The Horse Footage They Didn't Want Released + A Major Federal Report.

                                                                 

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UPDATES FOR YOU News, Actions & Investigations   For more than two decades, Animals' Angels has gone where others can't or won't — documenting animal cruelty, exposing the horse slaughter pipeline, and giving vulnerable animals a voice. In this issue, you'll learn how we're working to secure accountability for the four horses who died at Don Gatz's property, why a new federal report validates years of our transport investigations, and how continued advocacy is building momentum to end horse slaughter once and for all. Thank you, as always, for having the courage to stand with us — even when the truth is difficult to witness. Together, we're ensuring these animals are not forgotten. 4 Horses Are Dead. The Fight for Answers Continues.   When Animals' Angels received a tip about horses found in distress on California horse trader Don Gatz's property, we launched an investigation that led to months of legal efforts to obtain body-worn camera footage from the Merced County Sheriff's Office. What the footage reveals is deeply troubling. During the shooting of four horses, portions of the body camera recordings were muted, nearly 28 minutes of footage is missing, and one horse was reportedly found to still have a heartbeat more than 40 minutes after the first shot was fired. Read our full investigation to break down what the body camera footage reveals, and see why Animals' Angels believes this case deserves a full and independent review. Read More Federal Watchdog Agrees: The 28-Hour Law Is Failing Animals   For years, Animals' Angels has documented the suffering endured by animals transported across the country in overcrowded trailers, extreme temperatures, and without adequate food, water, or rest. Now, a new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) confirms what our investigations have shown all along: the century-old 28-Hour Law is outdated, poorly enforced, and fails to adequately protect animals during transport. The GAO is urging Congress to strengthen the law by improving enforcement, increasing penalties, and addressing critical issues such as animals' fitness to travel and transport conditions. The proposed Humane Transport of Farmed Animals Act would accomplish many of these much-needed reforms. Read more about our transport investigations — and urge your members of Congress to support the Humane Transport of Farmed Animals Act. Learn More Animals’ Angels’ investigation of 4 dead horses at Don Gatz’s ranch is gaining attention. More than 4,536 people have already signed our petition, the Merced County Sheriff's Office has issued a public statement, and FOX26, CBS47 Fresno, and the Merced Sun-Star have all reported on Animals' Angels' findings. If you haven't added your name yet, now is the time. Join thousands of others calling for a full and independent review of this case. WATCH + SIGN Escalon: Another Downward Turn   Escalon Livestock Market has seen periods of improvement — but they haven't lasted. During our latest investigation, Animals' Angels documented serious welfare concerns affecting dairy cows and the many small animals sold at the weekly auction. It's time for lasting change. Read More Sonja Joins FarmHouse Fresh for the Safe Act   Animals' Angels President and Founder Sonja Meadows recently joined Shannon McLinden, Founder of FarmHouse Fresh, as part of the "50 States for Horses" campaign. Drawing on decades of undercover investigations, Sonja discusses the realities of the horse slaughter pipeline, dispels common misconceptions about auctioned horses, and explains why passing the SAFE Act is more urgent than ever. Watch the interview, then share it to help educate others and build momentum for ending horse slaughter. Watch Now   4 Dead Horses Deserve the Truth Four horses are dead — but this story isn't over. After months of legal efforts, Animals' Angels obtained body camera footage that has sparked public attention and renewed calls for accountability. Now we're working to ensure this case receives the thorough review it deserves. It took more than $10,000 in legal expenses to uncover this evidence. Please help us recover those costs so we can continue investigating cruelty and standing up for the animals. GIVE NOW support@animalsangels.org   |   443-821-3343 © 2026 All rights reserved. Donate Now Proud to use all donations wisely

