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Who will save the horses?
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| A lone work horse and rider herd cattle at the Willcox Livestock Auction last Thursday, the first day the auction has not sold horses. (Ainslee S. Wittig/ARN) |
Tough economy, new situation leaves horse owners in quandary
By Ainslee S. Wittig/Arizona Range News
"We've got a big mess here, and it's only going to get bigger," said Sonny Shores, co-owner of Willcox Livestock Auction.
One of the few avenues for the sale of horses in Arizona has been closed. Willcox Livestock Auction (WLA) stopped auctioning horses Oct. 30 - leaving only two auction sites in Arizona to do so, Shores said.
"There is no market for horses now and nowhere for them to go if we can't sell them. And it's not worth the trouble of the bad publicity. We have to watch over our shoulders all the time," he said.
Shores said animal rights activists have been at the sale barn with cameramen, looking for something that makes selling horses look bad.
"We don't have anything to hide. We never mistreat the animals, but I've seen them make something out of a cow that fell out of an owner's trailer and couldn't get up at a New Mexico auction. They don't tell the whole story, and they make it look like abuse," he said.
Shores said he sold seven of eight horses in about an hour on an auction day last month, and received $161 commission.
"It costs $200 to $300 an hour to run the sale barn. It (auctioning horses) is not a money-making deal, but we've done it for the people of the area. But now if we're left with horses, there is no outlet for those."
"When we're selling, we don't identify as a riding horse or a slaughter horse. We do our best to sell horses to people who will take them home. Even kill buyers (those buying to take the horse to slaughter) will sell sound horses to other buyers when they can," he said.
Horses brought to the auction to be sold are usually either worn out ranch horses, horses that have some light use left in them (good for pleasure riding) and horses that have not been broken, he said.
Shores said that, like the owners of the horses brought to be sold, he cannot afford to feed horses that are not going to be useful. Hay costs $200 to $240 a ton, which lasts about two months for one horse. There are also vaccinations and other veterinary bills, shoeing and other costs to consider.
"In these economic times especially, people are finding they can't afford to keep horses," he said.
If horses can't be sold or kept, what are the options?
Previously, horses that would not sell to homes would be sold to a kill buyer and brought to a U.S. inspected slaughterhouse in either Texas or Illinois.
But that option is now gone.
Two plants in Texas and one in Illinois handled the majority of horse slaughter in the U.S. until 2006. The meat was sold mostly in Europe and Asia, and numerous other products were made from the horses.
In 2006, Congress voted to discontinue use of funds appropriated for slaughter, but it was able to continue with industry funding. In 2007, court action closed the Texas plants and a state ban closed the Illinois plant.
"Animal rights groups have shot themselves in the foot. Without the slaughter plants in the U.S.," Shores said, "many people are either abandoning their horses where they starve to death or they send them to Mexico, where the plants do not have the oversight and inspectors they did in the U.S. I don't know how they kill the horses in Mexico, but at least here, they did it humanely."
Since the U.S. plants were closed, horse exports have increased. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 31,453 horses had been transported to Mexico for slaughter as of Aug. 8, 2008 compared with 21,583 horses the same time last year.
Rancher Matt Klump of Willcox, said, "There's no money in slaughtering horses. Nobody raises horses to slaughter them. But people, including animal rights people, don't know the reality. What are people supposed to do with their old or crippled horses? They're going to turn them out (in the desert) and that's making animals suffer. That's 10 times worse than putting them down."
Randy Porter, a livestock officer with the Arizona Department of Agriculture (ADA) in Safford has rounded up 26 horses since the beginning of January in the Safford area.
And, south of Willcox, three abandoned horses were found in the desert last month.
Porter, who has been a livestock officer here since 1990, said he has seen a "big increase" in abandoned horses in the last six to eight months, possibly due in part to the country's economic downturn and in part to the lack of slaughterhouses here.
"The problem is getting bigger. People are going to start coming from the city and dumping their horses here. Guaranteed. It's just a matter of time, and it's going to end up costing me when they're on my land," Klump said.
"I just want to ask those people who were for closing the plants, 'Where do you want us to bring these horses? Reid Park? Tell us where you want them and I'll haul them there,'" he said.
Porter said the ADA has had discussions of what they should do with abandoned horses now.
