Well lo and behold, that has happened. No it isn’t Off The Track Thoroughbred Rescue or that Turning for Home out of Parx Racing run by that Barbara Luna and why on earth would you think that feds might be interested in little old them anyway? They are angels are they not? Do you sense sarcasm? Good.
I am sick of horse rescue. I love horses. I rode many moons ago, and don’t ride now and have never owned horses. Some say that means I have no business saying boo about horse rescue, but I am sorry, horse rescue is the new puppy mill in Pennsylvania. It is not really regulated and those who are supposed to keep track of horse rescues like that LAPs (Large Animal Protection Society) just seem to be asleep at the tractor or something.
And yup, sorry I am allowed an opinion on this. And my opinion is there is a lot of money being made by different folks only it is hard to keep track of the horses, their paperwork, who is caring for them, who is responsible for them and all that.
Every time we turn around a new “rescue” pops up. Some of them are retreads and contacts of already suspect rescues and some are new. I love the ones that say they are a business but also a rescue. Call me confused but are they businesses selling horse or a non-profit rescue? It is all very confusing and we’ve been over it a dozen times at least.
I would say the issues with horse rescues in Pennyslvania are legitimate given all the comments. And to those who leave comments with problems with horse rescues please go to the authorities. If the authorities won’t listen you need to stand up somewhere under your own steam as many others are doing and be counted. I do not know what else to say.
Published: Apr 30 2013 11:51:14 AM EDT Updated On: May 01 2013 04:40:48 PM EDT
NORTH HEIDELBERG TWP., Pa. –
Federal investigators raided a horse rescue operation in Berks County on Tuesday.
The FBI, acting on a federal search warrant, conducted the raid at Another Chance 4 Horses on Station Road in North Heidelberg Township.
Agents seized computers, cell phones, financial records, veterinary records and boxes of other items and documents related to the nonprofit operation and its sale and purchase of horses, according to an inventory list compiled by the agents.
Onto Justice for Argus and Fiona. The trial of Gabe Pilotti is coming up unless it does a dance, and here is an update from Mary Bock:
Talked to the D.A.’s office today, it’s been we’ll over 2 months since Mr. Pilotti shot Argus and Fiona and he still has the shot gun in his possession. As each court date comes and goes I am starting to lose faith in our justice system. How can this be that Tom Hogan was so passionate in his press conference announcing the charges they were going to file against Mr. Pilotti and now the D.A.’s office cant even seem to have the shot gun removed from his possession. I’ve been given excuse after excuse as to why they are not in the drivers seat. It is completely discouraging! Our justice system at its finest. I’ve been quiet, I’ve held back but now my patience is no more and I feel like my family and all of the people who have supported us have been taken advantage of and made to look like fools. 🙁 We have new dogs that we love very much, but we haven’t forgotten our old loves who were brutally shot by a sick man who then bragged about his conquest. Hoping and praying that our justice system will do what it is meant to do.
I just pulled up the docket and wow I get also why she is frustrated. When is the trial? Is it still May 15th or will they say yes to the defense motion to move it to 6/17/13? Why is there a bail hearing on 5/7/13? Why hasn’t the gun he used to shoot the dogs been confiscated? Does the District Attorney of Chester County care about this case? Animal cruelty cases?
When it comes to Justice for Argus and Fiona what in the hell is going on? It’s a little hard to tell so if you can find out from the District Attorney please let everyone know….
Of course there is reported drama over who actually “quit” and who was “fired” and are you surprised? What is it they say about truth being optional for these people?
So what the what? And if Barbara Luna and Turning for Home are moving horses does that mean all these people worried about all these horses for all this time were right? And if Barbara Luna is moving horse around like pawns on a chessboard so they finally have their paperwork together? And what does Barbara Luna and Turning for Home have to say about all of this? After all Off the Track Thoroughbred Rescue never magically just clapped their hands and twitched their nose for horses to appear, right? So what does Barbara Luna have to say for herself? Does she track all the stipend money doled out along with the horses?
