PETA demands U.S. military end use of caisson horses for funeral processions at Arlington National Cemetery

PETA demands U.S. military end use of caisson horses for funeral processions at Arlington National Cemetery

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FORT MYER, VA – While many animal-loving Americans would love to see the weirdos at PETA replace the caisson horses at Arlington National Cemetery, the extremist animal rights group might have a point regarding the horses’ welfare and upkeep.

A February report by the U.S. Army Public Health Command-Atlantic found that the living conditions for the horses that carry America’s heroes to their final resting place are unsanitary at best and life-threatening at their worst, according to an investigation by CNN.
The horses belong to the 3rd Infantry Regiment, also called the Old Guard, which is world-famous for guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The regimental commander’s office requested the Army Public Health inspection after the unexpected deaths of two horses within 96 hours of each other in February.
One gelding, Tony, died from an intestinal impaction caused by 44 pounds of gravel and sand in his gut. The other horse, Mickey, died of septic colic, which can be caused by a gastrointestinal injury, allowing bacteria into the bloodstream to cause infection. It was not clear if sediment in his gut was to blame.
But instead of urging the government to fund improvements to the living conditions, PETA went the unrealistic route and demanded that the U.S. military stop using caisson horses entirely.

The group called for the tradition of horse-drawn carriages to be “relegated to the history books.” PETA President Ingrid Newkirk said in an email to American Military News:

“Forcing neglected horses to pull coffins dishonors America’s human heroes. Just as with the bearskin caps on the Queen’s Guard in London, this old-fashioned ritual must be relegated to the history books and replaced by 21st century pomp. PETA urges Arlington National Cemetery to retire these horses so they can have a decent life and is ready to help find wonderful homes where they’ll get the care, affection, and attention they desperately need.”
Barn and pasture upkeep is a 24-hour job, as anyone who has ever owned horses knows. But the gray or black horses who seem to understand the solemn nature of their jobs do deserve the finest living conditions and food as thanks for their service.
The 61 horses are rotated between two facilities in northern Virginia: a stable with three paddocks at the Army base at Fort Myer, 2 miles outside Washington, and a six-acre pasture complex at Fort Belvoir, an Army base about 30 minutes outside the district.
PETA demands U.S. military end use of caisson horses for funeral processions at Arlington National Cemetery
The stable at Fort Myer. Screenshot from YouTube video
The primary issues contributing to unsanitary care are a lack of pasture space, inadequate funding for improvements and routine turnover of the unit’s top leaders, the report found. The horses were found to be consuming poor-quality hay, suffering from parasites and standing in their own excrement in tiny mud lots scattered with gravel and construction waste.

According to the report, 18 inspections between 2019 and 2022 determined the conditions of the pastures, barns and paddocks were “unsatisfactory.” Despite “significant efforts” to improve the military horses’ living conditions, the issues persisted.

Col. Patrick Roddy, the commander of the Old Guard, said lack of funding was the primary reason for the conditions. He told CNN:

“Find me a commander that doesn’t want more money. The first thing I would tell you to do is I want to tear down a bunch of buildings over here and expand out the turnout lots. I’d like to redo a bunch of these facilities.

“But on a day-to-day operational funding, horses are not going hungry, horses are not going without medical care, horses are not going without the required supplements. Our prioritization of funding goes to the health and welfare of the horses, and we’re constantly watching that.”

Col. Roddy noted that standard leadership turnover in the Army meant that officers might be in their positions for only one or two years. He said that generally each Army commander has improvement plans that they pass on to the next commander. Roddy added:
“None of our tenure here are we going to be able to move the ball down on the road on any major initiative.”
PETA demands U.S. military end use of caisson horses for funeral processions at Arlington National Cemetery
Inside the barn at Fort Myer. Screenshot from YouTube video
A tour of the stables at Fort Myer showed clean, well-kept stalls but the horses are frequently turned out into small, muddy paddocks with standing water, excrement and gravel, according to the Army report.
Some short-term fixes have been implemented, including placing mats underneath the paddock feeders to prevent the horses from ingesting gravel when they eat hay that has fallen on the ground. The unit has also requested changes to feed contracts, including hay testing to identify any shortfalls in the quality of feed coming from suppliers.

A look at the horses confirms that they are cared for by the 52 soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Regiment. Their coats are shiny and their bodies are filled out and muscles toned.

