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Showing posts with label horse slaughter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label horse slaughter. Show all posts
Sunday, August 1, 2010
A Letter to Horse Lovers
The following letter is from my friend and fellow equine supporter, Kathryn Webers, the Massachusetts Canada Mexico US Canada Mexico
Dear Horse Lover,
Horse slaughter for profit exists under USDA oversight, and their regulations intend to ensure humane transport, treatment at intermediate feedlots and operating US US
To understand USDA’s failure to ensure humane treatment, consider USDA’s own documents, but be forewarned of their graphic content. This is the slaughter industry:
At plants, the captive bolt gun is applied against a horse’s skull to have it unconscious for slaughter. This device was designed for cattle skulls and frequently fails to stun horses prior to butchering. Repeated blows and bleed-out while still conscious are not uncommon, though prohibited via the Humane Slaughter Act of 1958. The suffering is insupportable and Veterinarians for Equine Welfare declare: “horse slaughter is inhumane, and that it is an unacceptable way to end a horse's life under any circumstance.”
Horses are costly, but that does not justify inhumane treatment. Access to slaughter, via the nearest auction, fails to lessen neglect. The slaughter industry exists because foreigners want horsemeat, creating a quick reward for overbreeding and disposal of excess stock. Responsible owners never allow their horses to go to slaughter.Suppose the poor
Slaughter is not necessary. Humane treatment of the horse is necessary. Those who care about animals must ensure that public policy reflects our values. Send an email today to MA4Horses@gmail.com and join our state group as we lobby
Kathryn P. Webers
MA4Horses (at) gmail (dot) com
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A Humane Proposal
A Humane Proposal
For Preventing the Unwanted Dogs and Cats of the United States from Being a Burden to Society, Individuals, and Country, and for Making them Beneficial to The Public
By Jonathan Swift’s Horse
It’s a melancholy sight to walk through towns and countryside of this great country and see cringing in streets and sidewalks, under porches and cars, homeless dogs and cats, followed in row by miniature versions, all begging for attention and scraps. These animals, instead of being employed by families for companionship and guardianship, are forced to spend their time moving, begging, and even hunting for their food. Their helpless offspring, as they grow up, fall into the same pattern or turn feral, reverting to the wild ways from which humans saved them many years ago.
I think it is agreed on by all parties that this prodigious number of unwanted companion animals at the heels of working folk who cannot spare the extra food or compassion is in the present deplorable state of this economy a very great additional grievance; and therefore, whoever would find a fair, cheap, and easy method of making these animals sound, useful members of the commonwealth would deserve so well of the public as to have her statue set up as a preserver of the nation.
But my intention is very far from being confined to provide only for the unwanted dogs and cats; it is of a much greater extent, and shall take on the hungry masses of the larger world as well as those in need of labor and bulk purchasing jobs. The idea is influenced by my own studies and observations of an industry already supported in our great nation regarding larger companion animals: horses.
There is likewise another great advantage to my scheme as it will prevent the need for euthanasia. How many traumatized children must we see and explain such a practice to? The cost born, economically and psychologically, wears down our great nation: the sacrifice of poor innocent companion animals for no greater purpose moves tears and pity in the most savage and inhuman breast.
The number of between six and eight million companion animals as unwanted is stated by the Humane Society of the United States, with between three and four million euthanized for lack of place for them. With the comparative issue of equines, numbers are much less staggering, ranging from tens of thousands to up to a hundred thousand, yet a school of thought has already worked out how to make these undesired creatures useful to greater society. Can not the same logic be applied?
I am assured by merchants and other agents that these unwanted animals are older and often disabled or unable to acclimate to a cultured home. Furthermore, these animals cannot be trained and cannot bring a substantial profit from sale or use; the cost of care and feeding will be far more than any marketable value.
I shall now therefore humbly propose my own thoughts, which I hope will not be liable to the least rejection.
I have been assured by those who politically and economically support the slaughter and sale of horse meat overseas that it is a delectable product with prosperous returns for those involved in the business. It is a delicacy served only at the most expensive and renowned restaurants in Europe and Asia at the highest price points.
I do therefore humbly offer it to public consideration that of treating the unwanted cats and dogs in the same manner as unwanted horses. The sheer amount of available meat would design that it is not quite as profitable market as horse meat, but it does make it available to a wider audience, particularly throughout Asia where already exists a demand for dogs and cats; there are entire street markets dedicated to sale of these animals bred for their meat. Dogs have quite the range in size. Larger dogs may be sold by cut, as done by swine butchers, whilst cats and smaller canine breeds may be treated like small game or even poultry, in smaller cuts or as a whole for a family dinner or entertaining dish.