And where is LAPs on this? You know the mythical Large Animal Protection Society? Do they have a handle YET on horse rescue in Chester County or are they pretending that probelms with horse rescues in Chester County isn’t really like problems with puppy mills in Lancaster County?
And speaking of LAPS, can someone please explain to me this brand new horse rescue over in Oxford that popped up on Facebook and loves everyone but doesn’t take donations? What rescue doesn’t need donations? For real? Are they on some unknown DuPont estate with a giant endowment running them or are they over maybe on the fan heiress’s farm?
And here I thought Triple D was only Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives.
This of course begs the question once more of how many horse rescues exist in Chester County and how are they regulated? I ask because my horse friends tell me one sick horse coming into a barn can put the entire barn at risk. Other animal rescues are regulated so how exactly do horse rescues get regulated?
Finally, someone sent me this photo. They described it as “horse training” at a horse rescue? So are these kids even old enough to drive or vote that are handling this horse? Looks dangerous, but what do I know, right?
Horse rescue remains a great mystery of life to me. I just wish anyone seemed to know what the rules and regulations were, right?
3.20.2013 MISSING PONY FOUND – This is up on Netposse.com: (they posted this on their Facebook page )
I am very happy the innocent pony has been found….in Port Jervis, NY which I learned is on the Delaware River in Orange County, NY – which looks pretty- it is apparently where NY, NJ, and PA meet.
I am however finding myself conflicted on this whole thing. The netposse report indicates the pony was missing for a month. So how do you not know where one of your animals is for a month unless you are on some ginormous ranch in Montana?
Who is the barn owner who sold a horse without paperwork? Is that even legal? And who is this family who was leasing the pony? How do you just up and ditch a pony you are basically renting? And if you were leasing a pony or horse that was beloved to your children would you want it some place close to you or farther away?
Again, I don’t own horses, so I don’t know. However can it be said that Ms. JB should have take away from this? Can she understand now why people who adopt horses from her rescue get frustrated? Worried? Upset?
I noticed that there was a cash reward offered for safe return of the pony? Maybe she can pay back some of what she owes to these other people out there who are upset with her rescue “business”?
And for the record, I truly want to believe all of this played out as Ms. JB said because can you say it would just be too awful to contemplate anything else because children are involved as well as an innocent pony?
Seriously St. Francis must be looking out here. After all, that report above indicates the pony went missing a month and two days ago. Truly, it is a miracle.
So yesterday was a flurry of horsification. I posted “carol’s story” and a child’s pony went missing.
Yesterday it was noted that Off the Track Thoroughbred Rescue seemed off-line both on website and Facebook page. Now it’s back. It’s back with a missing pony notice:
So we all understand – this stuff is posted in a multitude of places with multiple photos publicly. I am showing cropped screen shots because I do not want to post clear photos of someone’s kids even to help them find a lost pony without their permission. Especially given who this pony went missing from, capice?
Today this missing pony is posted everywhere and the chatter is the pony was being “free” leased (no clue what that is) somewhere. Anyway, so there was some sort of lease arrangement and then supposedly the people leasing her did not pay barn fees or something? And then the barn owner sold the pony?
So wait, stop. How can someone just sell a pony without paperwork? Aren’t little ponies supposed to have those coggins things too? Now the barn owner who sold the pony and the leasing family are not named anywhere, and well wouldn’t you consider naming names to get your pet back? If this is all true, don’t they have accountability?
Anyway, I am going to be the bigger person and the SOLE reason I am posting this is somewhere out there is a very upset little girl, and for the sake of the poor pony. This is what was posted with the photo on Camelot Horse Weekly:
This is Toodles, She is a small 12.2h pony that was being leased in PA, the owner just found out she was sold wihtout her knowing and is desperately searching to find the beloved pony, please keep an eye out for toodles. More Pictures can be seen at Jessica Troxell Basciano facebook page and you can also contact her with ANY information.
Toodles Last seen in Kennett Square breech of contract sold. At New Holland and then sold by Don Martin at New Holland outside. If you have seen this pony or if she is in your barn Please contact Jessica. She is offering a reward for her safe return.
