Historic Horse Slaughter Enforcement
New York Police Seize 25 Horses and Arrest Driver in Historic Slaughter Ban Enforcement
Anonymous
Key Points
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Animals’ Angels President Sonja Meadows stated that their investigators' detailed documentation and knowledge of this kill-buyer were instrumental in making the operation possible, highlighting the NGO's long-running field work tracking trucks transporting horses to slaughter.
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The investigation was prompted by a complaint from the New York State Humane Association on Aug. 28, which led to the Sept. 2 traffic stop in DeKalb.
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The stop occurred at about 2:24 a.m. on Sept. 2 in DeKalb along U.S. Highway 11, when troopers observed a red 2007 Freightliner hauling a livestock trailer; the operator, from Lewiston, Pennsylvania, was arrested after a Commercial Vehicle Enforcement unit inspection.
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New York’s horse-slaughter prohibitions include a 2021 ban on slaughter of thoroughbred and standardbred horses for consumption, with a 2024 expansion banning slaughter of all equines for human or animal consumption; enforcement in this case marks the statute’s first use.
New York State Police arrested truck driver Robert Seitz and seized 25 horses headed for slaughter in Canada, marking the first enforcement of New York's horse-slaughter ban. Thoroughbred Daily News reported that troopers stopped a red Freightliner on September 2 at 2:24 a.m. in DeKalb along U.S. Highway 11, with investigators linking the shipment to Rotz's Livestock in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania.
The New York State Humane Association filed a complaint on August 28 that sparked the investigation. Utica OD noted that animal-rights groups, including nonprofit Animals' Angels, had tracked similar shipments from Rotz's Livestock for years, providing crucial intelligence to federal and state authorities to stop the operation.
How the 25 Horses Were Tracked and Stopped
Authorities coordinated across agencies—New York State Police, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the USDA—to trace the shipment. Ithaca Journal reported that the driver was arrested after a Commercial Vehicle Enforcement unit inspection of the red 2007 Freightliner. Animals' Angels investigators provided detailed documentation of Rotz's Livestock operations, helping police identify the truck and intercept it before it crossed into Canada.
New York's Expanding Ban on Horse Slaughter
New York passed its first horse-slaughter ban in 2021, targeting Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds. The state expanded the law in 2023–2024 to prohibit slaughter and transport of all equines for human or animal consumption. Democrat and Chronicle confirmed that this arrest marks the first enforcement action under the updated statute, setting a significant precedent for future cases.
Rotz's Livestock's Role in the Operation
Rotz's Livestock, based in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, purchased and tagged horses, then arranged transport through New York to slaughterhouses in Quebec. The Times Herald stated that investigators linked the company directly to the operation. Animal-rights groups had been monitoring Rotz's shipments for years, making the facility a known hub for horses destined for slaughter abroad.
What Happens to the 25 Rescued Horses
All 25 horses were removed from the truck and placed under care at a New York farm for inspection and rehabilitation. Seitz was charged under New York Agriculture and Markets Law and issued an appearance ticket. The horses will be held pending the outcome of the legal case, giving them a second chance away from the slaughterhouse.
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