Legislators introduced horse slaughter prevention bills simultaneously today (Jan. 17) in both the House and Senate in an effort to increase public awareness. Last year the bill was passed in the House with a 263 to 146 vote, but the Senate adjourned before members were able to vote on the bill.

A Seville, Calif., woman convicted of starving more than 80 horses on her ranch north of Visalia was sentenced to 10 months in county jail.

A Tulare County Superior Court judge also prohibited Sandra Werner, 61, from keeping any horses during the three years she is on probation.

A Grant County, Okla., man accused of starving horses and dumping more than 30 animal carcasses in a ravine on his farm was charged with seven felony counts of animal cruelty Dec. 19.

George Wesley Gilchrist, 43, was also charged with two misdemeanor counts of leaving a carcass in a well, pond or stream of water. Deputies who searched his farm northwest of Medford recently found two dead donkeys floating in a pool of water that was the only source of water for surviving animals, according to an affidavit.

Reports from WHDH-TV in New England (whdh) and the BostonHerald.com (bostonherald) stated that Pit Bull dogs killed a 4-year-old Miniature Horse on Dec. 19 and attacked a 29-year-old full-sized horse on the same farm in Uxbridge, Mass. The TV station's Web site has a video interview with the owner of the animals.