The idea of any creature being sold anywhere near New Holland makes my blood run cold.
I do however have to say one thing and that is how do you not know where your animals are? Nevertheless, if you have seen this pony, the pony should go home to that child, right? Two innocents should not get caught up in some funky snarl, right?
But since the woman who is missing this pony runs a horse rescue where people have been upset on how animals changed hands,are occasionally missing paper work like health records and coggins, shouldn’t she maybe be more understanding of people and their needs with regards to horses? As in not only keeping the horses the way they deserve to be kept but keeping good and accurate records too?
So I am going to ask all of you something: in spite of whose pony this is, if you have seen it, contact her. Do the right thing for the sake of a child and an innocent animal.
I will say however the timing of this is rather cute. And that is opinion, and opinion is a God-given right.
I will also say this: something needs to give on how horses and ponies change hands at New Holland.
UPDATE: This like all the other things of a horse nature is swirling around and around. Some of the pony photos have been shared widely on FB which means people are seeing comments about it. This was sent to me. I will say I am trying not to judge and I feel sorry for the little girl who now has no pony and I truly hope the pony is o.k. and safe. I hope that pony finds it’s way home.
So way back in late October and early November when a friend saw these kooky Craig’s List ads and then I started looking on my own and asking questions about horserescue, I have said it before, but it is the truth: I had no clue the craziness that would ensue.
Day after day, week after week things just swirled about Off The Track Thoroughbred Rescue in Glenmoore (Oxford too?) and Parx Racing’s Turning for home. I did not seek it out. I even got comments from people as far away as Oklahoma. On and on, and drama swirled. Facebook kamikaze to odd things happening at people’s homes. (Unless you think the state police showing up in full Ninja turtle gear is normal for Chester County mornings?). People getting followed, people feeling generally bothered, and lots of finger-pointing, and how nutty was all of it? Even I received comments and such that could be interpreted as threatening or menacing, and wow, what did I do? Ask questions? Care about animals in rescue?
When would it stop?
No one seemed to know. And all it was to begin with was worry over horses entering rescue and how they were being cared for and where was LAPs in all of this?
Now from my perspective can it be said that Barbara Luna who is with Parx Racing’s non-profit Turning for Home among others has a lot of questions she should be answering versus dodging? After all isn’t it Barbara Luna who helps shift these racehorses who have outlived their track usefulness off the track around here and into local rescue? Still to this day, where is this woman’s accountability? How did these horses end up across state lines without proper paperwork in some cases? And did some end up in that awful New Holland place in line to become god knows what?
Anyway, last week it was noticed that Off The Track Thoroughbred Rescue of Fairview Road in Glenmoore (and elsewhere?) was offline. As in the Facebook page and website suddenly went dark. It had be active in both cases as of March 11, because they were advertising a yard sale to raise money for the rescue sometime this month, so why? Why is the only thing left (probably until this post gets published) a tumblr page? Are they closing their doors or merging with another horse rescue? If either occurs, what happens to the horses in this rescue? And where are they?
So many unanswered questions. But today, I have been asked by someone who says they were duped by Off The Track Thoroughbred Rescue to publish something. It is her story. She wants to go public because she is tired of being painted as a villain in a multi-act play.
Her name is Carol. Below is what she wrote verbatim. She owns her words and takes responsibility for them. If Off The Track Thoroughbred Rescue is indeed done, then perhaps Barbara Luna of Turning for Home can address this? Even apologize?
Click on hyperlink for Carol’s Story. carols story
A lot of this centers around Carol’s special needs daughter. And anyone who knows horses or has worked with say Thorncroft or other horse therapy programs knows the power horses have for good in these situations.
Here is the text (there are photos and other things the author embedded in the document above):
In Jan of 1999 God blessed our family with a beautiful baby girl. Her birthmother loved her so much she actually came to our home with a weapon and ripped her from my arms.
My baby was lost to me for 3 months before authorities were able to bring her home. She came home very lethargic. I had my baby back but, she didn’t laugh, she didn’t coo, she didn’t even cry all that much. She simply laid there, a human baby with no light in her eyes. It was like holding a doll.