Our final investigation update of the year — thank you

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UPDATE A Message from Animals’ Angels Founder, Sonja Meadows   As we approach the final days of the year, I want to pause and simply say thank you. Whether you’ve been standing with Animals’ Angels for decades or are new to this fight, your compassion and commitment matter deeply. Your voice and your care strengthen our shared mission — to create a world where animals no longer suffer: where horses are not shipped to slaughter, dogs are not trapped in puppy mills, baby calves are protected instead of torn from their mothers, and all animals are allowed to live free from harm. This final newsletter of the year shares important updates across our work — moments of progress, continued accountability, and remembrance for the animals who drive everything we do. As we close out this year, please know how grateful I am to stand with you. With heartfelt thanks, Sonja Meadows Founder & President, Animals’ Angels New Investigation: A Supporter’s Tip Raises Alarming Questions Animals’ Angels latest investigation reveals prolonged suffering affecting feral pigs — and the dogs used in hunts.   Animals’ Angels was recently contacted by a supporter who raised concerns about practices occurring during feral pig hunts in Hawaii. That tip prompted a new investigation, uncovering evidence of prolonged suffering affecting both feral pigs and the hunting dogs involved. Our findings point to a largely unregulated system operating out of public view — one that contributes to dog abandonment, shelter overcrowding, and serious animal welfare consequences. Read More UNLUCKY 524 UPDATE: We’ve delivered more than 3,000 signatures — along with a stack of unignorable evidence — to the United States Trotting Association (USTA), led by President Russell C. Williams, demanding a formal investigation into Animals’ Angels’ findings. Thank you to everyone who spoke up for the voiceless. If you haven’t yet added your name to our open letter, there’s still time. As this investigation moves forward, public pressure matters — and your support strengthens our resolve to expose those responsible for shipping 1,868 Standardbred horses to slaughter in 2024. ADD YOUR NAME Change is coming for Baby Calves Your Support is Moving Congress In August, 2024, Animals' Angels conducted an unprecedented investigation into the transport of baby calves — trailing them for 20 hours and travelling a thousand miles and across seven states.   When Animals’ Angels investigators revealed the suffering of newborn calves transported across state lines — some just hours old, dehydrated, collapsing inside crowded trailers — the footage sent shockwaves through the animal-welfare community and into the offices of lawmakers. Now, that work is driving real legislative action. Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) has introduced H.R. 5286, the Humane Transport of Farmed Animals Act, in the 119th Congress (2025–2026). The bill would finally require consistent federal enforcement of the Twenty-Eight Hour Law, protect animals deemed unfit to travel, and hold violators accountable for the first time in years. Current Status: H.R. 5286 has been formally referred to the House Agriculture and Transportation & Infrastructure Committees, where lawmakers will determine next steps. It’s early in the process — but this is a meaningful win for transparency, accountability, and the animals who cannot speak for themselves. If you missed the investigation that helped push this forward, you can read it here Read More THANK YOU FOR LIGHTING THE SKY WITH US Thank you for lighting the sky with us — for the animals. On December 13, the Animals’ Angels community came together in remembrance of the lives we’ve lost, this year and in years past. As we continue uncovering the truth behind the Unlucky 524, your candle dedications and shared stories reminded us why this work matters — and why we never do it alone. Watch this short video to see a few of the heartfelt dedications and feel the resolve you help carry forward, for the animals who need us most. JUSTICE FOR THE UNLUCKY 524 The system that sent 524 Standardbred horses to slaughter is still operating — and Animals’ Angels is still uncovering the truth. Through December 31, every gift is matched dollar for dollar up to $10,000, doubling your power to demand accountability. Make your final, tax-deductible gift of the year and help ensure these horses’ suffering was not in vain. DOUBLE MY GIFT support@animalsangels.org   |   443-821-3343 © 2025 All rights reserved. Year-end Match Proud to use all donations wisely

UPDATE: An inside look on our investigations

 

UPDATE ATROCITIES CONTINUE AT MEL HOOVER'S NOTORIOUS HORSE AUCTION Animals' Angels conducted our first in-depth, undercover investigation of Mel Hoover's horse sale in New Holland, Pennsylvania several years ago, exposing appalling conditions and inhumane treatment of the horses auctioned off at his monthly sale. We have continued to investigate Hoover and advocate for the horses ever since, determined to put an end to the suffering by persistently reporting our observations to humane officers and law enforcement. However, during our most recent investigation of the auction, it was heartbreakingly clear that Hoover so far has refused to change his inhumane practices, and that the exploitation of the animals in his care continues unabated. HOOVER SELLS SICK AND SUFFERING ANIMALS The majority of horses offered at Hoover's auction are Standardbred or draft horses used mainly to pull buggies and perform farm work for the large Amish and Mennonite communities in the area. Our documentation shows that the horses up for sale are sometimes in deplorable physical condition, exhibiting illnesses or injuries that would prevent most auctions from offering them for purchase. But Mel Hoover has a reputation of accepting horses that even the notoriously inhumane New Holland Auction has rejected. He accepts tired, lethargic, and emaciated horses, some too weak to stand as they’re loaded into crowded pens. Limping horses with cuts on their legs, harness sores, and overgrown hooves are also commonly accepted for sale. On one occasion, our investigators were shocked to find a horse suffering from an abscessed tooth that had progressed far enough to have eaten through the horse's jaw. Pus had drained from the hole and frozen to the horse's face after being subjected to subzero temperatures in the outdoor stall where he’d been penned without food, water, or treatment. Sick horses with obvious signs of a severe strangles infection are also a common sight at the sale, since Hoover appears to have no problem accepting and selling animals exhibiting signs of this highly contagious bacterial infection.

