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PETA wants inquiry into horse death at fair pull
By KEVIN GRAHAM
Published March 7, 2007
TAMPA - A national animal rights group wants Hillsborough authorities to investigate cruelty toward a horse that died after a weight-pulling show last month at the Florida State Fair. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent a copy of its letter to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday, asking that charges be filed because state law prohibits overworking or overloading an animal. A 12-year-old Belgium horse died of a heart aneurism after it participated in the fair's Draft Horse Pull Show on Feb. 15, said Terry Yoder of Wildwood, the event organizer. "It's just one of those deals that happened, and there's nothing that anybody did wrong," Yoder said. Hillsborough sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter did not have details on the status of an investigation, because the deputy looking into it was unavailable. Jackie Vergerio, the animal entertainment specialist with PETA, said the organization sent the letter after talking to a witness who said the horse had been bleeding and frothing from the mouth after its pull and not given access to water. Travis Claytor, a Florida State Fair spokesman, said that the horse's death was a private matter being handled between the event promoter and the horse's owner. He said the Horse Pull Show had been going on for several years and described it as "one of the more popular shows at the fair." Yoder said that in the show, horses pull six heavy loads for about 3 seconds each time, before taking a rest. Kevin Graham can be reached at 813 226-3433 or kgraham@sptimes.com.
[Last modified March 7, 2007, 01:03:40]
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by yu
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04/08/07 01:06 AM
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accidents happened in the horse was triggered properly just a was pulling heavy load that is nobody's fault it was for a very short period of time. People do it all the time for example you see the Polish strongest men in the world he's pulling heav
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by Ray
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03/17/07 12:07 PM
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Show animals such as bulls, horses, dogs, cats, are treated better many humans. They get the best feed,the best medical the best housing. These animals are Athletes and treated as such. Show animals work min., work animals hours. It's what they do.
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by Chris
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03/17/07 12:00 AM
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PETA is a JOKE of an organization!
Just look at some of thier sick propaganda they hand out and on thier website. Whoever said animals cant tell us what they do/dont like has never worked a working animal before, you are being ignorant.
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by Chip
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03/13/07 03:09 PM
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Horse pulling is a long held tradition in the agricultural history of this country and as someone who owned and competed with horses for more than 10 years I would just like to say that PETA is a cult. Horses LOVE to pull.
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by A
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03/11/07 04:41 PM
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AnnH-I suppose you hunt innocent deer for sport...I mean food right? I eat meet, I won't lie...but there are some things that are unnecessary-LIKE MAKING POOR HORSES PULL TOO MUCH FOR ENTERTAINMENT.
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by S
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03/09/07 08:44 AM
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How many of the PETA people go to the horse races and bet on them? That isn't cruelty to animals? Making a horse run faster than it can while being hit with a whip all the while??
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by AnnH
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03/08/07 02:24 PM
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There is no room in this world for the cult that calls themselves PETA. They are ignorant and know nothing about the animals they supposedly try to protect. Overpopulation hurts the ecosystems of the world. EAT MEAT!!!!!
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by Mark
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03/08/07 01:26 PM
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Death for the sake of a few minutes of entertainment. This is why we need Peta.
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by Ki
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03/08/07 01:18 PM
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This is rediculous! C'mon how do people know what animals like to do and dont like to do? They can't tell us. Making a horse pull all that weight for show is wrong! They should strap weights on these people and make them walk on broken glass!!!
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by Anthony
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03/08/07 01:35 AM
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A:PETA (People Eating Tasty Animals)...If the guy in Largo can get a sex change, maybe PETA members can change into animals
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by Evan
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03/07/07 08:25 PM
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Ken: PETA does help the homeless and their animals. They give fur coats (donated by those who become informed of the horrors involved in fur-making) to the homeless and provide their pets with food and veterinary care.
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by Gary
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03/07/07 01:40 PM
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A. When a horse is abused, efforts may be taken to see that the abusers do not abuse again. B. PETA actively works to prevent animal abuse. A. B.= This is why PETA is involved. PETA stands up for animals when others do not-hence "animal rights org."
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by Kenny
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03/07/07 01:37 PM
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I have a suggestion for everyone. Get a life by helping animals.
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by Joe
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03/07/07 01:33 PM
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PETA does help the homeless. PETA gives the homeless fur coats that people with a conscious gave PETA.
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by A
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03/07/07 12:14 PM
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One other thing, the article says it died of an anuerism but, word was that it had to be euthanized. The right facts might be useful before people attack an organization that is trying to help animals.
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by Ashley
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03/07/07 12:02 PM
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I actually saw the horse covered with the tarp and thought the same thing...how cruel. There was no need to have them pulling a truck. I understand they pull harvesting equipment but for a contest? Give me a break...one word: unnecessary.
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by Ken
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03/07/07 07:33 AM
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PETA needs to get a life these horses love to pull and are treated better most people,maybe PETA needs to look into the treatment of the homeless,Im sure some have pets.
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