7onyourside's Blog

I think it is absurd for people to get upset about slaughtering horses, I mean, most people aren't upset about slaughtering cows or chickens. Why not? because most people don't have cows as pets. If something has a name people don't want to eat it, like horses or dogs.

But really, if you believe it is ok to eat a hamburger, or a chicken strip, why is it not ok for Europeans to eat horses?

I see no problem with horse slaughter, since I have no problem with eating various types of meet.

Over 90% of the American horses slaughtered for consumption by upscale diners overseas are young and healthy according to USDA documents. They are not lame, sick, or old. It is a blood money business and not about the welfare of the horses at all. Quite the opposite, in fact.

If foreign countries want horse meat, they can get it from some other country. The majority of Americans, in every poll taken, are against horse slaughter and for very good reasons. Unlike cows and chickens, horses are not classified as a food animal by the USDA.

An association of concerned veterinarians called Veterinarians for Equine Welfare have a great website with facts about horse slaughter and why it should be banned in the U.S. Check it out and learn more.

Then, call your U.S. Senators and Representative to vote for the ban on horse slaughter currently in Congress. The horse slaughter process is little more than legalized abuse and our horses deserve our protection from it. Please contact your Senators and Representative about supporting the ban.

US horses are not regulated or medicated as food animals. About 70% of horse medications are either illegal to be consumed by humans or have not been tested for human consumption.

Are the illegal substances found in US slaughter horses? Absolutely. According to the USDA's Red Book, of the 66,183 horses slaughtered in 2004, 6.6% (4,268.08) horses were in violation for "bute" and 13.3% (8,802.34) were in violation of Penicillin. Of the 94,037 horses slaughtered in 2005, 11.1% (10,344.07) horses were in violation for "bute" and 25% (23,509.25) were in violation of Penicillin. Only small samples of 15 horses and 8 horses, respectively, were even tested. You can bet the other horses that were not tested got the USDA stamp of approval and were sent overseas, even though it is clearly illegal according to our own food laws and the laws of the European Union.

What are the alternatives? 1) you can ban the 70% of currently legal medications that horses receive to be in compliance, which would jeopardize the health of the 99% of 9 million US horses that are not slaughtered, 2) you can implement a costly 'passport' system like Great Britain (a country also greatly opposed to horse slaughter) had to implement in 2004 for ALL UK horses to track the medications that horses receive throughout their lifetimes, or 3) you can stop the slaughter of the 1% of US horses for human consumption.

To 7onyourside: As far as the horses knowing that they are headed to a brutal and inhumane transport and death, I doubt that they would know this at first. Since most of the horses bought for slaughter by the kill buyers are healthy and in good weight, they were probably treated well in their lives and know nothing of double decker transport or slaughter.

All animals recognize the smell of blood from their own species, however. The transport trucks of the kill buyers smell of horse's blood so that would cause them alarm and even panic before they even get to the slaughter house.

When they get to the slaughter house, the frantic whinnies of their companions and the overwhelming stench of blood would certainly cause further panic.

Horses are highly sensitive flight animals and would predictably try to escape the bloodbath they see and smell around them. It is no surprise that the slaughter workers use electric prods and whips on them.

If a civilization is judged by the way it treats the animals, then any American who supports horse slaughter has much to answer for and is far from civilized.

Zexcord,

you said .."I think that its ok for other places to find good uses for stuff that we dont want anymore"

And that is one of the problems with your "thinking." When did sentient beings become "stuff" Are dogs and cats just "stuff" too? An animal that can feel and reflect emotions, be trained to do our bidding and provide years of companionship isn't just "stuff" to be thrown away when it suits you.

Your attitude is exactly what needs to change.

This is a many faceted question but the first part of my answer would have to deal with statistics.

(I also have to add there is no "humane" slaughter here in the US. I'm glad you put that word in quotes.)

Here is a link to the number of equines slaughtered in the US from 1985 - 2007.

http://www.manesandtailsorganization.org/stats.htm

You'll notice the number began to drop in the late 80's and when Cavel was closed, 2002 - 2004 (it was burned down) the numbers of horses slaughtered in the Texas plants was between 40 - 50K. Yet there were no reports of increased abandonment or horses running amok through city streets during those years.

Second, there will always be owners who can't or won't take care of their pets. It happens with dogs and cats, too. Of those who simply can't take care of their horses for financial reasons, it will be possible for some to send their horse to a rescue or sanctuary. For others, there are some programs in place that will help with euthanasia costs. Some will simply need to do the right thing.

As an owner of an elderly dog, I know it will cost me nearly $100 to put my dog to sleep and dispose of the body. The average euthanasia cost for a horse, plus body disposal, is less than $300.

http://alexbrownracing.com/wiki/index.php/Survey_Result
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If you own your own land and have access to a backhoe, which many people in rural areas do, then putting a horse down is much cheaper.

Even a bullet to the brain is better, puts the horse down quickly, and then the body can be buried on the property.

In addition, many vet

To 7onyourside: There are several alternatives to horse slaughter when an animal is truly terminally ill or suffering. Donating the horse to a horse rescue organization or having them humanely ethanized by a vet and the carcass either buried on the owner's property or picked up by a rendering company are the primary options. The first option is at no cost to the owner and the second option is no more costly than the monthly cost for boarding the horse.

Horse slaughter supporters would like the media to think that the slaughter industry is a public service to rid the countryside of unwanted horses. This is untrue. Over 90% of the horses slaughtered, according to the USDA's own documents, are young, healthy and in good weight. The captive bolt method of slaughter used in the U.S. was deemed to be inhumane in a study conducted by a Chief Inspector of the USDA. Less than 1% of the horse population is sent to slaughter. That is a statistically insignificant amount so, if left unslaughtered, those horses would not overwhelm the market.

There will always be abusive and neglectful horse owners who will starve or abandon their horses but this behavior is not connected to horse slaughter. Why--because horse slaughter buyers have never stopped buying horses for slaughter even after the U.S. plants closed. If any horse is starved, it is clearly not because slaughter was unavailable because it still is.