Animal Welfare Committee Demands Answers

Last week, we told you about a horse farm in Clinton that's being investigated by the department of agriculture. Wednesday, the animal welfare advisory committe (AWAC) held a special meeting on the case. Confidentiality issues led to the public meeting turning into a private one, which excluding some two dozen people attending.

In a written state, the agriculture commissioner says, "We can not discuss the specifics of the investigation in consideration of the privacy interests of people involved and to avoid any potential for interference with law enforcement proceedings should they be instituted."

AWAC and citizens at Wednesday's meeting agree the animal welfare program is working too slow on the Clinton case, which may point to a bigger problem - lack of resources. Currently the animal welfare program has four humane agents covering the state of Maine. An AWAC member says in 2009 the animal welfare program received 879 complaints and seized 759 animals. TV5 tried to contact the commissioner to ask about the apparent lack of resources, but has yet to receive a response.

THE COMMITTEE AND CITIZENS AGREE --- THE ANIMAL WELFARE PROGRAM IS WORKING TOO SLOW.

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So much misinformation it could drive you crazy. This is what I have found out to be true. To clarify - the state did indeed investigate with the first complaint as required. BOTH this man and woman has years of experience with animals and has an excellent history of caring for them. FPF takes in horses that people can no longer take care of and horses that have been abused in the past. Some of these horses are in terrible state. This couple has had to sleep in the barn or stayed up all night caring for these animals that were abused. Not once, not twice but multiple times. You can't tell me that a person that is dedicated like that can be abusing animals. To the credit of this couple, they have a very sound group of professions backing them up. There has been a lot of speculation and misinformation printed on nickernews from people who don't have a clue of the workings of this facility. In fact, if you back track in the last couple of years you will find these same people who write on nickernews have destroyed the reputation of good doers that were investigated by the state from their complaints and were cleared. The writers on nickernews were so vicious that the good doer caved in from all the false information these writers produced and the horses were given up and they ended up slaughtered. (So much for protecting animals!) Everyone likes news but people are fed on negative information including people that are "not all there upstairs." This couple at FPF states that they have nothing to hide and invite anyone in by appointment. But now have to be cautious and worried for their safety and that of their farm because of threats produced by made up accusations. Go look at the comments on nickernews and see for yourself how just a small group is talking amongst themselves making up a story as they go. Nickernews is there to tell a story, any story. You can't blame them for printing stories after all they are just trying to make a living and get membership right? I for one am very much not in favor of abusing horses. I believe its time for those people that have been abused by this group to stand up and tell their stories so people like this can be stopped and so we can get back to advocating for REAL abuse of animals and not sticking our noses in other people's business. If you still have concerns or are questioning this facility, make an appointment and go see for yourself