"First we would go with adoption and horse rescue operations. The problem is they are limited and mostly filled up," he said. "We can still go to Pacific Livestock Auction in Chandler. They don't typically go to slaughter - a lot are too old for ranches, but will go out to kids. And there's Robertson's Horse Sales in Benson, but only for good riding horses."
Euthanizing a horse at a veterinarian costs around $300 and getting a backhoe to dig a hole to bury it costs about $250, Shores said.
And for those wanting to export their horses to a slaughterhouse in Mexico, Shores said, "I understand the wait from New Mexico to get across the border is two to three weeks, because the slaughterhouses are full and there are horses coming from all the southern states."
"Even the kill buyers don't want to buy the horses now," he said, "because it costs more to transport and feed them (to get them to Mexico)."
Jolyn Smith, a rancher in Texas Canyon, said, "I love horses, but what are you going to do with cripples and old retired horses? Have they seen a 30-year old blind horse? I've had to put some down, and it's sad, but it is the humane thing to do."
Smith added, "People in cities and towns don't have the option to shoot them and bury them like we do out here. I've had several friends ask me to put down their horses because they can't."
Jim Self, a Willcox-area deputy livestock inspector with ADA since 1995, said, "We used to pick up horses and if we could not find an owner, we'd hold them for two weeks and then sell them through the sale barn (WLA). Now we can't do that. The only answer I can see is to open the plants back up in the U.S. so we have an outlet for these animals. The animal rights people had good intentions, but they have not helped the problem. They haven't done the horses any favors."
"The people they (animal rights activists) are fighting with probably take better care of them than they do. Horses are tools for ranchers to make a living. They're not going to abuse them. But they're asking for people to keep horses until they die. Ranchers need to have useful horses. The bottom line is, there's got to be an outlet for them when horses are no longer useful," Self said.
Thurston Comstock, a rancher in Dragoon, said he has used the WLA for about 30 years to sell and buy horses.
"This has gotten plum out of hand. Recently they had another bill in Congress to prohibit transporting horses for slaughter. In this case, you'd be guilty before being tried. I spoke with (Congresswoman Gabrielle) Giffords' office, and I told her I had 50 people here that were not going to vote for her if she approved of this bill (Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act, sponsored by Rep. John Conyers of Michigan). She said it wasn't going anywhere, but just the idea is crazy."
He added, "We need the WLA. Just a small percentage go to the kill market. The rest are going for riding."
"It's an open auction, where at least the horses have a chance to go to a home," said Terry Burgess, a third generation rancher in Graham County whose family has used WLA for 50 years. "They can end up being used for trail riding or handicapped kids."
Porter said the closure of the U.S. plants has "affected not only a whole lot of people - those employed there, those dealing with horses in their businesses, but also the horses themselves. It's better to have plants in America. It's not a pretty sight in Mexico."
"And our economy," Porter added. "We lose a lot of by-products. Medicines, cosmetics, dog foods, and meat. Losing the plants contribute to our economic downturn."
"I'm not saying that slaughter is the option. It is a necessity. We can't save all the horses - it's impossible to do that. And if we can't, then let's use them to our benefit."
By Ainslee S. Wittig/Arizona Range News
"We've got a big mess here, and it's only going to get bigger," said Sonny Shores, co-owner of Willcox Livestock Auction.
One of the few avenues for the sale of horses in Arizona has been closed. Willcox Livestock Auction (WLA) stopped auctioning horses Oct. 30 - leaving only two auction sites in Arizona to do so, Shores said.
"There is no market for horses now and nowhere for them to go if we can't sell them. And it's not worth the trouble of the bad publicity. We have to watch over our shoulders all the time," he said.
Shores said animal rights activists have been at the sale barn with cameramen, looking for something that makes selling horses look bad.
"We don't have anything to hide. We never mistreat the animals, but I've seen them make something out of a cow that fell out of an owner's trailer and couldn't get up at a New Mexico auction. They don't tell the whole story, and they make it look like abuse," he said.
Shores said he sold seven of eight horses in about an hour on an auction day last month, and received $161 commission.
"It costs $200 to $300 an hour to run the sale barn. It (auctioning horses) is not a money-making deal, but we've done it for the people of the area. But now if we're left with horses, there is no outlet for those."
"When we're selling, we don't identify as a riding horse or a slaughter horse. We do our best to sell horses to people who will take them home. Even kill buyers (those buying to take the horse to slaughter) will sell sound horses to other buyers when they can," he said.