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HOOVER'S STABLES ARE OVERCROWDED, UNSAFE, AND INHUMANE The animals arriving at Hoover's auction are subjected to appalling conditions in the stables, pens, and fields where they're kept as they wait for their turn on the auction block. Over 500 animals are crammed into unsafe and much too small premises, prompting kicking, biting, and fighting between the frightened animals, who have usually traveled long distances to get to the sale. Those that are moved into the outside pens often find themselves sinking into deep mud and are left with no dry place to stand or rest. And depending on the season, the horses may find themselves sweltering as temperatures soar to over 100° F, or freezing as temperatures plummet below zero. And while most pens have plastic water buckets tied to the railing, those buckets are often empty. Our investigators have seen some poor horses tethered with their heads tied to empty water troughs while other highly prized Standardbred horses (used to pull buggies) are tied to the rafters by their heads, making it impossible to drink any water unless a worker unleashes them. Needless to say, it is a stressful, traumatizing experience for the thirsty, dehydrated horses subjected to the elements at the day-long sale. HORSES ABUSED BY CUSTOMERS, AND SOLD TO NOTORIOUS KILL BUYERS Mel Hoover's reputation as a hot-tempered bully is well known in the industry. Visits to his stable by humane officers and law enforcement have been met with intimidation and irate outbursts, aggressively confronting anyone who attempts to take photos. So with many rescue groups staying away – discouraged by Hoover's hostile attitude – his auction appears to be attracting more customers and sales every time we visit. Now selling over 500 horses a month, the auction attracts a large crowd of Amish and Mennonite customers. Apparently, Hoover has developed strong connections to these communities over the years and is allowing their members to test-drive the horses before purchase. Our investigators have watched potential buyers run the horses on a small race track next to the barn, driving the poor animals until they are covered in sweat and exhausted, delivering cruel punishment to those who don't perform up to their standards. We've even witnessed horses mercilessly whipped and punched in the face, full force. Former racehorses are also frequently spotted at Hoover's Stables, where they won't attract the attention they might get at other sales. During a past investigation, we found a racehorse named Pop's Shadow (a 2008 Chestnut Gelding) who had been owned by the Anatolia Racing Stable. When we contacted both the previous owner and the trainer, neither was concerned for the sad fate of the poor animal they'd once hoped to exploit for profit. Over the years, we have also observed Hoover continuously doing business with Bruce Rotz, Pennsylvania's most notorious kill buyer. Our investigators even managed to document a conversation between the men on an occasion when Hoover sold Rotz a pair of 23-year-old sorrel mules. We were outraged to overhear a heartless comment by Hoover as Rotz led the poor animals away to slaughter. "They've been together all their lives," Hoover said with a callous laugh. "I'm glad to see they're going out together as well." Hoover continues to do business with Rotz to this day. He also routinely welcomes other kill buyers, such as Jessie Austin from Cedar Ridge Farm, who frequently attends the sale looking for cheap horses to sell to slaughter.

JOIN OUR MISSION TO END ANIMAL ABUSE AND SLAUGHTER This newsletter recounts the Hoover auction's long history of horse abuse, neglect, and exploitation, and bears witness to the suffering of the animals in its care. Rest assured that Animals' Angels will continue to investigate, expose and report all incidents of cruelty and neglect at this sale until we see that the treatment of the animals significantly improves. We ask that you please share this newsletter with as many people as possible, as knowledge is key, and awareness is the first step in creating change. The more people know about this the harder it will be for Hoover to keep up the poor conditions at his sale.

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