Doctors said she’d outgrow it…experts said that severely neglected infants become very withdrawn but love would heal that. I couldn’t just sit by and hope. I quit my job and devoted every minute of my life to bringing her back. She never left my sight during those first nine months. We bonded and slowly I began to see a spark in her eyes.
At 4, we learned she was on the autism spectrum. I watched my child struggle to fit in, to make friends, to be good at something/anything for years. The pain was incredible. Then in 2010 at the age of 11 she discovered horses and her whole world changed. She started taking lessons, she learned to ride and she found her voice. Finally she had friends, she was good at something and she liked her world. For months she saved every penny of her allowance, her birthday money and Christmas money. Her goal was to own a horse of her own.
Day after day she spent hours on dream horse trying to find a horse she could afford until the day she saw an ad placed by Jessica Troxell Basciano. Of course we took her to see the horse. Of course we let her buy him. What parent could say no to a child’s dream?
Never did we think anyone, much less a mother, would take advantage of a handicapped child but that is exactly what Jessica Troxell Basciano did. She said the horse was perfect for my daughter. She said the horse was sound and well trained. Jessica Troxell Basciano stood next to me, watched the tears rolling down my face as my only child lived out her dream on the back of that horse…and she lied.
Instead of a sound, well trained, suitable for a child, horse Jessica Troxell Basciano sold my baby a horse that had only been off the track for three weeks, had been recently gelded and had severe stifle issues.
We returned the horse to Jessica Troxell Basciano within 24 hours of purchase. Two years later we are still fighting to have my daughter’s money returned to her.
This is “Moose’. In the background is my car and the tent we slept in next to Moose because my child refused to leave him that night. Below is Jessica’s response. We did not leave the horse alone at all actually. He never fell during the night and he didn’t have a soft tissue injury anywhere on his body. He was not injured while we had him.
As for the vet bill:
My husband is a well respected, highly intelligent engineer. To suggest he would offer to pay anything more to her is just insulting.
What vet charges $300 to come look at a horse? No x-rays were taken. The vet came at 3:00 pm and Jessica started texting me to say the horse was perfectly fine at 3:05.
She claims to have a bill and a letter. We have yet to see anything of the sort.
Jessica Troxell Basciano “re-homed’ ‘Moose’ to a young woman named Jenn Messner. Jenn is one of many young women who work for Jessica in exchange for free horses. Below is Jenn’s response:
Please note that she says she wouldn’t have put my child on that horse but Jessica did. Also note she says he has stifle issues.
All I want is my daughters money back and for Jessica Troxell Basciano not to be able to do this to any other family. Yes, it IS about the horses but sometimes it’s also about the people who love them.
Well people are still talking about those horse rescues….and sources say that Barbara Luna from Turning for Home is not happy that people keep asking her questions but gosh good golly, she doles out the horses to rescues with stipends and stuff so shouldn’t she know? Shouldn’t she be accountable? How is it she always plays possum?
Anyway the Facebook page of that Off The Track Thoroughbred Rescue is mysteriously down but their website and idiotic tumblr pages are still viable. You can also find them on some site called “Dream Horse” that I don’t follow.
If you go looking for bargains (or missing coggins, halters, medical records, stray horse, etc.) remember to ask if they are a non-profit or some kind of incorporation or LLC – they say all proceeds will go towards the rescue….just want to get it right, right?
The address is 261 Fairview Road Glenmoore, PA 19343 – you will have to watch the website for the exact date.
Hope you get a bargain and if you are awaiting answers from that rescue, those too! Maybe LAPS representatives will be there too, right? I mean they care “caring, committed, taking action”, right?
And if you are upset with horse rescue in PA you can contact Chester County Commissioner Ryan Costello – apparently he has some sort of interest here, I don’t know for sure, just what I am told.
And if people feel they have no other recourse they can always see what PA Attorney General Kathleen Kane has to say about horse rescues and non-profits. Commonwealth of PA 717-787-3391, (Consumer protection) 800-441-2555, (717) 783-2853 (Charitable organizations complaint)
And be aware that the owner of the rescue having the yard sale has these judgments and stuff filed against her in Chester County Court that has to do with the rescue she is having the yard sale for:
Lest we forget out here in Chester County, it is not just dogs that need the kindness and caring of the public, horses do too.
