Social media is an excellent gift for people who like to judge others and pass along misinformation or lies about strangers they know nothing about.
From the minute I began writing about the Amish, messages started popping up on my blog and Facebook Page accusing me of glorifying and enabling animal abusers, especially horse abusers. The Amish, they wrote, abuse their horses.
During my experience writing about the New York Carriage Horses, I confronted a sad but epidemic phenomenon – extremist members of animal rights groups lied.
If they could never prove abuse, which they never could with the carriage horses, they made it up and used phony photographs to raise money from good-hearted and unsuspecting people.
You would think there is enough genuine animal abuse that people wouldn’t need to make it up to get money out of people who mean well. It was my first exposure to the Big Lie, which is now standard and well-known. The Internet is the daddy of the big lie.
It’s free, easily made anonymous, and without consequence for lies or cruelty.
There are several proven cases of the Amish overworking and thus abusing their horses in different states. But not here. By writing about my new neighbor Moise Miller, they said, quite outraged, I was supporting animal abuse.
The idea was that if some families mistreated their horses, then all of them did. How interesting that that standard of justice is not applied to the non-Amish, the most documented animal and horse abusers anywhere.
I spent much time on Miller Farm over the last two years. I have never seen any evidence of animal abuse of any kind. Their horses do work often and hard, as working horses do. They are not pets; they are tools of the farm.
They are treated well. Sheltered, brushed, trimmed, and well-fed with good grain.
They have open pastures across the road (above) to graze, comfortable, dry stalls in enclosed barns, and are constantly rotated and given a chance to rest as they go back and forth into town.
When they go up hills, they are rested in warmer weather.
The Amish have their ideas about animal care; their animals are not furbabies.
They respect their animals and value them. To abuse them would be to harm almost everything about the way they live.
There is absolutely nothing cruel or abusive about them, including their dog Tina, one of my favorite dogs in the world.
Do you have any evidence that my neighbors are abusing their animals?, I would ask. Now, was the answer but some Amish family in Pennsulvania did.
Driving by the Miller’s farm today, I saw their horses out in a pasture the family rents right across the road. They looked great.
The horses were grazing happily in a big room pasture, with grass still on the ground. The horse looked strong and tall, which shiny coats, white teeth and good posture.
Learning to spot lies is a skill many of us will have to learn. I’m happy to throw dust on this one. Some Amish families abuse there animals, I am sure. Some “English” people abuse their dogs, which I know.
The Miller family does not.
The Amish depend on their horses. Why ,in the world, would they treat them badly? My wife grew up in Lancaster County, PA. The one thing she mentions is there are some Amish known for over breeding of dogs to sell to pet stores.
There are all kinds of people known to overbreed and breed dogs irresponsibly, it is not an exclusive Amish practice. I’m sure some do it. But it has nothing to do with the Moise family, who don’t do it. Lots of people mistreat donkeys all over the world. But we don’t.
That’s Tins isn’t it? I’ve been wondering how she is doing.
What they are saying about the Amish and their horses is exactly what they have done to the circus community for years regarding their animals, one or two bad apples and we have all been tarred with the same brush and it’s not right, they have destroyed my culture my livelihood and my kids future, circus was once a magical world that brought pleasure to family’s world wide now it is looked upon as something sordid and full of abhorrent cruelty, and this is untrue.
Thank you Sallyann
There are good and bad in everything. Some Amish take good care of their animals and some don’t, just like the “English”. I think people in “rescue” get so bogged down with the misery they deal with that they forget that not everyone abuses or neglects their animals, runs puppy mills or sends their used up horses to auction. In fact most people in this country don’t but it’s hard to see that from the trenches I guess.
I wish the Miller family could share education amongst the Amish community regarding animal care & the respect work horses deserve. I left the horse rescue where I volunteer in tears today. Two horses from the Amish community were sent to a kill pen to be slaughtered after working their entire lives like a John Deere tractor. Our organization went & rescued these 2 mares & brought them to the sanctuary. I’ve never seen 2 horses in such bad shape in my entire life. Both malnourished & 1 has pneumonia. The other a severe injury on the back leg. Just pitiful & I see it so often where these Amish owned horses are dumped like trash!
Yes, I realize not all Amish treat their animals with neglect… but to see it in on this day, year & century is unforgivable!
