NEW YORK (WHP) — Several horses were reportedly removed from a Mifflin County driver’s custody in St. Lawrence County, New York on Wednesday after state police said they discovered the animals were being transported to Canada for alleged slaughter and human consumption.
Officials said Robert Seitz, of Lewistown, was arrested after they found 25 horses allegedly tagged for slaughter and human consumption traveling northbound, around 25 miles from the border of Canada.
On Sept. 2, around 2:24 a.m. New York state police were traveling north on U.S. Highway 112 when they reportedly saw a red 2007 Freightliner towing a livestock trailer.
Officers reportedly pulled over the vehicle after witnessing a driving violation and identified the driver as Seitz.
During a safety inspection of the truck and trailer, police said they discovered Seitz was allegedly transporting the horses to Quebec, Canada to be slaughtered for food.
Seitz was charged for violating New York State Agriculture and Markets Law, which prohibits the slaughter of horses for human or animal consumption, according to the press release.
CBS affiliate WWNY reported that this is the first time an individual has been arrested in New York for violating the law since it went into effect in 2024, according to Sonja Meadows, the founder and president of Animals’ Angels, a nonprofit organization based in Maryland.
According to the Warren County District Attorney’s Office, Bruce Rotz, of Shippensburg, purchased, tagged and shipped the horses.
Officials said an investigation into Rotz began in 2009, and initially focused on livestock after complaints were made alleging horses were being transported to Canada for slaughter.
On Monday, Aug. 31, Meadows observed Rotz’ facility, but nothing occurred on the visit, as reported by WWNY.
“So we started again on Tuesday, and there was a flurry of activity,” Meadows told WWNY. “Trucks were moving, horses were being moved, slaughter tags were visible on the horses, and the loading ramp was very busy.”
CBS affiliate WWNY reported that Meadows said trailers can reach temperatures over 100 degrees in summer heat and deprivation of water and food is common with long-distance transport. In addition, Meadows said that in 2013, 30 horses from Rotz’ livestock were killed when the truck caught fire on I-81.
Meadows told WWNY that even after New York passed the ban, Rotz allegedly continued to transport slaughter-bound horses throughout the state. She said that evidence was provided to the New York State Attorney General’s office, which replied in May 2025 that it would not pursue an investigation due to lack of resources.
The following agencies were involved in the investigation:
New York State Police initiated an investigationU.S. Customs and Border ProtectionThe United States Department of AgricultureThe nonprofit organization Animals’ Angels.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), which enforces food processing regulations, states that the slaughtering and human consumption of horses is legal in Canada.
According to the American Wild Horse Conservation, bills aiming to ban or severely restrict the export and slaughter of horses have been introduced to Parliament by animal welfare advocates in the past, but have failed to become laws.
Following Seitz’s arrest, police reportedly told WWNY that the 25 horses were taken to a veterinary clinic in Saratoga County.
It is currently unknown if Rotz will be prosecuted, but he is scheduled to appear in court at a later date.
Meadows told WWNY that the penalty for a commercial enterprise transporting horses through New York with the intent to slaughter is $2,500 per horse. Seitz could face $1,500 per horse due to being charged as an individual rather than a company.
Seitz is scheduled to appear in court in DeKalb County Court at a later date.