On Friday, September 20, 2024, under a grey sky and cool 12°C temperatures, investigators arrived at JVJ Auction in Rimbey to observe the conditions and transactions surrounding the sale of horses. What unfolded over the next six hours revealed a complex web of familiar buyers, muddy pens, and unanswered questions about the fate of the animals sold.
Conditions in the Pens
At 11:20 a.m., investigators entered the property and made their way to the pen area, where approximately 80 to 100 horses were held. Among them were miniature horses, mares with colts and fillies, and a range of regular-sized horses. While most appeared in fair physical condition, the pens were saturated with mud from recent rainfall, and notably, there was no food or water available to the animals.
Familiar Faces and High-Volume Bidding
The auction commenced at noon. From the back of the auction room, investigators observed two individuals—both seemingly well-acquainted with the auctioneer—engage in frequent bidding.
• One buyer, referred to here as “Dobbs1,” purchased approximately 20 horses, including both regular-sized and miniature breeds. His bids ranged from $50 to $2,000. This same individual was previously seen acquiring large numbers of horses at the Westlock Auction.
• Another male bidder, using the number “Mik1,” placed bids between $100 and $700. Though the same bid name was used by a buyer at Westlock auction, this individual did not appear to be the same person.
By 3:30 p.m., investigators positioned their vehicle to observe the loading process. Only two trailers—one linked to Dobbs1 and another to a veterinary service—were seen loading five or more horses.
At 4:50 p.m., Mik1 was seen leaving the auction in a red GMC Denali but returned to the sale shortly thereafter. He was not observed loading any horses.
The recurring presence of these two buyers across multiple auctions, buying a wide variety of horses, raises concerns that these individuals are part of the slaughter pipeline and that several of the animals purchased were destined for Bouvry Exports. Animals’ Angels will continue to monitor this sale.