Horse Slaughter in the US – What is the Solution?
February 25, 2012 by cherryhillhorsekeeping
H. R. 2744—45
In November 2011 legislation was passed that allows the USDA to once again fund inspectors of plants that slaughter horses, so there is the possibility that horse slaughter plants in the US could reopen.
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They r full of drugs. Slaughter not answer. If re-homing not possible, humanely euthanize like cats n dogs. Gelding clinics for stallions is good start. Moratorium on breeding perhaps.
How many of these horses are abandoned foal, mares, and thoroughbreds from the out of control big businesses in the US?
How are people who cannot afford to properly take care of the animal going to afford to euthanize and dispose of the animal?
Many people get on discussions such as this and suggest euthanasia or putting them in a rescue. What those people do not understand is what is needed to take care of such a large animal. This is no dog or cat that you can feed 4 cups or a 1/2 cup of feed to a day, and you sure cannot leave feed out all day for a horse like many people THINK is a great way to feed their dog or cat. Some of my larger horses will eat over 20 pounds of dry forage daily and 7 pounds of feed total daily during multiple feedings throughout the day. The cost can amount to nearly $250 a month in nutrition alone per horse. This does not include other costs of vaccinations, Coggins testing, deworming, farrier work, registration and inspection on truck and trailer, fuel costs, and various other items needed for one horse. Many people have multiple horses so multiply the monthly bill by 2 or 3 or 10!
Many people do not consider these costs before purchasing horses. When they are not prepared, the horse is neglected. When they do not feel like feeding their horse in the early AM or in the late PM or they have had a long day at work and don’t want to leave the house, their horse is neglected just as many people neglect their dog or cat.
Many people do not consider their physical ability to care for the animal before purchasing or adopting a horse. I walk up to 6 miles a day, EVERY DAY, to clean stalls, feed animals, turn out animals, hay animals, and water animals. This is my JOB.
These things are only SOME of the issues that lead up to equine neglect.
EDUCATION is VITAL!
I live in Oklahoma and have an incredible vet who specializes in horses. I trust my herd of 23 horses, most of whom are rescues, to her completely. She is compassionate and knowledgable and an incredible vet. She told me – as awful as it is to many people, including me – that putting a horse down by shooting it or by captive bolt (what’s mostly used in slaughterhouses from what I understand) are the most humane methods, WHEN DONE PROPERLY. She states that the horse is dead before could know what happened to it. She says that human error is what causes mistakes when using these methods, and thus what causes suffering. I would add that the fear and mistreatment that many horses experience during transport to slaughter is another completely unacceptable element in addition to human error. I have had horses put down due to advanced age, but used euthanasia because I wanted to be there when they passed. But for a commercial enterprise such as a slaughterhouse where drugs (euthanisia) can’t be used on animals that will be consumed, and where a large quantity of animals need to be humanely killed in a short amount of time, perhaps the emphasis needs to be on ensuring that fear, suffering, mistreatment, and an inhumane death due to human error are not a part of the animals’ experience. Not every animal is going to have a loving home. At the end of the day, we’re all just organic material powered by a brain and a soul. I think that there needs to be an outlet for the animals who will not find a loving home, such as a slaughterhouse. However, just because an animal is at a slaughterhouse does not mean that they should experience fear, pain and suffering. To take an animal’s life is a sacred power, and it should be treated with the dignity and respect it deserves.