I am not against slaughter. But I am firmly against inhumane treatment before & at the plant.
This Mr. Earls has already been criminally convicted for previous animal abuse, yet the Sheriff is failing to act on this case. Disgusting.
The vet & Sheriff had no problem with this! :mad: Vet needs fired & his licensed pulled!
Apparently Tori Earl is the ex wife of the animal abuser.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Justice-For-Copiah-County-Horses/740679139356838
DO YOU BELIEVE THIS, AND ARE YOU GOING TO STAND FOR THIS? WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON TORI EARLS BEING THE PERSON WHO “ADOPTS” THESE HORSES OUT? BLOW UP THEIR PAGE: AT:
https://www.facebook.com/msboardofanimalhealth?fref=ts
Mississippi Board of Animal Health
6 hours ago
Update on the horse investigation in Copiah County:
The MBAH is continuing to assist local law enforcement (LE). In MS, local LE is responsible for abuse, cruelty and neglect investigations.
The MBAH investigation is focused on its responsibilities regarding entry of animals, disease status, and dealing/sale of animals and their health papers. No overt infectious diseases have been identified, but the Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA/Coggin’s) status is not known so the horses have been placed in quarantine.
Some of the horses have been chosen for adoption. At this time, all those horses have been matched to legitimate 501©3 horse rescue organizations. Individuals interested in adopting horses, should others become available, should align themselves with a legitimate horse rescue organization. 501©3 horse rescue organizations interested in adopting horses from this facility can message Tori at https://www.facebook.com/tori.s.earls.
The MBAH will release horses from quarantine for adoption after the horses have received a negative Coggin’s test.
The MBAH is continuing to investigate the movement and sale of horses on and off the facility.
Updates will be posted as they become available.
Have to wonder if this is a different owner or the horses Earl moved overnight:
After first claiming that she spoke to the “young man who rescued these horses off a kill truck” and then claiming she “bought 69 of them for $ 2500”, now Tori Earls (ex wife of the 59 year old horse owner) goes on the news and comes up with yet another story.
The horses found malnourished and neglected in Copiah County last Saturday will find new homes through a group of rescue organizations, according to the ex-wife of one of their owners.
Meanwhile, misdemeanor animal cruelty charges have been filed against Jerry Earls and Victor Smith, the owners, by the couple that found the horses on the land in Crystal Springs.
Tori Earls said as soon as she started to see the chatter on Facebook about the horses, who were found by Scott and Alisha Armstrong on land leased by her ex-husband, she went to see what their situation was. She said when she got there on Sunday, she saw that there was plenty of hay and feed, and there were two ponds on the land in addition to the water supply that was tainted with the corpses of some dead horses.
Tori Earls and Jerry Earls remain cordial, so she called him.
“Seeing that it was creating what had already become quite an outcry on Facebook, and also seeing that only part of it was being displayed in order to make it look as bad as possible, later on that evening I called Jerry and asked him, ‘Look, it’s not mine to decide, but I have a suggestion. Can we maybe get some of them into a rescue. Just think about it,’” she said.
The reason she did that, she said, is that for all the outcry, there needed to be an avenue to help the horses. So she started to talk to horse people she knew. She said she didn’t get a lot of positive feedback from local organizations, but several from out of state have banded together to offer help, starting with the Arabian Rescue Mission and the South Alabama Equine Rescue and Rehabilitation. Those two, along with others in Tennessee, Florida, and Texas, will farm out the herd once their papers have all been located and it has been ascertained that they have met all the veterinary standards.
“Working with the state veterinarians, with Jerry, and with several local veterinarians, we were able to get the paperwork signed to get these horses adopted out,” Tori Earls said.
More than anything, Tori Earls said, her goal has been to help the horses.
“There were dead horses there, there are thin horses there, but no one has bothered to report or ask about the fat horses there. No one has asked about the doctoring that has been done, no one has thought to ask where they came from. They didn’t care,” she said. “I understand people’s shock, and it’s easy for the judgment to be fueled to turn into vindictiveness. The bottom line, if we’re to help these horses, you get on the ground, you look at the situation and you start contacting people and asking for help.”
Tori Earls said she’s gotten all kinds of feedback via phone, email, and social media. Some of it has been helpful, some of it has been ugly. But she said she’s content to know she’s done what she could to help the horses.
“Standing there with the state representative (of the rescue groups), handing her the forms for the adoptions to begin so these rescue organizations can actually do what they do,” she said. “And knowing that regardless of what anybody thought or what anybody said, I can feel comfortable and lay my head down at night knowing that I did my part to help, not harm.”
