A New Era of Rustlers
As the economy tightens so must security measures for horse and cattle owners. I’m Susan Allen stay tuned on today’s American Rancher because I'll be back with more on the new era of cattle rustling. What lengths would you go to, to protect your cattle and horses from rustlers? In Florida there is an eight thousand dollar reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the deaths of eighteen horses butchered in Miami-Dade County. The crimes are especially heinous in that the thieves killed a month foal after cutting her mother up for meat while the latest horse was stabbed numerous times and believed butchered while still alive. $8,000 is really an insult for terrorized owners who lost prized show and companion’s animals. Police are advising horse owners to increase security and many are taking that to mean arming themselves with rifle or shotgun. One Fox news commentator covering the recent horse deaths seemed surprised horse owners wouldn’t hesitate to shoot an intruder caught attacking equines. The right to bear arms becomes poignant when it’s personal! Throughout the West, especially in Texas and Oklahoma the number of stolen cattle is expected to break all records this year. Oklahoma rancher Jeff Emerson lost 30 cows to thieves over three months at about $3,000 an animal . Over burdened law enforcement can’t offer much help so it is up to ranchers to protect their herds. Like outraged horse owners in Florida, ranchers want rustlers to know they are packing. ABC News reported that one seventy eight year old rancher from Oklahoma said he wouldn’t hesitate to shoot somebody over a lousy cow.
