusted the guy who picked them up" story when this jerk offered up in bulk a large amount of horses FOR FREE (according to the comments he's apparently made). That's a kill buyer's dream situation, and you can't tell me he didn't have a clue that those horses were in serious danger of being sold to slaughter. What he did was not illegal - but certainly inhumane and morally wrong IMO. Its so sad....

I respect Mr. Paragallo for responding as he did, but wasn't sure how to take it after reading several times...but your "if it's too good to be true" take on the "free" horses is how I feel as well.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by jezebel

Sorry, I just don't buy the "I made a business decision and had no idea what would happen, I trusted the guy who picked them up" story when this jerk offered up in bulk a large amount of horses FOR FREE (according to the comments he's apparently made). That's a kill buyer's dream situation, and you can't tell me he didn't have a clue that those horses were in serious danger of being sold to slaughter.

People have to be able to distance themselves mentally from the animal ultimately ending up dead because they no longer wanted it

[richard burch]

since he "doesn't care what people think of him"

i think he is a piece of ****.

[LARHAGE]

Originally Posted by jezebel

I have been working with rescue groups in the Southern California area for awhile, and this sort of story is all too common (though not usually on such a large scale with so many horses dumped from the same source). Sorry, I just don't buy the "I made a business decision and had no idea what would happen, I trusted the guy who picked them up" story when this jerk offered up in bulk a large amount of horses FOR FREE (according to the comments he's apparently made). That's a kill buyer's dream situation, and you can't tell me he didn't have a clue that those horses were in serious danger of being sold to slaughter. What he did was not illegal - but certainly inhumane and morally wrong IMO. Its so sad....

I recall the case of Warren's mares as well here in California, he stated he too had no idea they were going to slaughter, the thing is, it doesn't take a rocket scientist in these tough times to know that NOBODY wants a large herd of horses to care for, clean, feed etc... It doesn't make financial sense. I have multiple horses of my own, and believe me, I full well understand the pressure and pinch of feeding them, but you can't just turn your back and walk away, I would have far more respect for someone humanely euthanizing or, yes, even placing a well aimed bullet in the horse's head than to subject them to the pain and agony of starving, becoming weak and ill and God forbid, subjected to the terror of a Mexican slaughter house, the point is these horses didn't asked to be created, when we breeders/owners became their guardians, we took on the responsability of their lives, it's entirely in our respective hands what happens to them from that point onward, and I can tell you as tough as it's been lately for everyone, this plight is still completely unacceptable and downright appalling.

[jezebel]

Originally Posted by LARHAGE

I recall the case of Warren's mares as well here in California, he stated he too had no idea they were going to slaughter, the thing is, it doesn't take a rocket scientist in these tough times to know that NOBODY wants a large herd of horses to care for, clean, feed etc... It doesn't make financial sense. I have multiple horses of my own, and believe me, I full well understand the pressure and pinch of feeding them, but you can't just turn your back and walk away, I would have far more respect for someone humanely euthanizing or, yes, even placing a well aimed bullet in the horse's head than to subject them to the pain and agony of starving, becoming weak and ill and God forbid, subjected to the terror of a Mexican slaughter house, the point is these horses didn't asked to be created, when we breeders/owners became their guardians, we took on the responsability of their lives, it's entirely in our respective hands what happens to them from that point onward, and I can tell you as tough as it's been lately for everyone, this plight is still completely unacceptable and downright appalling.

I totally agree (and I also remember the Warren situation). Its very hard for horse operations of all sizes right now (obviously with some notable exceptions) - numerous small time ranches are going under, and the horses are paying the price. Rescues are full to the brim - and I completely agree with euthanasia being a practical choice that far too many people won't consider.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by LARHAGE

I recall the case of Warren's mares as well here in California, he stated he too had no idea they were going to slaughter, the thing is, it doesn't take a rocket scientist in these tough times to know that NOBODY wants a large herd of horses to care for, clean, feed etc... It doesn't make financial sense. I have multiple horses of my own, and believe me, I full well understand the pressure and pinch of feeding them, but you can't just turn your back and walk away, I would have far more respect for someone humanely euthanizing or, yes, even placing a well aimed bullet in the horse's head than to subject them to the pain and agony of starving, becoming weak and ill and God forbid, subjected to the terror of a Mexican slaughter house, the point is these horses didn't asked to be created, when we breeders/owners became their guardians, we took on the responsability of their lives, it's entirely in our respective hands what happens to them from that point onward, and I can tell you as tough as it's been lately for everyone, this plight is still completely unacceptable and downright appalling.

people turn a blind eye, so easy to absolve yourself of wrongdoing when you turn your hands palm up and innocently roll your eyes, while saying 'i thought it was ok. i thought i found a good, (free) home for some unwanted (60!!) horses. i can't afford to feed them, i had too many (but the guy taking them doesn't??).

[Danzig]

my daughter called two days ago, she and a friend were out riding back roads and came upon an old cemetary. they got out to look around, read old dates on tombstones. there were two half starved horses wandering around the cemetary. she called me to ask advice. i told her to call the police and the humane society. she went back yesterday and the two were gone, so i hope they picked them up. she had been volunteering part time at the animal shelter, so hopefully they can find out if the two got picked up.
i told her they were probably let loose by the owners.

[TalkToTheHoof]

Originally Posted by LARHAGE

I recall the case of Warren's mares as well here in California, he stated he too had no idea they were going to slaughter, the thing is, it doesn't take a rocket scientist in these tough times to know that NOBODY wants a large herd of horses to care for, clean, feed etc... It doesn't make financial sense. I have multiple horses of my own, and believe me, I full well understand the pressure and pinch of feeding them, but you can't just turn your back and walk away, I would have far more respect for someone humanely euthanizing or, yes, even placing a well aimed bullet in the horse's head than to subject them to the pain and agony of starving, becoming weak and ill and God forbid, subjected to the terror of a Mexican slaughter house, the point is these horses didn't asked to be created, when we breeders/owners became their guardians, we took on the responsability of their lives, it's entirely in our respective hands what happens to them from that point onward, and I can tell you as tough as it's been lately for everyone, this plight is still completely unacceptable and downright appalling.

Exactly! This is so similar to the Warren case -- he thought he was giving his pregnant mares to an up-and-up horseman, who would race the offspring. Warren also saw this as a "home run" as he got to unload unwanted stock and he could still get breeders' awards if the offspring were successful at the track.

Very few people believed Warren then. I doubt that many are going to believe Paragallo now.

"I don't care what you peons on the forum think...but I'm going to explain myself anyways because I've been caught redhanded and, contrary to popular belief, have a conscience (but only when something I've done wrong is made public and can harm me financially)."

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

"I don't care what you peons on the forum think...but I'm going to explain myself anyways because I've been caught redhanded and, contrary to popular belief, have a conscience (but only when something I've done wrong is made public and can harm me financially)."

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Kasept

I wouldn't be so sure....

[MisterB]

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

"I don't care what you peons on the forum think...but I'm going to explain myself anyways because I've been caught redhanded and, contrary to popular belief, have a conscience (but only when something I've done wrong is made public and can harm me financially)."

[reese]

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

"I don't care what you peons on the forum think...but I'm going to explain myself anyways because I've been caught redhanded and, contrary to popular belief, have a conscience (but only when something I've done wrong is made public and can harm me financially)."

:

Right on all points.

[justindew]

Some new stuff...

http://www.paulickreport.com/blog/va...ing-skeletons/