So I am circling back to the topic of horse rescue. Briefly. It is my hope since the media that is interested in horse rescue irregularities now knows how to find their way to Chester County, they will check out what is up with horse rescue. Especially since so many come literally off a track in Pennsylvania.
See this horse photo posted? His name I am told is Wildcat. He has a story posted with his photo. I found it all on Facebook yesterday, and it is quite recent. I will share that too:
Yes it is fugly out there when it comes to horse rescue, and I wish that just one iota of the media attention shown to other types of animals, animal cruelty, and animal rescue would show here. Wildcat ended up with a happy ending of sorts because he ended up thousands of miles away on a farm of a caring woman from Oklahoma….who is still waiting apparently for either Turning for Home through Parx or Off The Track Thoroughbred Rescue to pony up the horse’s paperwork and medical records. I can’t make this stuff up, just look for yourselves:
Horses are expensive and when they change hands they have all these things that are supposed to go with them. I am too tired to go into all of it again, but can we leave it as horse rescue seems to me to be a somewhat dirty business? And can we also say around here that these race horses that come off the track via a woman named Barbara Luna and Turning for Home and in turn go to a rescue that isn’t even a non-profit called Off The Track Thoroughbred Rescue at 261 Fairview Road in Glenmoore are long overdue with some explaining on Wildcat and other horses placed into rescue? Are there still horses related to this rescue at a place called Lasko Farm in Oxford? After all how else do you explain why some horse lovers/owners are still so upset in Chester County? That photo of Wildcat above is on Facebook in a couple of different places – in once place it cause enough uproar for over 80 comments . These PA “rescues” are even being discussed by a pretty big deal nationally known horse rescue person, and I would not say it is all positive and love, is it?
The dogs in our world have a lot of good people to look after them and fight for them. Horses, not so much. Around these parts they are supposed to have LAPs, but does that do any good? No one can ever seem to answer that question for me.
My final comment this morning is for the dogs. The outpouring of love and support for the Bock family over the loss of their beloved dogs Argus & Fiona is so truly amazing and wonderful…some of the more negative behavior I have heard about associated with this? Not so much. I really don’t dig the idea of strangers taking the nosy pleasure ride through Chester Springs to see “where it happened” or the comments I have seen threatening innocent animals or when I heard about the freak of a woman who stood in the road with a bull horn screaming.
I find this morning’s article in The Daily Local interesting. Especially since West Vincent officials pretty much hid from the media and public for days on this. Are they utterly innocent in this? Only time will tell. Seems to me they were advised to get on the publicity bandwagon. People don’t generally think warm fuzzie bunnies and chickens when it comes to these supervisors do they? I do applaud the Chief of Police for stating flat-out that they freaky vigilante justice has to stop. No civilized person condones that kind of behavior so good for them.
When I posted “the post” almost 48 hours ago now, I hoped this would take off as an issue so this family could have peace and justice, but truthfully this has surpassed my wildest imaginings. Justice for Argus & Fiona has spread far and wide and the Facebook page set up for support by the Bock family’s friends has almost 1500 members and continues to grow. And a petition has begun as well so feel free to sign it!
To be clear, I am not a big fan of West Vincent government. I think they rule oddly over one of the prettiest places in Chester County. And weird and unnecessary things always seem to happen. And for Pete’s sake, elected officials seem to spend an inordinate amount of time worrying and spreading nonsense about a writer called Chickenman don’t they?
West Vincent the truth shall set you free but that is a topic for another day. Well, it won’t be if you aren’t respectful of your citizenry at the upcoming Supervisors Meeting on Monday February 25th at 7:30 pm. I know full well residents have contacted you and requested that the matter of the shooting to death of puppies Argus and Fiona be put on the agenda. If you try to stifle your people on this, West Vincent, the hue and cry over attempting eminent domain at Ludwig’s Corner Horse Show will be child’s play by comparison.