Some of the group of horses found in Crystal Springs, some dead, some malnourished, were possibly headed for slaughter, according to people who know the owners.
Scott and Alisha Armstrong were looking at some land in Copiah County on Saturday when they came across at least 100 horses that they said were wounded, sick, and dead.
The couple brought misdemeanor animal cruelty charges against horse owners Jerry Earls and Victor Smith through Copiah County Justice Court on Wednesday. Local law enforcement have said the initial review of a team of veterinarians and the state Board of Animal Health has shown that the horses left on the land in Copiah County were just old, therefore there were no grounds for charges. The condition of the ones that were moved to Utica was less clear, but all the horses were under quarantine until papers and shot records could be found.
Earls has remained tight-lipped through the situation, but his ex-wife said he’s lived most of his life as a horse and cattle man. Little is known about Victor Smith at this point.
Earls is from a family that has always had horses, dogs and cattle, friends and family said. They portray him as a man who loves his animals, but also functions within the industry as a businessman.
“Jerry’s always had horses, they’re his partners. He has been active in the horse world all of his life from barrel racing to team roping and team penning and showing,” Tori Earls said. “He’s been a cowboy his entire life.”
So it’s hard for some people to wrap their heads around why he would trade horses for slaughter. Tori Earls, who was married to him for several years but is not anymore, said she was aware that he did that, as are many livestock people in Copiah and the surrounding counties.
“While it is a difficult position for some people to grasp, the slaughter market is a very real market and it happens every day,” she said, adding that she does not support or oppose it.
Tori Earls, who is still cordial with her ex but is not usually involved in his dealings, asked Jerry Earls if she could try to get the horses adopted out when she saw the publicity began on Facebook.
She said she asked him why the dead horses on the farm were not buried.
“That was my biggest question, ‘Why didn’t you bury them?’” she said. “He had contacted someone who was supposed to come and didn’t.”
That happened with at least three different people who were to bring backhoes to the property and bury the corpses, Tori Earls said Jerry Earls told her.
“When he finally got someone out there, the storm had already started,” she said.
All of the horses that Jerry Earls trades do not go to slaughter, though, Tori said. He buys them in poor condition at sale barns and feeds them until they’re in better condition. There are some that are sold as pets, because once they’re cared for and fed, their health picks up, but there are some that are beyond saving.
In the Crystal Springs herd, there were many that were healthy, Earls said. She says the pictures that have been posted online have depicted the worst of them and didn’t show the full range of conditions of the entire herd.
“No one has bothered to report or ask about the fat horses there. No one has asked about the doctoring that has been done, no one has thought to ask where they came from. They didn’t care,” Tori Earls said.
So potentially the horses had come there, originally from sale barns, and were actually there to make an attempt to get better, whatever the outcome. Doctors have confirmed that they were in bad shape before Jerry Earls got them. How long he has had them is unclear, but horse trading usually has quick turnover.
“Unfortunately these animals came to this property mostly in this shape. They were already weak, already in a compromised state,” said Dr. Brigid Elchos of the Mississippi Board of Animal Health.
Stephanie Bell, the director of criminal investigation for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, said the medical care for the horses should have begun immediately.
“But let’s be clear, that doesn’t mean the current custodian, the legal custodian in the moment isn’t required by law to provide proper care,” she said. “They may not be responsible for how the injury or ailment occurred, but they’re responsible for the immediate medical care.”
Bell said there is a horse overpopulation in the country, very much like the dog and cat overpopulation.
“There are more horses than homes, and meanwhile they’re still being bred in very large numbers,” she said. “What horse traders do is cash in on this. They take large numbers of surplus animals and they typically transport them for profit to slaughter.”
That would fall under the jurisdiction of the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, which regulates the commercial transportation of horses for slaughter by establishing minimum standards that owners, shippers, and drivers must follow.
“APHIS is aware of this incident, and is working closely with local, State and Federal authorities to gather information and determine whether any violations of APHIS regulations may have occurred,” said APHIS spokeswoman Lyndsay Cole. “Once we have complete information we will make a determination as to the appropriate course of action.”
According to the ASPCA website, no slaughterhouses currently operate in the United States, but American horses are trucked over the borders into Mexico and Canada. Initally a neighbor told the Armstrongs that Jerry Earls ships his horses to Forney, Texas, where there is a kill farm that transports them into Mexico.
Bell said PETA is also closely monitoring the investigation from the animal cruelty angle.
