On Wednesday We Will Know...

whether justice is going to be served.

http://wnyt.com/article/stories/S1450747.shtml?cat=300

"A skinny horse is not a starved horse," Paragallo's defense attorney said during his closing remarks.

Even hard keepers shouldn't be that skinny! One or two in the entire herd maybe, but all 177??? Anyone that says differently doesn't know how to take care of a horse. Plus there's a HUGE difference between emaciated and "a little thin."

I mean seriously, LOOK at these: [Note: links contain pictures and news stories of some of the horses]
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2009/04/12/2009-04-12_spca_releases_images_of_neglected_animals_at_center_brook_farm.html
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2009/04/12/2009-04-12_spca_releases_images_of_neglected_animals_at_center_brook_farm.html [That's a YEARLING]
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/05/sports/othersports/05horses.html [Before and after pic of one of the horses]

Look at those pictures and tell me to my face there's nothing wrong with those horses.

Paragallo took the stand in his own defense Thurday. He said he expected the manager of the farm, Eddie Salazar, to keep him informed and take care of day-to-day operations.

He says, he told Salazar, "Whatever we need, just order it."

But under cross examination, Wilhelm asked Paragallo if he was in charge.

"No question. My responsibility is to manage that farm," Paragallo answered. "I have to rely on the people working for me."

I have a solution. We'll throw them BOTH in jail for thirty years or so. It was Paragallo's responsibility as owner to make sure his orders were carried out and whoever cared for the horses to actually DO their job.

Paragallo is facing a bench trial. There is no jury. The verdict will be up to the judge. His decision is expected on Wednesday.

I just hope the judge is a good one. I'll leave Wednesday's post open so I can look for updates as soon as I get home.

And the story that got me even more ticked off at our justice system (if that's possible)...http://www.thedailymail.net/articles/2010/03/06/news/doc4b91d49121672099560753.txt

“They were not undernourished, they were ugly,” he said.

My head just exploded. I can't even comprehend how someone could say that. I'm sure there are ugly horses out there, but there's a HUGE DIFFERENCE between ugly and starving.

Paragallo has insisted that his feeding methods were meant to slim down the horses before the breeding season, modeled after techniques in “Joe Taylor’s Complete Guide to Breeding & Raising Racehorses.” Paragallo said he knew Joe Taylor personally before Taylor died several years ago.

Excuse me while I run out and get this book. I'm pretty sure STARVING horses doesn't do you any good. Because starving horses don't have the nutrients they need to probably nourish a growing foal.

“They are using this case to get donations and charitable contributions for the Columbia-Greene Humane Society,” Howard said, noting newspaper clippings which quoted Bilinski about a benefit drive for the Center Brook Farm thoroughbreds at the Saratoga Race Course.

Do you have ANY idea how much it costs to care for 200 horses??? That's not even counting the medical bills those poor horses are going to have! Animal rescues are overflowing and BROKE! Do you expect them to take on 177 more horses and NOT have to raise money somehow??

Salazar did not testify during the trial because last month, Paragallo said, he left for Guatemala due to family illness. Paragallo purchased Salazar’s plane ticket and he has not been heard from since. Salazar’s testimony was required to charge Paragallo with the 35th count, which was withdrawn on Thursday.

Of COURSE he did. I wonder why...

But he said Friday afternoon that he made those statements before seeing the horses first-hand — having admittedly not been on the farm from August 2008 to April 2009 — and was judging the situation on media accounts of the April 8, 2009 raid. He said he later had independent evaluations of the horses done, which showed they were healthy.

They're not independent if YOU had them done. And how MUCH later?