Horses brought to the auction to be sold are usually either worn out ranch horses, horses that have some light use left in them (good for pleasure riding) and horses that have not been broken, he said.
Shores said that, like the owners of the horses brought to be sold, he cannot afford to feed horses that are not going to be useful. Hay costs $200 to $240 a ton, which lasts about two months for one horse. There are also vaccinations and other veterinary bills, shoeing and other costs to consider.
"In these economic times especially, people are finding they can't afford to keep horses," he said.
If horses can't be sold or kept, what are the options?
Previously, horses that would not sell to homes would be sold to a kill buyer and brought to a U.S. inspected slaughterhouse in either Texas or Illinois.
But that option is now gone.
Two plants in Texas and one in Illinois handled the majority of horse slaughter in the U.S. until 2006. The meat was sold mostly in Europe and Asia, and numerous other products were made from the horses.
In 2006, Congress voted to discontinue use of funds appropriated for slaughter, but it was able to continue with industry funding. In 2007, court action closed the Texas plants and a state ban closed the Illinois plant.
"Animal rights groups have shot themselves in the foot. Without the slaughter plants in the U.S.," Shores said, "many people are either abandoning their horses where they starve to death or they send them to Mexico, where the plants do not have the oversight and inspectors they did in the U.S. I don't know how they kill the horses in Mexico, but at least here, they did it humanely."
Since the U.S. plants were closed, horse exports have increased. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 31,453 horses had been transported to Mexico for slaughter as of Aug. 8, 2008 compared with 21,583 horses the same time last year.
Rancher Matt Klump of Willcox, said, "There's no money in slaughtering horses. Nobody raises horses to slaughter them. But people, including animal rights people, don't know the reality. What are people supposed to do with their old or crippled horses? They're going to turn them out (in the desert) and that's making animals suffer. That's 10 times worse than putting them down."
Randy Porter, a livestock officer with the Arizona Department of Agriculture (ADA) in Safford has rounded up 26 horses since the beginning of January in the Safford area.
And, south of Willcox, three abandoned horses were found in the desert last month.
Porter, who has been a livestock officer here since 1990, said he has seen a "big increase" in abandoned horses in the last six to eight months, possibly due in part to the country's economic downturn and in part to the lack of slaughterhouses here.
"The problem is getting bigger. People are going to start coming from the city and dumping their horses here. Guaranteed. It's just a matter of time, and it's going to end up costing me when they're on my land," Klump said.
"I just want to ask those people who were for closing the plants, 'Where do you want us to bring these horses? Reid Park? Tell us where you want them and I'll haul them there,'" he said.
Porter said the ADA has had discussions of what they should do with abandoned horses now.
"First we would go with adoption and horse rescue operations. The problem is they are limited and mostly filled up," he said. "We can still go to Pacific Livestock Auction in Chandler. They don't typically go to slaughter - a lot are too old for ranches, but will go out to kids. And there's Robertson's Horse Sales in Benson, but only for good riding horses."
Euthanizing a horse at a veterinarian costs around $300 and getting a backhoe to dig a hole to bury it costs about $250, Shores said.
And for those wanting to export their horses to a slaughterhouse in Mexico, Shores said, "I understand the wait from New Mexico to get across the border is two to three weeks, because the slaughterhouses are full and there are horses coming from all the southern states."
"Even the kill buyers don't want to buy the horses now," he said, "because it costs more to transport and feed them (to get them to Mexico)."
Jolyn Smith, a rancher in Texas Canyon, said, "I love horses, but what are you going to do with cripples and old retired horses? Have they seen a 30-year old blind horse? I've had to put some down, and it's sad, but it is the humane thing to do."
Smith added, "People in cities and towns don't have the option to shoot them and bury them like we do out here. I've had several friends ask me to put down their horses because they can't."
Jim Self, a Willcox-area deputy livestock inspector with ADA since 1995, said, "We used to pick up horses and if we could not find an owner, we'd hold them for two weeks and then sell them through the sale barn (WLA). Now we can't do that. The only answer I can see is to open the plants back up in the U.S. so we have an outlet for these animals. The animal rights people had good intentions, but they have not helped the problem. They haven't done the horses any favors."