West Vincent Township is located at : 729 St. Matthews Road Chester Springs, PA 19425 Phone: (610) 458-1601
Residents want to learn about firearm use in a residential area, what constitutes a farm, and how to make changes to bad laws. And in addition to all of this, they strive to find a positive from this tragedy. West Vincent, you owe decency and answers to your citizenry.
To the citizenry I urge you to make your voices heard respectfully. Emotions are running hot on this issue and I was told by a reporter today about a woman who stood outside the dog shooter’s house yesterday and just stood in his driveway yelling “Dog killer!!” at him for 5 minutes. That, I am so sorry, is not cool. First of all he has guns and isn’t afraid to use them, and secondly he has neighbors who must feel under siege by all the media crawling around West Vincent, and third and most importantly things need to happen the right way with this. Don’t stoop to the level of someone who shoots dogs, please.
A friend of mine commented something that is worth repeating. She was afraid of people getting too vigilante justice for lack of a better term. She is absolutely correct that cooler heads must prevail.
It is with that in mind that I must say that encouraging people to call this guy who shot the dogs or stand outside his property is NOT the right thing to do. In my mind that falls into two wrongs don’t make a right.
If you want to help, show the Bock family support and condolences and empathy- losing a pet under ANY circumstances is so hard, and what happened to their dogs IS intolerable cruelty, but justice should be served under the law by those qualified to serve it.
If you want to help, get Pennsylvania lawmakers to update outmoded farm statutes and other laws so Pennsylvania’s dogs are PROTECTED.
If you want to help, go show support for these people at the upcoming West Vincent Board of Supervisors meeting and ask them to do their jobs as elected and appointed officials the RIGHT way.
If you want to help ask the Chester County DA to ensure that people use firearms responsibly as in DON’T fire them in residential areas and gun down dogs and possibly put unsuspecting humans at risk. Violence should NOT beget violence. As adults we have the free will and ability to pay this forward the RIGHT way.
And among other things, we need to pass that along to our children. Ok so lecture is over.
Let us get back to the business at hand: Justice for Argus & Fiona and peace and love for their humans. Together we can enact positive change so other dog owners don’t go through this. thanks for reading.The momentum is growing. Truly together we can enact change. It might take time, lots of petitions and bus trips to Harrisburg, but we can do it. And if we are successful, other pet owners and their furry friends might be spared unspeakable tragedy.
Now as far as the Chester County District Attorney goes, the following message was sent to media today:
The Chester County District Attorney’s Office will have a press release tomorrow with significant new information about the dog shooting incident in Chester Springs, PA.
Barbara Billela
Administrative Assistant to District Attorney Thomas P. Hogan,
First Assistant Michael Noone, and Chief of Staff Charles Gaza
Chester County District Attorney’s Office
201 West Market Street, Suite 4450
Post Office Box 2746
West Chester, PA 19380-0989
(610) 344-6827
I have no idea what this means, but I hope it means they are taking a second look.
I am also taking this opportunity to share something from the Justice for Argus & Fiona Facebook page written by Mary Bock:
The outpouring of support has been amazing. Can I say that again? There is even support from elected officials like State Senator Andy Dinniman. Congressman Jim Gerlach has also been made aware, so I urge anyone who reads this to contact elected officials about this horrible turn of events.
Now a lawyer I know sent me three things for people to read, so please do:
I have to say this whirlwind has left me dog tired, so I can’t imagine how the Bocks feel. More media coming tomorrow I hear. And oh yes, please check out the Daily Local article by Michael Price:
WEST VINCENT — The Chester County District Attorney’s Office is expected to release new information Friday in the shooting deaths of two family dogs in Chester Springs last week.
According to a statement from a District Attorney’s Office spokesperson, authorities will release “significant” new details related to the killing of two Bernese Mountain Dogs who were shot on Feb. 12 after they escaped a fenced-in yard in the unit block
The District Attorney’s Office previously determined that the shooting was legal due to a century-old state law allowing someone to kill animals that pursue their own livestock or pets.