While such meat may not be considered palatable to the American diet, overseas markets have proven they will pay for American horses, so it is evident they should be willing consumers of our other companion animals.
As with horses, the resources already established for the slaughter of meat can be merely augmented. Albeit there are occasional complaints that the bovine slaughtering methods are more difficult based on the vastly different disposition and cranial anatomy for horses, the privatized sector for such a small market has continued with little attention from the media or USDA or FDA. While the numbers for unwanted canines and felines are much greater than the number of unwanted horses, it is still minimal compared to the large slaughter corporations for cattle, pigs, and chickens, so they should just as easily slip by industry watchdogs – or be shown as the means to a greater good, providing jobs to the jobless and providing food to the larger world.
Furthermore, the slaughter of dogs and cats for meat would lesson the stress on breeders who have for so many years been fined or browbeaten for unchecked breeding. Equine breed associations for Quarter Horses and Arabians assure us the overall quality of breeds and allows them the freedom to market only the finest animals for companionship while the rest may be easily disposed of via slaughter. Would not the great breeds of American dogs and cats reap the same benefits? Less financial strain would be placed on government agencies to stop puppy and kitten mills and such finances may be diverted to better causes in our society.
Families will also need not waste precious time in researching what they must know to responsibly own a cat or dog because, if they are unwilling to commit to the animal, they may sell it to an auction for a potential profit – or at least a means to recover what expenditures may have already been made upon the animal.
I think the advantages by the proposal which I have made are obvious and many.
For first, it would all but eliminate the unwanted cat and dog problem in the great United States
Secondly, the poorer members of the world would have an additional food option, and the richer would have more of a palate to play with; indeed, there may be some excellent means to prepare the rarer breeds as gourmet dishes so that even more levels of the economic hungry are fed than even the equine slaughter industry can promise.
Thirdly, whereas the maintenance and euthanasia of these animals would cost individuals and government agencies money; their slaughter would create a level of income, create additional jobs, and relieve responsibility from owners who were unaware of the cost and dedication involved in a companion animal.
Fourthly, the constant breeders will be relieved of the responsibility and economic weight of limiting their puppies and kittens; households may create an additional source of income by breeding their companion animals; and individuals need not undergo the pressure and trauma of spaying or neutering their animals.
I can think of no one objection that will possibly be raised against this proposal, unless it should be urged that companion animals have sensibilities and emotions other than to serve and support the cultured society that has bred them, in which case such admonitions of anthropomorphic fancy and a potentially unhealthy attachment might be decreed upon such an individual. I am not so violently bent upon my own opinion as to reject any offer proposed by wise men and women, which shall be found equally innocent, cheap, easy, and effectual. I desire those politicians who dislike my overture that they first ask these animals destined for slaughter if they would not prefer to be sold for food and thereby avoid a perpetual lifetime of misfortune, oppressed by those who would work them and consider them commodities to superficial happiness, without shelter from the elements, without food or sustenance given, a burden upon their human benefactors’ souls and economy.
I profess, in the sincerity of my heart, that I have not the least personal interest in endeavoring to promote this necessary work, having no other motive than the public good of my country, by advancing our trade, providing for the hungry, and giving some pleasure to the rich. My companion animals have already been fixed and cannot contribute to this greater good, nor does either fit into the unwanted category of commodity which is the boone to such an industry.
The End.
For more resources regarding equine slaughter, please visit the Bay State Equine Rescue page on slaughter.
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Midnight Hour for Horses: The Slaughter Issue
First of all, thank you to those who have been with me through this journey of my passions: writing, art, horses. I am more than halfway through now, and I’ve been deeply moved by the responses I’m getting to my horse stories and interviews.
As I have your attention, I hope you will indulge me as I take a moment to talk about a more controversial topic: Horse Slaughter
I’ve mentioned how some of the bright stars of the BSER have escaped slaughter. These are beautiful animals who have touched more lives than I can count. They have grown to be happy, healthy, loves of people’s lives.
They could have ended up on a plate at a gourmet restaurant overseas.
Now, when I started working with rescues, I knew very little about slaughter. In fact, not only did I know very little, I knew a lot of misinformation. I thought that horses were slaughtered similar to cows and pigs and such. I am not a vegetarian, but I do buy food I know has been slaughtered humanely (I research brands or buy local, natural products). I THOUGHT – or rather, I didn’t think – that horses were treated humanely at slaughter and that they would feed hungry people.
I was very wrong.
Let me address some myths and facts about horse slaughter.
From Mary Martin, the Massachusetts Representative for New England Equine Rescues:
Myth: Slaughter is a service to get rid of unwanted horses
Fact: Demand for horse flesh abroad is what feeds the slaughter pipeline.
