Dale Haley is a long term kill buyer, who has been shipping horses to slaughter for decades. He operates his collecting station on the premises of the Rushville Auction, where he also holds a small monthly horse sale on Tuesdays. Haley is notorious for violating the Commercial Transport of Equines to Slaughter Regulations and in 2010 was fined $6,125. His violations included shipping aggressive equines among other horses, which resulted in severe transport injuries. Haley, d/b/a Rafter H Ranch, also operates his own trucking company
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When investigators visited the collecting station, they immediately noticed that the premises appeared very run down and in a state of disrepair. Parts of the barn roof were caved in and the pastures and holding pens were overgrown with weeds. Piles of manure were everywhere around the barn. Haley’s two trucks and single deck trailers were parked next to the auction building. Several other different size trailers were visible. Investigators noted approx. a small group of horses on the premises, working their way through the thick manure. Several were kept inside the dark, decaying barn. Outside hay feeders and water buckets were empty.
Animals’ Angels has requested recent shipment info from the USDA to determine the destination of these horses. 2011 records indicate that he started shipping to an Owen Sound Consignee in Canada after the closing of Cavel in Dekalb, IL. AA investigators will continue to monitor the premises.
