Brooksville, Florida –
A troubling situation has arisen in our vicinity, where there are accusations of the unauthorized killing of horses for their meat. According to animal advocates who spoke with FOX 13, they are urging law enforcement to close down the farm where a horse has been slaughtered.
For months, FOX 13 has been delving into the illicit trade of horse meat on the black market in Florida. They have secured unique footage focusing on a situation in Hernando County.
In the United States, it is against the law to sell or buy horse meat without passing inspection by the USDA. Congress has prohibited the USDA from inspecting horse meat, rendering it unlawful.
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In Florida, it is against the law to simply have it in your possession.
In the past, horse meat has been widely available on the underground market in southern Florida, where certain societies view it as a gourmet food, leading to a high desire for it.
According to information shared with FOX 13 by undercover law enforcement officials, legislators, and animal advocates, the illicit trade of horse meat has spread throughout the entire state, with a particular focus on an unregulated and unlicensed farm found in Hernando County.
The concept of freedom ignited Kudo’s passion for dismantling unlawful slaughterhouses and the underground trade of horse meat.
The organization led by Kudo, known as Animal Recovery Mission or ‘ARM,’ conducts covert operations to uncover instances of animal mistreatment across the nation.
ARM entrega sus descubrimientos a las autoridades locales, para proceder con detenciones y redadas en las propiedades.
Kudo has mentioned that ARM has closed down 224 so-called ‘illegal slaughterhouses’ in Florida since 2009, leading to the arrest of numerous individuals.
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ARM describes ‘illegal slaughterhouses’ as places or facilities that operate without any authorization, control, or supervision, and that slaughter animals in breach of the Humane Slaughter Act.
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His main priority is to put an end to the cruel practice of illegal horse slaughter and the illicit trade of horse meat.
Kudo stated that the illicit horse butchery network in Florida is a sophisticated criminal enterprise worth millions of dollars. It is imperative to put an end to these highly perilous individuals.
Kudo mentioned that his most recent covert mission is proving to be his most challenging one yet. Despite notifying the authorities, he expressed frustration that the unauthorized farm continues to function.
Kudo told Genevieve Curtis from FOX 13, “That’s the reason I decided to dial your number.”
In Hernando County, there is a place in Brooksville that ‘ARM’ began looking into in 2022, situated along a twisting road.
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Undercover ARM agents, disguised as clients, bought pork, poultry, or goat meat packaged in plastic bags from the unauthorized farm.
These creatures are being slaughtered with mallets and wooden planks, they are being fatally pierced. They are simmering in hot water. They are having scalding water poured over them while they are still alive. Kudo expressed his horror at the mistreatment of the animals on the premises, who are simply existing there until they are slaughtered.
Kudo mentioned inquiring about horse meat as the moment when the situation took a turn for the worse.
Introducing Funny Biz, a thoroughbred who competed at Gulfstream Park in Miami back in 2019. In November 2023, Kudo’s hidden cameras recorded footage of her at the Brooksville location.
In the video, employees guide her towards the tree while another man, holding a rifle, positions himself to shoot while Funny Biz attempts to escape.
“Upon feeling her lips moistened by her tongue, she sensed impending trouble, causing her to panic,” Kudo remarked.
According to the police, a dog was abandoned in a sweltering U-Haul truck for an hour while its owners enjoyed the Florida beach, leaving the poor animal extremely thirsty.
What comes next is the filming of the hilarious Funny Biz being completely ruined.
Kudo discovered the racehorse’s registration through the tattoo on her upper lip after her death, a fact he was unaware of until he lifted her lip.
“I laid eyes on the figures, and, well, my heart dropped a tad,” he expressed.
According to Kudo, the butcher charged him $2,000 for portions of Funny Biz, calculating that the team could be earning as much as $10,000 per horse based on the pound price.
According to the laws of Florida, it is considered a serious crime to sell or have horse meat, and the consequences are even more severe for those who harm a registered horse.
Kudo expressed his belief that this is the initial recorded instance in history of a horse from a race being slaughtered and dismembered while being filmed.
According to sources in law enforcement who investigate these crimes, they concur with FOX 13.
Horses from the world of thoroughbred racing have never been captured on video being slaughtered, cut up, and packaged as meat. The history of this country has been auctioned. Never before has this occurrence taken place, not even once. Kudo remarked that this was an exceptionally robust argument.
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He anticipated that the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office would promptly take action on the matter.
However, he claimed that the events unfolded differently.
“In the final weeks of December 2023, this estate might have been subject to a surprise search,” he mentioned.
In June, FOX 13 initially contacted the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office regarding this matter.
The organization informed us that it was unable to provide any statements regarding an ongoing inquiry.
After a couple of days, a representative from the agency mentioned, “The state attorneys’ office is currently examining the case.”
The sheriff’s department also informed us that they were aiming to gather additional details by the conclusion of June.
A single individual has been taken into custody for a minor offense related to mistreatment of animals.
By the time Tuesday arrived, just as the tale was about to be broadcast, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office verified the apprehension of an individual employed at the farm. This person faced a misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty for the cruel slaughter of a pig.
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The arrest document reveals that the investigation began on June 24, long after FOX 13 had begun inquiring about the horse meat and the killing of Funny Biz.
Just before our story was about to be broadcast, a fresh announcement revealed that the sheriff’s office informed us about two more ongoing and unresolved investigations.
It was mentioned that they are currently collaborating with the FDLE, the Florida Department of Agriculture, the state attorney’s office, and various other state entities.
Kudo mentioned that the individual responsible for shooting Funny Biz on the unauthorized farm has not been held accountable.
For almost eight months since he initially brought the case to the attention of the authorities, Kudo is troubled by the thought of how many other horses may have suffered a similar destiny to Funny Biz.
“It’s truly terrifying to even consider,” he expressed.
A fortnight ago, FOX 13 caught sight of a variety of animals at the Brooksville farm, among them a majestic horse.
Similar to Freedom, he desires for Funny Biz to also be in the meadow of his sanctuary.
Genevieve Curtis expressed that you witnessed her being ruthlessly eliminated, expecting that proof would suffice to halt the operation, but currently, that proof is insufficient to cease the operation.
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“Understood,” Kudo affirmed.
Given our current situation, does it seem to you that her passing was without purpose? The inquiry came from Curtis.
“Until now, yes, and I have my fingers crossed for a shift in that.” I believed that her existence would impact the destinies of hundreds, if not millions, of animals. Kudo expressed his lingering hope for the event to occur, although he admitted to feeling uncertain about it now.
Representative Vern Buchanan from Brandon is currently crafting legislation that definitively and enduringly prohibits the slaughter of horses in the United States.
He expressed that the act of killing horses for people to eat is a cruel tradition that should not exist in the United States. The recent heinous act that occurred close to home is a clear example of why Congress must approve the SAFE Act, my bipartisan proposal aimed at prohibiting horse slaughter permanently.
When we inquired with the USDA about its involvement in the Brooksville investigation, the agency refrained from providing any comments regarding its collaboration with law enforcement.
However, when it comes to the trade of equine flesh in Florida, a representative from FSIS informed us:
The Food Safety and Inspection Service cannot predict the extent of the illicit horsemeat market.
FSIS collaborates with the relevant state and local authorities to look into reports concerning the unauthorized butchering and trade of horses and/or horsemeat.