Myth: Only old and useless horses go to slaughter - foals do not go to slaughter
Fact : *USDA 's own statistics say that over 90% of slaughtered horses are in good condition and a study says that 80% are under age 10. Also, many foals go to slaughter from the PMU industry as they are a byproduct from the making of the drugs Premarin and Prempro.
Also, rescues see chestnut QH babies thrown away for being born the wrong color - like the Pure Thoughts babies Abercrombie and the late Fitch.
* source www.kaufmanzoning. net/horsemeat
From Susan Sheridan, president of the Bay State Equine Rescue:
“There are two reasons we have horse slaughter. On the private side, people are irresponsible and want the easy way out for themselves with no thought of the consequence to the horse. These are the people who would say, ‘Oh, I had no idea.’ And to that I would say, they had no idea because they are so self absorbed. On the business side, it's all about the money. Whatever way they can make a buck. No matter what, it is the horse that suffers.”
She also cites Marge Mullen who wrote a great article in the July edition of New England Horse Talk. It is about slaughter and auctions. Her quote: "Shipping your horse to auction, where he has a 70% chance he will end up at slaughter, is the easy way out."
Susan also directs people interested in learning the disturbing truth about horse slaughter here:
“Go to this link: http://www.freewebs.com/mulekist/horselaughterfacts.htm
then scroll down to the first red url: If that isn't enough to convince people that slaughter is wrong then I do not know what it will take.”
then scroll down to the first red url: If that isn't enough to convince people that slaughter is wrong then I do not know what it will take.”
Myth: Horse slaughter when it was available in the United States
Fact: Horse slaughter was extremely cruel in practice, and the inspections were almost always nonexistent; for one period at the end of US slaughterhouse operations, the slaughterhouses themselves paid the inspectors.
Myth: Now that horses have to go to Mexico Canada
Fact: It is about the same in Canada Mexico US
Myth: If horses have to be killed, at least their meat goes to feed the hungry
Fact: Horsemeat is marketed as a gourmet foodstuff -- it sells for $20 a pound in Europe , not the range that lower-income people can afford
Myth: Horsemeat is good for you, being lower in cholesterol, etc.
Fact: American horses, being raised for purposes other than food, are chock full of toxins from substances that are illegal to use in animals intended for food, such as "bute," pesticides/flyspray s, topical ointments, wormers, etc. US
From Kathryn Webers, MA Anti-slaughter representative:
Myth: If horses can no longer be slaughtered, their welfare is at risk due to the lack of adequate equine rescue facilities and uniform standards for them.
Fact: Standards of care have already been developed and embraced by the hundreds of equine rescue and retirement facilities that exist throughout the country that routinely rescue horses from slaughter. All must comply with state and local animal welfare statutes. In an effort to end the slaughter of racehorses, the New York Racing Association has partnered with other groups to launch the "Ferdinand Fee" to raise funds for the care of retired racehorses, and to honor Ferdinand, a former Kentucky Derby winner who went to slaughter. Racetracks also have post-racing programs, such as those at Philadelphia Park
Myth: If a slaughter ban is passed, the federal government will face the financial burden of care for horses no longer going to slaughter.
Fact: This assertion rests on the false premise that all horses currently going to slaughter would become the financial responsibility of the federal government. Horse owners, not the government, will remain responsible for the care of their horses. Owners who no longer wish to keep their horses and who cannot sell or place their horses in a new home will have the option of humane euthanasia. The average cost for veterinarian-administered euthanasia and carcass disposal—approximately $225, the cost of one month's care—is simply a part of responsible horse ownership.
Myth: Ending horse slaughter will cause environmental harm.
Fact: Hundreds of thousands of horses are safely disposed of annually by means other than slaughter, and the infrastructure can absorb an increase in numbers. Conversely, the operation of the horse slaughterhouses results in negative environmental impact. This industry is known for violating environmental laws related to the disposal of blood and other waste materials. Then-Mayor Paula Bacon of Kaufman, Texas—then home of one of the last US horse slaughter plants—desperately stated "Dallas-Crown is operating in violation of a multitude of local laws pertaining to waste management, air quality and other environmental concerns... Residents are also fed up with the situation. Long-established neighbors living adjacent to the plant cannot open their windows or run air conditioners without enduring the most horrific stench." In 2007, Cavel in DeKalb , IL Kishwaukee River
The Bay State Equine Rescue is 100% anti-slaughter. Our job is to save these horses from this cruel fate. Most times, we actually have to purchase these horses from auctions and kill pens. Why? Because we have to out-bid the meat buyers. We also have to ship these horses and then provide extensive care because of the neglect and abuse they suffer from the auction and the shipping prior to auction. Please help us keep horses from slaughter by supporting us below.
Click the apple to donate now to help the BSER horses!
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