I had a wonderful adventure in Cleveland, but it was time to move on. I was signed up to take a yoga class in Willoughby, OH at 1:15 so I had some time to kill after checking out of the Marriott. I decided to hit the local Starbucks to catch up on some blogging – that was the idea anyway!
As I was fixing my coffee, I heard the couple next to my table say "her bag is moving"! It didn't take Jenny long to figure out it was lulu. Jenny couldn't wait to ask me all about Lu. I ended up chatting with Bill and Jenny for the next hour and no, I didn't get a bit of blogging done. Bill and Jenny were intrigued by my adventure (although I still don't think they believe I'm traveling alone!). They were VERY happy to offer suggestions on my next stop. Bill thought Cedar Point Amusement Park would be great, but Jenny argued I wouldn't like it – it was very funny to watch these two work out my next adventure. It was priceless. They both finally agreed that I would love Sugarcreek, Amish Country, and I should stay at the Carlisle Inn. Rolling hills, green pastures, picturesque landscapes, quite and peaceful inns. They gave quite a good sales pitch, so off I went.
I spent the evening drinking wine and eating cheese on my porch overlooking the town. I felt like I'd gone back in time as I watched the Amish ride by in their horse and buggies on the undisturbed countryside. Sugarcreek is a story book town –– or so I thought!!
As I was leaving Sugarcreek, I got a call from Greg (my new Cleveland friend). I couldn't wait to tell him about my evening befitting paradise. Greg quickly popped my red balloon. As soon as I mentioned Sugarcreek, his voice trembled. His tone was hurt and angry as he told me about the barbaric and sinister horse auctions that take place in Sugarcreek. Here in America, most of us revere horses as our beloved companions, but that's not the case everywhere. In Europe, horse meat is a delicacy, prompting greedy heartless horse traders to sell perfectly good horses to Canadian and Mexican meat brokers for slaughter. The story unfolded like a medieval novel. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. It turns out that Sugarcreek is one of the most nortorious equine "meat-market" auction houses east of the Mississippi. About 60,000 horses, half from the United States, are slaughtered for export each year in Canada.
The horse racing community in OH, PA and WV is taking a step in the right direction. Any horse owner found to have sold a horse to 'Sugarcreek' will be banned from racing for life. It's hard to believe in 2010 this type of barbaric animal cruelty is still taking place. Leroy Baker of Sugarcreek makes Michael Vick look like an amateur.
One of Greg's horses was sold to a woman for "breeding", instead the woman turned and sold Fighting Flamingo for slaughter. Greg took the woman to court and won! The story unfolds like fiction. It cost Greg thousands of dollars but he was determined to seek justice for his horse, and he did. He donated the money to charity.
(btw, that little brown spot on the left of the picture is lulu running up the hill)
Monday, July 12, 2010 at 10:04PM 
Reader Comments (3)
Thanks to those that signed the petition! I just did it again (first time I must not have hit 'submit', I have no idea!) Anyway, please sign and pass along!! Thx!!
What did you think was in canned dog food??
chris, omg .... you're such a moron!! haha