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Journalist and Producer, Adrian Baschuk spent 6-months with a film camera in hand documenting a little known Miami-based network of international volunteers that make up the nonprofit organization Animal Recovery Mission (ARM).  Established in 2010, by Richard Cuoto ARM’s mission is to eliminate extreme animal cruelty operations worldwide. Their work is largely unseen. They operate in fields, forests, and farms conducting surveillance of animal abusers whose crimes are as grotesque as one can imagine. Many of the team members used to volunteer for the SPCA (Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), but ARM goes a step beyond. The work often involves recon, camo and elaborate sting operations that have weeded out those volunteers who might be a little faint of heart.  Through their investigative work they have brought local, state, and federal agencies the evidence needed to bring charges against some of the worst criminals responsible for horse killings, illegal animal trade, fighting rings, rituals and other abuses threatening animals. 

Baschuk reconnected with Rachel Taylor, one of ARM’s volunteer investigators for an exclusive interview with Red Flag Magazine. 

Interview with Rachel Taylor from the vanguard animal rights organization known as ARM. 

Adrian Baschuk: You investigate people who are openly abusing and even killing animals. Have you had any close calls with them finding you while conducting surveillance or otherwise?

Rachel Taylor: Investigating illegal operations of animal cruelty always presents itself as a potential “close call”. When undercover, I am always merely feet away from some of the most dangerous offenders against animals known.  These criminals have bloody machetes or guns on them at all times and will not hesitate to kill me if my disguise was to be revealed.  Fellow investigators of ARM have had life threatening encounters with the killers that I have not had yet. However, it’s inevitable that my time will come one day, it’s just a part of what I do!

An example of other close calls that I have encountered while undercover was when I once infiltrated an illegal slaughter farm in the middle of the night with a fellow ARM investigator.  While the other investigator and I split up to canvas the property, I stumbled upon the burning carcass of a recently slaughtered cow. As I began documenting it, a pack of aggressive dogs emerged to feed on the remains.  I quickly hid but the dogs picked up on my scent and attempted to track me. To protect myself from an attack, I retracted up against a close by pig pen and covered myself in muck in an attempt to mask my scent. The dogs came inches from my face, growling and desperate to hunt me out.  I had to stay completely still, barely breathing and eventually they gave up and moved back to the carcass. It was a tough situation because when split up, in the dark of the night, I was not even able to warn the other investigator of their presence. Not only that but if the on-site animal killers had been alerted by the dogs, they could have easily come out and shot us both down.

As an investigator we are often shot at, chased down by attack dogs, followed and threatened – it is all a part of your job when challenging the livelihood and profit of the underground operations in which we encounter.

AB: As a woman, you’re in a very risky circumstances. Do you feel more prone or even more empowerment?

RT: As one of the few woman in the animal world who infiltrate illegal operations, I am exposed to extremely dangerous situations. Often I am alone and “off the grid” with no support in the field, so feeling more prone to danger can sometimes cross your mind, however it is what you sign up for in this line of work. As an investigator, we are well trained in handling such situations and are always geared up and heavily armed to handle whatever presents itself!

Where ARM ventures you cannot let fear or apprehension enter your mind for a second – it can become your worst enemy! Being a key member with ARM and seeing first hand the difference and changes that our work results in, is worth all of the risk. Being undercover, face to face with cold blooded animal killers, all the while knowing that your work will directly bring them down – that is empowering and it drives me everyday!

AB: Through ARM’s investigations numerous people have been convicted. Can you list some of those cases and their outcomes?

RT: ARM has several pending investigations awaiting prosecution involving extreme animal cruelty and killing, however to date our organization’s work has resulted in the exposing and eradicating of over 103 illegal animal slaughter farms, animal sacrifice farms and animal fighting operations. ARM has also aided in the passing of several critical legislatures such as The Good Horse Slaughter ACT and Marco’s Law that make it a third degree felony to buy, sell, transport or kill a horse intended to be slaughtered for human consumption in the State of Florida.  ARM also enforced that a bestiality protection law in Florida was put into action.

As a result of our investigations, ARM  has succeeded in the following:

– The recent arrest of Jorge Ortega Jr. in HIllsborough county of Tampa for the butchering and selling of horse meat for human consumption. He was the first person in the State of Florida who was charged under The Good Horse Slaughter Act that ARM aided in getting passed.

–  Following a two year investigation of 18 illegal slaughter farms and operations in a condensed area of Hialeah (FL), the ringleader, Rudestino Acosta, was arrested on multiple felony and misdemeanor counts involving animal cruelty, butchering and selling of meat for human consumption. He was also the ringleader of an underground trade of backyard horse slaughter and the black market horse meat trade. His case is currently being battled out in court.

– The second time arresting Angel Bursrot and Gelio Hernandez for the butchering of animals alive and selling un-inspected meat to the public. They are facing 15 years imprisonment. The case is currently in court.

– Placing a life ban and having licenses pulled on Gulfstream Park pony handler, Jorge Ortega. ARM investigated and found Ortega to be guilty of being connected to the trading of injured and unwanted racehorses to known horse killers.

– For the first time in history, ARM succeeded in canceling a Bureau of Land Management wild horse round up of The Walker Lake Herd in Nevada.

– Investigation which led to the conviction of two serial horse killers who were sentenced to two years imprisonment for the butchering and burning alive of a mare, as her foal looked on helplessly. Her meat was to be sold on the Black Market.

– Prosecutions following ARM’s recent investigations (Proenza farms and VIP animal sales) and the largest known animal rescues of 2011 and 2013 in the United States, will soon be revealed in the court houses of Florida. Charges include not only butchering animals alive and selling un-inspected meat but for the first time charges being implemented for the abuse and mistreatment of animals intended for religious sacrifice.

AB: What motivates you to carry out this work? Love of the animals or a sense of justice.

RT: Both. Of course, my motivation stems from an absolute love of animals that I was born with, so doing something important that protects the very welfare and wellbeing of animals is what drives and empowers me.  To threaten or harm an animal is like taking a direct hit on myself!

For me, shying away from the truth, because it makes a person feel uncomfortable, is the same as conducting the crime itself. It doesn’t mean that people have to be personally involved or put themselves in danger but they can aid in informing ARM when these crimes happen, supporting the organization and of course spreading the word to force a change in social attitudes and loose values towards animals.

I am motivated in bringing justice and karma upon offenders who inflict agonizing deaths, torture and suffering upon animals and making a change for the better. The people in which we investigate take satisfaction in cold heartedly killing animals for their own profit and believe that they can get away with these crimes – so yes, definitely I do a lot of this for justice!

For ARM, we exist to be the last defense line and the voice of those whose cries for help are not heard.

AB: Do you see increasing or lessening violence against animals? If less, is it because of heightened awareness?

RT: Due to influences such as economic degradation, cultural beliefs and a lack of education, ARM found that extreme underground violence towards animals, was not being exposed due to a lack of a governing on a social level.  ARM works at reversing this by regularly collaborating with the media and public on a local, state and national level.

By keeping “our finger on the pulse” ARM’s continual presence will ensure that these acts will be exposed and eventually eradicated.