I totally agree with your statement. The fact that this man is making the analogy that because his Amish neighbors treat their animals therefore most Amish do shows his ignorance. I work with animal rescue and have seen so much of the above events that you describe. I also have my own opinions of the Amish after growing up in Western Pennsylvania. My experience has not been so wholesome. The Amish have done some work for my family and I find them to be crude and uneducated. They have no problem whipping their horses to run up a hill in 80 degree weather- I have seen it. And the fact that this man is a writer of his animal love for animals is absurd. It makes me so angry that he is making money off of these books and has the nerve to turn around and write several article on his blog like this.
Of course C this makes sense, nobody who disagrees with you should be allowed to write books. I’ll stop right away,
Thank you♥️
I do not believe that all people from one group are inherently good or bad. During my time in New York City, I had the opportunity to observe carriage horses. Despite the widespread belief that they are mistreated, I witnessed firsthand that this is not the case. Therefore, I am inclined to trust Jon Katz’s account as accurate and reliable.
You are remarkably rational. I don’t know about all Amish I only know my neighbors I see them and their horses and animals every day. The slandering and hatred directed at them without one bit of evidence is a shameful travesty and the fact that I defend them has brought much hatred on me. I can handle it. I won’t abandon my neighbors on the basis of lies and bigotry. Thanks for your decency and fairness. .These hateful people have no decency. They are happy to smear all Amish even though many are different. I am proud to stand against another vicious mob. Thank you for thinking for yourself. Sadly some elements of the animal rights movement have become just another hate group. Shame on them. Animals deserve better advocacy.
If they love there hoses why do they end up in kill pens
I have no idea I’m not Amish and I have no horses and I have no idea if my very nice neighbors love them or not. I have never said they do, another lie. I have no idea either where they send their horses, if anywhere. I’ve never asked them about their emotional feelings about horses. Why are you sending me this quite idiotic message? This is why so many people are coming to hate the animal rights movement, which is a tragedy for animals.
If you actually give a shit about horses and you have evidence that they are abusing them why are sending me inane messages? Please contact the authorities immediately and stop sending grossly inaccurate messages to strangers. I’m curious. Talk is cheap anonymous accusations are even cheaper.
I had a friend that visited an auction house with the expectation of locating a horse for herself and friend. Well they left with two horses but what they saw was more disturbing, a number of draft horses. They felt it was a shame that these horses after working all their lives like they were machines ended up at an Auction House bond for slaughtered if not purchased. They could not comprehend why the Owners did not retire them on their farms.
Yes I’ve heard this many times I hope you alerted the authorities it’s illegal. I am not a police officer why, I wonder. Are you telling this to me Do I know you?
I have seen abuse first hand. We live in Indiana and go to the Amish area to shop a lot. One day we saw the Amish pull up in a buggy and the horse looked so tired and thin. It was about 90 that day. They left that horse outside in the sun for hours with no water. We walked over to and gave it some of our bottled water and it drank it right up! I believe the Amish think of them as work animals and not a beautiful animal deserving respect! They work them to death and then kill them. So sad. Maybe they all aren’t this way but the ones we have seen are!
I don’t doubt you Barb please tell me what this has to do with my neighbor. His horses look healthy and well fed and and clean .!why are you sending this to me? Please explain. We just go round and round. Until someone answers my question, this is the last time I will respond best, Jon
P.S. The death threats are getting boring.
The Amish think of animals either as a tool, food or factory for breeding. Also my friend who works for the Amish seen firsthand horses being abused. The Amish were making horses pull a big giant tree, the horses were falling because it was heavy and they were tired, yet the Amish still whipped them. I drive for the Amish too. I’ve seen a young Amish woman kick her Labrador puppy at a family dinner and most of the Amish laughed. I was appalled.
Awful why are telling me this? I assume you did something about the kicking besides writing me something I know and making up something I never said. Abusing animals is illegal in every state in America. Writing dishonest letters to strangers doesn’t help animals. As I’ve written many times, we all know some Amish in some places overwork and mistreat animals in some placesMy Amish neighbors don’t. Duh. Get off your lazy butt and go do something about it.
People are taking the time to show you that the Amish are generally cruel sicko SOBs when it comes to decency and dignity when treating animals. The Amish cruelty is widespread the Amish don’t care if they inflict pain on animals.. your experience tells us nothing about the Amish. You get it yet.?