"The people they (animal rights activists) are fighting with probably take better care of them than they do. Horses are tools for ranchers to make a living. They're not going to abuse them. But they're asking for people to keep horses until they die. Ranchers need to have useful horses. The bottom line is, there's got to be an outlet for them when horses are no longer useful," Self said.
Thurston Comstock, a rancher in Dragoon, said he has used the WLA for about 30 years to sell and buy horses.
"This has gotten plum out of hand. Recently they had another bill in Congress to prohibit transporting horses for slaughter. In this case, you'd be guilty before being tried. I spoke with (Congresswoman Gabrielle) Giffords' office, and I told her I had 50 people here that were not going to vote for her if she approved of this bill (Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act, sponsored by Rep. John Conyers of Michigan). She said it wasn't going anywhere, but just the idea is crazy."
He added, "We need the WLA. Just a small percentage go to the kill market. The rest are going for riding."
"It's an open auction, where at least the horses have a chance to go to a home," said Terry Burgess, a third generation rancher in Graham County whose family has used WLA for 50 years. "They can end up being used for trail riding or handicapped kids."
Porter said the closure of the U.S. plants has "affected not only a whole lot of people - those employed there, those dealing with horses in their businesses, but also the horses themselves. It's better to have plants in America. It's not a pretty sight in Mexico."
"And our economy," Porter added. "We lose a lot of by-products. Medicines, cosmetics, dog foods, and meat. Losing the plants contribute to our economic downturn."
"I'm not saying that slaughter is the option. It is a necessity. We can't save all the horses - it's impossible to do that. And if we can't, then let's use them to our benefit."
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Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of willcoxrangenews.com.
Tom wrote on Nov 12, 2008 12:24 AM:
" Hmm seems like this is the same ole bull crap stories they horse plants have inseeded to the cattle industry to say and to tell the truth Porter is only a very very small voices that oppose humane treatment he fails to tell the public that all of the reported double deckers caring all breeds sex and sizes of horses going to slaughter that have had fatal crashes due to irresponsible handling being overloaded for big profits for the foreigners and the small cattle people that profit off the horses. The real story these crying cattle people are to lazy to find a real job. Porter indicates he has no ideas of the plants in mexico yet he claims the slaughter rates are climbing this means there is an outlet just not where he can profit. Seem porter dont care for the horses its his pocket book. Porter doesnt mention that the AQHA and the APHA which makes money promoting more horses with birth papers are the problem he keeps blaming responsible caring horse people. Porter is losing money by selling out the horses flesh. Wonder if he put any effort into rescuing any of the horses he witness runing lose or that he contibutes to any horse rescues. In fact porter we do and we own horses and have supported many rescues thru out the US and Canada. What has porter do except cry about his cattle winnys. He fails to mention that the South Western Cattle Association got $3.00 per horse slaughtered in Texas he fails to mention that the American Public paid for these foreigners Taxes and Inspections. The most they ever paid in taxes came out to about $5.00. He fails that these plant just like the cattle industries supports undocumented illegal aliens. Nor do they ever pay there health and envoiroment violations. Porter when you lie to people at least write about the facts too. For more facts visit www.SaveDaHorses.org and see what humane treatment really is that porter is hiding and fails to mention. "
MJ wrote on Nov 12, 2008 6:13 AM:
" "Rancher Matt Klump of Willcox, said, "There's no money in slaughtering horses. Nobody raises horses to slaughter them. But people, including animal rights people, don't know the reality. What are people supposed to do with their old or crippled horses? They're going to turn them out (in the desert) and that's making animals suffer. That's 10 times worse than putting them down."
Well, Mr. Wilcox, you call the vet and have your companion/worker of the past X number of years humanely euthanized. That doesn't take a lot of brain power, usually.
Why should we open slaughter houses so that those who use and abuse, can continue doing so? Stop breeding horses for the time being and the pipeline will stop. Of course the AQHA would disagree, because that's how they make their money. Again, not a lot of brain power to figure that out.
Horse slaughter is unethical, plain and simple. "
Well, Mr. Wilcox, you call the vet and have your companion/worker of the past X number of years humanely euthanized. That doesn't take a lot of brain power, usually.
Why should we open slaughter houses so that those who use and abuse, can continue doing so? Stop breeding horses for the time being and the pipeline will stop. Of course the AQHA would disagree, because that's how they make their money. Again, not a lot of brain power to figure that out.
