Complaint Filed at TWHBEA Against Dane

May 31st, 2012 | By | Category: News

Keith Dane, a Humane Society of the United States official and an outspoken critic of horse soring, is himself in the hot seat with his fellow Tennessee Walking Horse owners.

Dane, a walking horse owner who sits on the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ and Exhibitors’ Association board, faces an official complaint from one of the association’s members. It could not be determined whether it had to do with his role in revealing horse abuse by releasing a video that aired on national television.

The details of the complaint, including when it was filed, are unknown. The private association considers the complaints confidential. But Marty Irby, the association’s president, confirmed Wednesday that Kathy Zeis, a member from Georgia, filed the complaint.

The association has scheduled a June 28 hearing on the matter. Zeis declined comment.

“They told me it was confidential and I am going to respect that,” she said by telephone.
Dane, the Humane Society’s director of equine protection, said Wednesday afternoon that he has not yet spoken with his attorneys about the complaint.

“Until I have spoken with them, I would rather not comment,” Dane said.
Founded in 1935, the breeders’ association is the oldest Tennessee Walking Horse organization and is the official breed registry for the horses.

Although the details are unknown, word of the complaint comes as Dane has become the public face of the Humane Society’s campaign against soring within the walking horse industry.

Soring is the practice of pouring caustic chemicals, cutting or otherwise abusing a horse’s hooves and lower front legs to induce an accentuated high step. The gait, known as the “Big Lick,” is prized at Tennessee Walking Horse competitions.

The Humane Society arranged for an undercover investigator to be hired at a West Tennessee barn to film soring and other abuses. The group turned the video over to federal prosecutors and it led to a 52-count indictment against nationally known trainer Jackie McConnell.

Earlier this month, McConnell pleaded guilty to one count of the indictment — felony conspiracy to violate the Horse Protection Act, which makes it illegal to show or transport a sored horse.

The Humane’s Society’s video also was released to a national audience. It first aired on ABC News’ Nightline on May 16. Dane has spoken out about how he believes soring remains widespread throughout the walking horse industry.

But some walking horse owners have criticized Dane and the Humane Society over its tactics, questioning why the Humane Society investigator did not try to stop McConnell when the abuses were under way at his Collierville stables.

Dane has defended the use of the undercover video. What the Humane Society did was legal and might have been the only way to uncover abuses with animals in the agriculture industry, he said.
Rep. Andy Holt, R-Dresden, and state Sen. Delores Gresham, R-Somerville, introduced legislation in the General Assembly this year that would have made what the Humane Society did illegal. The bill did not pass.

“The alternative would be to not know what is going on the shadows,” Dane said in a recent interview with The Tennessean. “As long as it is legal, we will continue to conduct these undercover investigations because we feel the public has a right to know.”

Duane W. Gang
Gannett Tennessee

2 Comments to “Complaint Filed at TWHBEA Against Dane”

  1. Deb Emser says:

    I am glad Ms. Zies is one to make a complaint. But again I will contact Mr. Gang for the 3rd time. Dane is NOT “The Humane Society”. He is a man and a fax machine called HSUS. A deliberate play on words to confuse the public and side track donations, of which the IRS is under active investigation on him. “The humane society” is an old organization that cooperates with local county shelters to save small animals in large part. They are not one and the same. If this, and I think deliberate, confusion of terms continues I may look at a legal resolve. This confuses and distorts the public and miscontrues funds. Further, as long as Dane is associated withe TWHBEA, I won’t re-join or register my horses with TWHBEA.

  2. Yeah, lets get mad and complain against people who see and report The Big Lick gait for what it HONESTLY IS: Cruelty, torture, mutilation, and the mental destruction of a gentle, intelligent, magnificent, and unfortunately voiceless animal. Yeah, let’s all go after the person trying to scream out for these animals whose owners, trainers, and riders do anything they want to get their hands on cheap ribbons, trophies, silver platters, breeding fees, and money, money, money! Oh and let’s not forget the prestige all brought about by the cruelty we are all aware has been going on decades. You uncaring people need to be aware that the Keith Dane’s of this world are the TRUE heroes. And that the majority of people on this planet we live on have his back and will fight right beside him. Kathy Zeis is showing the world that she will do anything in her power to save the”Money Machine”. It stops NOW!!