DEKALB, New York (WWNY/Gray News) – A Pennsylvania truck driver is facing charges after police say they stopped him with a trailer of horses that were being taken to Canada to be slaughtered.
According to the New York State Humane Association, multiple horses were being transported from Pennsylvania through New York to a slaughter facility in Quebec.
New York police said troopers on U.S. Highway 11 in DeKalb stopped a red 2007 Freightliner towing a livestock trailer for a traffic violation on Wednesday.
The driver was identified as Robert Seitz, of Lewiston, Pennsylvania. The New York State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit inspected the truck and trailer and determined Seitz was hauling horses tagged for slaughter in Canada.
Seitz was charged with violating New York Agriculture and Markets Law, which bars the slaughter of horses for human or animal consumption.
The horses were taken from Seitz’s custody and placed under protection.
Seitz was issued an appearance ticket and is scheduled to appear in DeKalb Town Court.
New York State Police said their investigation focused on Rotz’s Livestock, owned by Bruce Rotz in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, over allegations that horses were being bought, tagged and shipped to Canada for slaughter.
Investigators said U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the nonprofit Animals’ Angels assisted in the investigation.
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