In 2024, New York enacted a law that makes it illegal to transport horses through the state for the purpose of slaughter. Although it is the best of its kind in the nation, no arrests had been made under that law – until the wee hours of yesterday morning.
Driver Robert Seitz was arrested about 25 miles from the Canadian border for hauling 25 horses to what would have been their personal version of hell – exsanguination at the Viande Richelieu slaughterhouse in Quebec. Unfortunately, this will be a monetary penalty only ($1,000 per horse), no jail time. But of more import is whether the authorities can connect this to Seitz’s employer – the notorious kill-buyer Bruce Rotz, among the most despicable human beings in the country.
Although multiple groups were/are involved (including the New York State Humane Association, of which I am a board member), the driving force was Animals’ Angels (AA), a nonprofit that has been documenting the horrors of slaughter and transport to slaughter for years. (I have posted on AA’s great work before: here, here.)
According to AA founder Sonja Medaows, Rotz has been flouting the NY law since its inception. In a WWNY report, Sonja says, “It was very disheartening, especially if you look at 2025 numbers of horses exported for slaughter by Rotz Livestock. It was close to 1,600 horses in 2025 that suffered that fate.” She adds: “I have documented many, many transports…of slaughter horses, and filmed what they go through, and they’re all dead now. We have documented, more than I care to remember, horses falling in the trailer and other horses trampling them to death.” This time, at least, a different ending.
The now-fortunate 25 beautiful souls began their journey Tuesday from Shippensburg, PA. And that’s when AA sprung into action, coordinating not just with the other groups, but the Warren County DA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and, of course, the state police. Apparently, the horses are Drafts and Standardbreds, with some (surprise) being erstwhile racehorses. They are currently in a safe location. I will update.
Congressman Nick Langworthy, my congressman, a few months back, was giving himself pats on the back because he shut down a facility that bred beagles for laboratories. The seized dogs were taken to places they can be adopted out from. All very good-and I told him so. And, I asked when horse racing is going to be shut down in NY? I detailed the way horses are treated, how so many end up being g euthanized on a track with gruesome injuries, how tracks obviously don’t spend money on adequate security, as being “found dead in stall in morning,” seems to be another big cause of death. How many end up in slaughterhouses in Canada and Mexico. How racing, heavily subsidized by taxpayers, is a huge drain on the people and economy of NY. I also pointed out, the corruption at the core of Office Track Betting ( OTB), the state entity that runs racing in NY. How VIP’s and big betters received free tickets to Bills and Sabres games, in my area, and probably Yankees, Mets, Islanders and other pro sports as well. And these were not just seats, they were seats in the luxury boxes, where food and drinks are served to the VIP’s.
I’ve heard nothing from Congressman Langworthy.
He’s a guy who does self promotion like no one else. He takes credit for anything he can I fully expect to see him take credit for this truck driver’s arrest.
The driver is a flunky. The person who needs to be arrested and have the most serious charges placed against him or her, is whoever hired that driver.
I urge everyone to contact your local, state, and federal legislators whether your state has this ban on transporting of horses to slaughter or not.
Tell them, how this law worked in NY, and if your states have such a law, police need to enforce it. How other states need this law.
I was so happy to hear this yesterday. Finally, an actual enforcement of this law. Animals’ Angels is a wonderful group. The logistics of pulling something like this off is certainly not easy, but their persistence and dedication is extraordinary. Thank you!!