Officials said Thursday afternoon that investigators received additional information in the case and that the investigation is ongoing.
Mary Bock, the owner of the two dogs, spoke out Thursday about the experience and expressed hope that her pets’ deaths may lead to a change in the law that allowed their killing to initially be ruled legal.
Bock also spoke about the neighbor, Gabriel Pilotti, who told police he killed the dogs with a shotgun because they entered an enclosure housing his sheep. She said Pilotti expressed no remorse over the dogs’ deaths when her husband, William Bock, confronted him last week.
“It seemed like he almost enjoyed it a little bit,” Mary Bock said. “He was so cold and callous, he feels like he did nothing wrong. There were a million things he could have done differently, and he chose to pick up that gun and kill them.”
The dogs, 2-year-old Argus and 1-year-old Fiona, were shot less than 15 minutes after escaping the Bock’s two-acre property through a fence that was damaged by a falling tree limb several days before. The dogs eventually made their way to Pilotti’s nearby property, where they began an attempt to “herd” his sheep, Bock said.
Contact Carolyn Davis at 610-313-8109, cdavis@phillynews.com, or @carolyntweets on Twitter.
Inquirer staff writer Mari A. Schaefer contributed to this article.
To the Bock family of Chester Springs, the Bernese mountain dogs Fiona and Argus were happy, loving pets. To neighbor Gabriel Pilotti, they were apparently pests.
And when he found them loose among his sheep last week, he shot them dead.
“It was just really vicious,” Mary Bock said. The dogs had not touched the sheep.
As of Thursday evening, the Chester County District Attorney’s Office and the West Vincent Township police still were trying to determine what happened the morning of Feb. 12 in a part of Chester County where sheep, horses, and alpacas amble in yards larger than the patches of green in more urbanized suburbs and smaller than more rural farms.
On that day, the dogs, two-year-old Argus and one-year-old Fiona, got out of their enclosed backyard when a tree branch fell and collapsed part of the fence, Mary Bock said. The dogs ran through yards of residences on the street behind them and ended up on the 72-year-old Pilotti’s property, which includes a pen where he keeps sheep.
Around 11:30 a.m., Pilotti saw the dogs near his sheep, pulled out the 20-gauge single-shot shotgun he legally owns, and fired, said West Vincent Police Chief Michael Swininger. Mary Bock said police told her Pilotti first fatally shot Argus in the face, then shot and killed Fiona.
Police investigated and sent their report to the District Attorney’s Office. That office has not filed charges against Pilotti, citing a portion of the Pennsylvania dog law that says, “Any person may kill any dog which he sees in the act of pursuing or wounding or killing any domestic animal.”
That could change.
“We have gotten new information and are continuing to investigate,” said First Assistant District Attorney Michael G. Noone, adding that a development could come Friday.
Pilotti could not be reached for comment.
And oh yeah, people from some church called Calvary Fellowship in Downingtown have been calling the Bock family and I have to ask why? And what do the West Vincent police have as far as info for the family? Someone says they want to speak with them today?
But there is something fugly and funky going on about this website because for a few minutes it came up and then it went down.
So the reason I was sent this post was so I could see the apparent systemic problems with horse rescue within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Can we say it isn’t just Jessica Basciano, Barbara Luna, Turning for Home and Off the Track Thoroughbred Rescue that people need to have their eyes open with?
This manure pile that is horse rescue seems to have a lot of whinnying going on, yet the more I read about it, the more I wonder why PA’s Attorney General isn’t looking at inconsistencies and oddities in all of this from the end of those who are registered in PA as charities to criminal investigations having to do with animal rescues? From how the horses leave the track and where they go to how the horse rescues run and if they meet to burden for animal protection and welfare let alone how these businesses and non-profits run doesn’t it just seem the questions are layered with questions?
And let me be clear, I am not just speaking about the two rescues blogged about up here before, but the entire business of horse rescue in Pennsylvania. I heard a tale yesterday of a situation going on at another Chester County barn that seems just nutty. I don’t own horses, never have, never will. But am I wrong in saying that it seems the only consistency about horse rescue in Pennsylvania are the many inconsistencies? Is it just me who seems to feel that if there are hard and fast rules, there seems to be a lot of gray area for interpretation?