I get bigotry and hatred you guys are good at it. Two people in my county have been charged with animal cruelty my Amish neighbor has not. You get it yet? I don’t know any other Amish I can’t defame them like you do. Lots of people are cruel to animals just like you are cruel to people. What have you done to stop this cruelty besides write idiotic messages to people you don’t know , and know nothing about? I don’t need people like you – who care nothing about the truth – to tell me about animal cruelty . I’ve been working on behalf of animals my whole life and nobody asked you for your guidance, especially you.
When I need advice on hatred, I’ll let you know. You are a disgrace to the animal rights movement which is not about hating people, but helping animals. The horses deserve better than arrogant and self righteous people like you. Hatred is never the answer. I’m grateful not to be you. P.S I have 15 rescue animals in my farm – donkeys, dogs, barn cat, chickens and sheep- how many do you have? Are you getting it now?
Talking to you and people like you is like talking to a telephone pole, but I feel it’s important to try. Good luck to you and don’t write me anymore.
I live in pa and witnessed many times how the amish treat animals all they care about is making money they are cheap and do not like to spend on vet care I’ve rescued 3 dogs from them who could no longer breed or make them money so they were discarded the mennonites are pretty much the same but they drive and use power tools also I just reported 2 Amish horses who live in manure up to their knees no one will do anything about the amish because they bring in big money by tourism they make me sick they are not the decent god fearing people they profess to be call your polititions and de,mand they put a stop to puppy mills and farm animal abuse by the amish
Joni I hope you’ve tried to do something about this. It sounds awful. I’m not sure why you’re telling this to me. I’m not Amish and I don’t have a horse.
Every horse rescue I have seen, which are many, every workhorse in the most terrible half-dead,starved and abused are from the Amish community. The person who wrote this article is either dishonest or delusional. I am also ashamed to have to consider them Christian. That is a far stretch into reality.
Thank you. Since animal abuse is illegal in all 50 states please tell me how many people you have had arrested. I’ve had two people arrested for animal abuse on horses and I’ve never written stupid hate mail to someone. I don’t know. It’s hard to figure that out. Signed,evil author. P.s. Perhaps if you spent more time getting these abusive people arrested, and less time writing idiotic messages to people you don’t know you would do horses, some good.
I’m greatful for these hate messages they make me appreciate what it means to be an honest human being, one who doesn’t promote heat or bigotry
You are absolutely right. I have seen so many horses that come from the Amish community that are in such bad condition that I can’t believe they are still breathing. It’s disgusting and something needs to be done about ALL of the animal cruelty that they commit. Yes, there is animal cruelty everywhere, these poor horses are worked until almost death.
The reason people are telling you about all these horse abuse cases is because you are calling it a Big Lie. We get it your neighbor treats horses good. But it is not a “Big Lie” that the majority of the Amish treat their horses poorly. So just because your neighbors do take good care of the horses doesn’t make it a lie that most Amish abuse horses. I guess you have to have a love for horses to be affected by the abuse and the results that horses previously owned by the Amish end up in kill pens for their retirement..
Christine you’ve got the wrong big lie. I never said the concerns about the Amish are a big lie. I don’t believe it. I have read enough to know they are true. They hate me because I have said and written that my Amish neighbor treats his horses well and does not abuse them I see them every day. The idea that any Amish person could possibly treat his horses well is forbidden and justification and excuse for death threats hate mail and stream of lies like one you have fallen for in this post I have rescued many an animal – 17 are on the farm now and I don’t need lectures from cruel and dishonest people like this and no matter how many cruel and dishonest hate messages I get won’t turn on my neighbor to please bigots hateful people. Your civil and thoughtful message is aimed at the wrong person. My neighbors are the only Amish families I know. I don’t know any others and can’t accuse them of crimes I haven’t seen. I do believe that assuming every one of the 250.000 Amish people of America of guilty criminal animal abuse is bigoted and hateful. Why not go after the bad ones and not everyone, good or bad? I know this message will due no good haters don’t listen but I feel have to try. I don’t lie and I have never written, thought or claimed any accusations about the Amish and animal abuse being a lie, big or other wise. I hate cruelty and the lies thrown falsely at me. I appreciate your effort to figure it but you got suckered into the big lie about me. I will never bow to it. Jon. happy holiday to you.Please show me where I ever said this a Big Lie.