“We’re actively looking into it. We’ll be reaching out to officials getting a better understanding as to why the criminal charges are not being sought,” she said. “That’s very distressing to us given the allegations being made and the photos we’ve seen.”
Lydia Sattler, Mississippi State Director of the Humane Society of the United States, said the situation raises red flags.
“Having that many deceased animals, and horses with various injuries going untreated, when you combine that with his criminal history, I think we have to take a really hard look at this case,” she said. “I think it would be hard not to find something in violation of state statute.”
Tori Earls said Jerry Earls would have made sure that the horses had plenty of food and water because his job was to try to fatten them up.
“There are some, obviously from the pictures, he doesn’t always succeed, but the majority of the time he does,” she said.
Looks to me like one of those horses might have strangles.
Owner of Horses Found in Copiah County Arrested
UPDATE:
Jerry Earls was arrested Thursday on 4 counts of animal cruelty, according to authorities.
Copiah County Sheriff Harold Jones tells WJTV, Earls was charged because four horses needed medical attention and he failed to provide it.
Earls was released on his own recognizance.
Four horses? Just four horses. Let’s just sweep all the deaths under the carpet. Blah blah blah blah. And he was released. :mad:
I know, it is better than nothing. Let’s hope it is just a start.
Thank you for the update.
http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/27541533/misdemeanor-charges-filed-against-horse-owners
Misdemeanor charges filed against horse owners
COPIAH COUNTY, MS (Mississippi News Now) - We continue our investigation into a case of alleged animal neglect in Copiah County. We have learned the State Board of Animal Health is conducting an investigation into Jerry Earls business records and medical records for horses in his possession.
Alicia Armstrong and her husband described the scene as a nightmare. They found nearly 100 malnourished, wounded and dead horses on the property.
Within two days, state and local investigators were on the case.
Tuesday, Armstrong filed misdemeanor charges against Earls, a convicted cattle rustler, and his partner Victor Smith, who told Armstrong he was part owner of the horses.
They got feed troughs, they got hay. I’m not hiding nothing you know," said owner Jerry Earls.
“No, I ride a horse 7 days a week for a living,” added Earls, when asked if he abused or neglected the horses.
While the State Board of Animal Health does not investigate animal cruelty, Dr. Jim Watson said he is following up on other matters, including rumors this could have been a holding pen for the horses to be moved to Mexico for slaughter.
“Well that’s what I’ve heard as well,” said Dr. Watson, "I can’t validate that. I don’t know that for sure. I know those are part of the rumors. Again we are working to identify animals that have left this property. Where did they go? Who hauled them and where did they go?"
It’s possible the horses will be up for adoption in the future.
“We have been in contact with individuals that are interested in working to adopt and to take these animals,” added Dr. Watson. “So we are working with the owner and adoption groups and are working on a protocol for releasing the animals once they have met the proper tests, including having a Coggins test to show they are negative.”
Tuesday, the Humane Society of the United States, the nation’s largest animal protection organization, issued the following statement on the horses:
“Regardless of why he has nearly 200 horses, the owner has a responsibility, both under Mississippi state law and morally, to provide necessary care to his animals. Before law enforcement moves forward without charges, we implore them to look for evidence that the owner provided necessary sustenance that is required by our state law. Having so many injured and deceased horses, combined with the owner’s criminal history, authorities need to take a really hard look at this case to ensure no more animals will suffer.”
https://www.facebook.com/msboardofanimalhealth?fref=ts
Mississippi Board of Animal Health
3 hrs ·
Update: The Copiah County Sherrif’s Office has charged Jerry Earls with animal cruelty. They have confiscated four horses and have them under veterinary care.
Horses that had been hauled away have been located and brought back to Mr. Earls’ property and are under quarantine by the MBAH.
The MBAH continues to investigate the source and health status of the horses and has determined that they belong to an individual in another state.
All horses do have access to food and water.
I sure do hope they do not have access to that cement trough to become trapped in again! That was horrible.
This man, Jerry Earl, is repeat animal abuser. He needs jail time, & to be forbidden to own animals ever again.
His ex wife, seems like a piece of work too.
http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/27675012/new-charges-pending-in-dead-horses-investigation
New charges pending in dead horses investigation
Updated: Dec 19, 2014 8:41 PM EST
COPIAH COUNTY, MS (Mississippi News Now) - We have learned more criminal charges are pending against Jerry Earls in Copiah County. After numerous dead, sick and malnourished horses were discovered on his leased land, animal activist have been up in arms.