While they are clearly loved, their paddocks, pastures and barns need to be modernized and upgraded. The horses also need many more acres of green grass and shaded pasture for their downtime. It seems well past time for the government to allocate the money for these noble members of the United States military.

A senior leader at the regiment, who did not want to be identified, sounded hopeful that significant improvements are coming. He said the regiment had been unaware of the systemic issues documented by the report.
“It was very clear that some of the recommendations in there was stuff that now that we were aware of it, we both had the fiscal and legal authority internally to the regiment to take action immediately.”
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PETA says using animal names like ‘pig’, ‘rat’, ‘snake’ and ‘chicken’ as insults is ‘supremacist language’ – demands you stop

January 30, 2021

This editorial is brought to you by a former Chief of Police and current staff writer for Law Enforcement Today.

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USA – Radio talk show host Michael Savage wrote a book called Liberalism is a Mental Disorder. While there is a lot of competition within the left for the biggest bunch of looney tunes, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has got to be at the top, or close to it.

First full disclosure. We love animals, especially dogs…and horses. Dogs are very important for law enforcement, act as important service animals for people with disabilities, and well…they’re just very loyal. However PETA takes the whole animal thing to an absurd level.

Breitbart reports that their latest screed is they are now urging people to stop using animal names as verbal insults to other people, claiming it acts as “supremacist language.” Seriously.

In a tweet, the organization of animal rights wackos said:

“Words can create a more inclusive world or perpetuate oppression. Calling someone an animal as an insult reinforces the myth that humans are superior to other animals & justified in violating them. Stand up for justice by rejecting supremacist language.”

 

So, it’s a “myth that humans are superior to other animals”? Perhaps PETA can inform us of some of the great accomplishments of animals. Such as, what great invention did they come up with that advanced civilization? What drug have they developed that has cured disease? Have they found the cure for cancer? Have they solved the mystery of how socks get lost in the dryer? Have they figured out why people watch The View?

So, what has PETA’s shorts in a bunch? They came out with a list of insults on Twitter and said that by using animal names for such purposes, it “perpetuates ‘speciesism.’” Where the hell do they come up with this stuff?

Have a friend who refuses to ski down suicide hill in Vail because it’s too steep? PETA says, don’t call him a “chicken” because well, that’s an insult to chickens. Instead they suggest, call them a “coward.”

In a series of tweets, PETA continued including one which said that “anti-animal slurs degrade animals by applying negative human traits to certain species.”

 

They continued to denounce “speciesist” language as “harmful and inaccurate,” saying that pigs are “intelligent”, and snakes are “clever.”

 

Other suggested replacements offered by PETA, whose members appear to be clearly in need of a hobby include replacing “rat” with “snitch,: “snake” with “jerk,” “pig” with “repulsive,” and “sloth” with “lazy.”

 

How long before you hear AOC start railing about “human supremacy” in addition to “white supremacy?” “Human privilege” perhaps?

Of course, the Twitter reactions were priceless. Here are a few as reported in Conservative Review:

“Come back to me about being less superior than animals when an anteater builds a house.”

 

“6 years vegan, please stop making us look ridiculous.”

 

“LMAO but we ARE superior to animals; we are literally superior, mentally and in most cases physically; our intelligence is far past the intelligence of animals and we are justified in killing and eating them; we’re carnivores LOL. I guess I’m a supremacist.”

 

“Speciesism? I think that’s more when orgs like yours demonize and openly kill dogs and cats for the sin of being meat eaters while only caring about barnyard animals. You openly admit to murdering dogs and cats just for being homeless in this very thread, so…self-awareness?”

 

PETA of course is known for their wacky take on animal rights. Last fall, they released video footage taken at “Gobbler’s Rest” at Virginia Tech in order to blame then-President Trump for “pardoned” turkeys living in squalid conditions.

“If the ceremony on the White House lawn means anything, these turkeys should be given a chance to live as turkeys should–but instead they’re serving a life sentence without so much as the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors,” said PETA Senior Vice President of Cruelty Investigations Daphna Nachminovitch. 

She’s probably one of those asking to have her student loans for a gender studies degree forgiven by the federal government.

She added, “PETA is asking Virginia Tech to let us give these turkeys a chance to enjoy companionship, fresh air, and sunshine at a reputable sanctuary, as they deserve.” 

As Michael Savage said…

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