Horse Dragged from a Truck and Beaten with PVC Pipe

On March 19, 2009, a jury acquitted Gordon Allen Bates of Pinal County, Arizona, finding him “not guilty” after being charged with felony animal cruelty for dragging a horse behind his truck and then beating the horse with a PVC pipe while his 13-year-old daughter kicked the horse in the head, while both yelled at the horse to get up.

According to a news report, a deputy who remained with the horse for an hour after the incident saw blood dripping from the animal's nostrils the entire time. He said the horse had new and old injuries: multiple bruises on its rump, cuts on its face and neck, cuts from a tow strap used to drag it, deep cuts on its legs and swelling under one eye where the horse was beaten with the pipe. The positive aspect of the case’s outcome is that Equine Voices Rescue and Sanctuary was successful in negotiating for the dragged horse’s relinquishment, and Kachina now faces a safe and bright future.

What You Can Do
Take action by writing a letter to your local newspaper editor—right here, right now! While there was no justice for Kachina, the horse who was savagely beaten in this case, it is a reminder that each and every one of us needs to make sure that our communities take a strong stance against animal abuse—for the sake of our animals, and the safety of our communities.

Step 1 - Select a Recipient

Letter to the Editor

The Letter to the Editor Section is one of the most widely read sections of the newspaper and can reach a large audience. It allows community members to comment on the way issues are being addressed in the media and to influence the topics the local paper may choose to cover. Elected officials often monitor this section of the newspaper and take notice of constituents' opinions.

We've made it easy for you to contact your local newspaper with your views, but editors want to hear from you in your own words.

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On March 19, 2009, Gordon Allen Bates of Pinal County, Arizona was found “not guilty” after being charged with felony animal cruelty for dragging a horse behind his truck and then beating the horse with a PVC pipe while his 13-year-old daughter kicked the horse in the head, while both yelled at the horse to get up. According to a news report, a deputy who remained with the horse for an hour after the incident saw blood dripping from the animal's nostrils the entire time. He said the horse had new and old injuries: multiple bruises on its rump, cuts on its face and neck, cuts from a tow strap used to drag it, deep cuts on its legs and swelling under one eye where the horse was beaten with the pipe.

It’s long been known among law enforcement that people who abuse animals are often violent to humans as well. While there was no justice for the horse who was savagely beaten in this case, it is a reminder that each and every one of us needs to make sure that our communities take a strong stance against animal abuse—for the sake of our animals, and the safety of our communities.

Animal victims of abuse cannot speak for themselves—so concerned citizens and our legal system must speak up for them. For information on how to make sure our legal system seeks real justice for abused animals, visit the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s website at www.aldf.org.