Earls is charged with 4 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty in Copiah county.We have learned the State Board of Animal Health is ready to slap him with 13 counts of failure to dispose of 13 dead horse on the property he leased out. The fine up to $1,000.00 on each count.
Three people staged a rally Friday in front of the Copiah County Sheriff’s office, including Alisha Armstrong. She and her husband discovered the tragic situation on Dees Road.
Alisha said
“What’s being done here is unjust for the horses,” said Alisha. “We care about the horses and we want to make sure the horses are taken care of in a proper manner. And a just manner. The people that did this need to be to the fullest extent penalized for it.”
Cindy Crane drove over from Carthage, she is a supporter of the Justice for Copiah County Horses group.
“We look bad around the country,” said Crane. “It’s not just here. There might just be three of us here today, but there are thousands of people who are aware of what’s going on in Mississippi and they are not happy about it and they support us all.”
The State Veterinarian says Mitch Stanley paid Earls to buy feed, hay and care for the animals. But Earls did not do that. According to Dr. Jim Watson, he allegedly pocketed the money.
Authorities for the state and county also told us, initially Earls claimed the horses were his, then he changed his tune.
We have confirmed through the State Vet and Copiah County Sheriff, the owner of all but 8 horses, is Mitch Stanley. According to federal court documents authorities, StStanleynd his family own a commercial transport business and livestock feedlot business based in Arkansas and Louisiana.
Dr. Watson confirmed Stanley sent in 18 wheelers and loaded up his horses Thursday. Their ultimate destination remains unknown.
But Justice for Copiah County Horses advocates believe they will eventually be sold and sent out of the country for slaughter.
Rescue organizations from in and out of state rescued what was left of the few remaining horses that survived on the property. Second Chance for Horses Facebook page posted photo’s of some rescued animals that had injuries and others with ribs showing.
Animal advocates say at least a few of the horses, suffering from the worst conditions and malnutrition, now have a second chance at life.
Thank you so much for the update. :encouragement:
Apparently, the owner of the majority of neglected horses, Mitch Stanley, was permitted to retain ownership. He loaded them up in their emaciated state and moved them to holding pens in Texas, waiting for slaughter in Mexico. From what I’ve read, only 8 were rescued.
[QUOTE=Wilhelmina;7919624]
Apparently, the owner of the majority of neglected horses, Mitch Stanley, was permitted to retain ownership. He loaded them up in their emaciated state and moved them to holding pens in Texas, waiting for slaughter in Mexico. From what I’ve read, only 8 were rescued.[/QUOTE]
Right now ARM is trying to raise the funds to purchase all 65 by Friday which is when the horses will be heading across the border. Sad state of affairs, but I do hope they make their goal, most horses that are holed up in the holding pens at the border do not get the chance to be rescued. I think it was said they had to pay $40,000 by Friday or the horses ship. It is all on ARMs Facebook page, for those without facebook if you want me to I will copy and paste it here if you want me to.
Edited to add:5 horses are still in LA but 60 are in holding pens in Presido(?) Texas.
Sorry for being off for so long, got one hell of a story to share soon though 
They collected the $ 40,000 and secured a farm for the kill buyer to deliver the horses to.
While I normally don’t like these type of efforts, I am glad this one was successful.
If this all works out, there will be 60 horses leaving the border holding facility in Presidio and an additional 5 horses that were left behind in LA.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Justice-For-Copiah-County-Horses/740679139356838
ARM also has updates on their FB page:
[QUOTE=OneMarbleLess;7923749]
Right now ARM is trying to raise the funds to purchase all 65 by Friday which is when the horses will be heading across the border.[/QUOTE]
Tread carefully when ARM is involved. I know everyone wants a good outcome for the surviving horses, but there have been so many red flags regarding ARM over the years.
Sheilah
[QUOTE=IdahoRider;7925619]
Tread carefully when ARM is involved. I know everyone wants a good outcome for the surviving horses, but there have been so many red flags regarding ARM over the years.
Sheilah[/QUOTE]
IdahoRider/Sheila, could you be more specific as to what the red flags are? I’ve been following this saga all along and am blown away by the whole rescue mission an ability to raise 40,000+ in a matter of days.
Not trying to create an issue as I’m just curious and want to learn more. Feel free to message me on FB if you prefer.
Easier to do it in PM. At least for me. That way I won’t have to worry about multiple platforms. I’ll provide links.
Sheilah
Jen, I tried to PM you links, but your box is full.
Sheilah