And lets talk about the group that is supposed to be helping being the eyes and ears of right, ok? LAPS or Large Animal Protection Society? I have been told repeatedly by those in animal rescue in general that these folks have badges or something? That they can go in and do surprise inspections and if need be, remove animals? But is their judgement clouded because of personal relationships their ranks may or may not have with persons in the groups they are supposed to keep an eye on? (And before someone in LAPs gets in a lather, sorry but it is not beyond the realm of reasonable to ask questions is it?) And what of all the people worried about horses in Chester County who have a hard time with LAPs personnel? Are they all bad people out to bad mouth LAPs or are they merely good people who keep going back to the well that is LAPs hoping they will actually do their job?
LAPs has on their own website:
LAPS Can Assist Other Humane Agencies
In addition to investigating reports of cruelty to large animals, prosecution offenders, and rehabilitating and placing animals in new homes, LAPS is always ready and willing to provide information and support to other agencies both within and out-of-state. We have provided people in other counties with the means and knowledge to encourage their local law enforcement officials to step in when the local humane societies do not, and have many times supported the State Police in their investigations in areas where the humane agencies do not provide service.
Also, we are glad to help anyone wishing to organize a humane society in an area not currently serviced by one. We have “been there, done that” and are more than willing to share the information you will need to get started. Our knowledge of the way the system works has been hard-won over the years since 1988 we have been in existence. If you need help, just call!
So LAPs if all this kerfuffle and conundrum concerning horse rescue has you down, can’t you all turn to other rescue groups for assistance? Like the Humane Society and the ASPCA?
I will note that I went to www.GuideStar.org and pulled the most recent 990s I could find on Turning for Home, LAPs, and Another Chance for Horses. I am posting them as they are public record and they are registered non-profits. There are no 990s to be posted on Off The Track Thoroughbred Rescue because has anyone ever been able to actually find a business registered, a non-profit registered, or is it just a fictitious name registration? Maybe that is why the judgement I found based on that recent court date is lodged against Ms. B? (See the links below, you can check the documents out yourself.)
Every time I say I am done with this cautionary tale the more that crops up. Water seeks its own level, mold spreads, choose your analogy I have but one final question and that is when did it stop being about what is right for the horses?
I think a non-profit rescue called the “Foxie G Foundation” took in some of these poor beasts and apparently same person as involved in that case last year in Adam’s County a guy named James Houseman. It is like hop scotch with horses. )
By Sari Heidenreich – email (PALMYRA, Pa. (WHTM) -Twenty four horses, including four who are pregnant, were seized from a Dauphin County farm by the Humane Society of Harrisburg last week….Earlier this month, Kaunas said this is the first type of horse hoarding case she has seen.)
Lordy. I can’t escape the horsedrama. The following screen shots were sent along to me. One of them has some white out because although I am “that blog” , things that do not pertain to this nonsense can be kept out.
This whole situation is a little cray cray at this point.
Also, what is the kerfuffle over a horse named Making Tracks/Cash (horse id 1851073) on a site called “Dream Horse” ?
Have to ask what LAPS is doing? Or do their “helpful” folks merely indulge in gossip versus doing what they are supposed to do? And why is it this Barbara Luna from Turning for Home has nothing to say about this? She started the ball rolling by dolling out horses, correct? Maybe that Deborah Jones will come to PA?
How very amusing. Is this a blog created to deflect the questions this blog and readers of this blog have on horse rescue? Is this meant to deflect from Barbara Luna and Turning for Home being able to answer questions about how they dole out horses to Off the Track Thoroughbred Rescue and this rescue’s founder/owner Jessica Basciano? Lordy, can it be said all it does is raise more questions about how this all works and more questions on the who and why of those Craig’s List ads that started all this curiousity locally in the first place? What’s that they say about horse manure?
Someone told me months ago they heard the feds (as in law enforcement) were looking at horse rescues in PA. Can’t for the life of me remember who said this, it was too long ago.