Horse slaughter is unethical, plain and simple. "
TerryW wrote on Nov 12, 2008 6:49 AM:
" First, I'd like to say that for those who abandon horses in the desert are people that will not take their horses to be sold for slaughter. As a horse owner I would rather turn my horse out than let them go to slaughter. So slaughter is not the answer to this situation. Sorry, but it's not.
And the statistics show that horses that are slaughtered are not these old or crippled horses your article talks about. Over 90% are young, healthy, and up until now, slaughter has been for profit and no other reason. Slaughterhouses only employ about 40 people, most of who were not in this country legally. Slaughterhouses did not pay taxes to the US on their horsemeat exports.
Also, horses are not raised and regulated for vet meds like food-producing animals are. US horsemeat is a food safety hazard for those that consume it. Horsemeat has not been an ingredient in dog food for decades. Horses that go to rendering plants would be - but not slaughterhouses. Dog food manufacturers get their product from render companies.
Just as people who are losing their homes are having to give up their pets to shelters, so it goes for many people with horses.
What's that quote? "It's the economy, stupid"
Yep, hay costs more because gas costs more.
Ranching is not the top use of horses in this state and the whole country. Maybe it is in Wilcox, but that's Wilcox. Ranching is down in the very bottom category of horse ownership. At the top is recreational riding, then showing, then racing.... check the statistics provided by the American Horse Council on their website.
I get tired of hearing about the poor ranchers, like they are the majority of horse owners. They're not, not even close. How many of them are out there using ATV's instead of horses anyway?
Last I checked locally, to euthanize my horse would cost me just under $100 by my vet and $100 for a backhoe to come out and dig the hole and put my horse in it. That's not breaking the bank here. Besides, people that can no longer afford their horse due to the economy are not going to be calling the vet to come out and kill their horse any more than they're going to have it hauled to a slaugherhouse even if we still had the two in Texas and the one in Illinois.
The only good thing about the high gas prices we've been paying these days is that it's less profitable for killer buyers to haul horses to slaughter.
And there isn't anything humane about horse slaughter - starting at the auction, to the transport, to the slaughterhouse, whether in the US or Mexico or Canada.
Humane is calling a vet and having a horse euthanized. That's what the majority of us responsible horse owners do. "
And the statistics show that horses that are slaughtered are not these old or crippled horses your article talks about. Over 90% are young, healthy, and up until now, slaughter has been for profit and no other reason. Slaughterhouses only employ about 40 people, most of who were not in this country legally. Slaughterhouses did not pay taxes to the US on their horsemeat exports.
Also, horses are not raised and regulated for vet meds like food-producing animals are. US horsemeat is a food safety hazard for those that consume it. Horsemeat has not been an ingredient in dog food for decades. Horses that go to rendering plants would be - but not slaughterhouses. Dog food manufacturers get their product from render companies.
Just as people who are losing their homes are having to give up their pets to shelters, so it goes for many people with horses.
What's that quote? "It's the economy, stupid"
Yep, hay costs more because gas costs more.
Ranching is not the top use of horses in this state and the whole country. Maybe it is in Wilcox, but that's Wilcox. Ranching is down in the very bottom category of horse ownership. At the top is recreational riding, then showing, then racing.... check the statistics provided by the American Horse Council on their website.
I get tired of hearing about the poor ranchers, like they are the majority of horse owners. They're not, not even close. How many of them are out there using ATV's instead of horses anyway?
Last I checked locally, to euthanize my horse would cost me just under $100 by my vet and $100 for a backhoe to come out and dig the hole and put my horse in it. That's not breaking the bank here. Besides, people that can no longer afford their horse due to the economy are not going to be calling the vet to come out and kill their horse any more than they're going to have it hauled to a slaugherhouse even if we still had the two in Texas and the one in Illinois.
The only good thing about the high gas prices we've been paying these days is that it's less profitable for killer buyers to haul horses to slaughter.
And there isn't anything humane about horse slaughter - starting at the auction, to the transport, to the slaughterhouse, whether in the US or Mexico or Canada.
Humane is calling a vet and having a horse euthanized. That's what the majority of us responsible horse owners do. "
Debbie Coburn wrote on Nov 12, 2008 9:02 AM:
" What did you do with horses before slaughter? Horses that are old and used up should be humanely put down and not put through the torture of the slaughter pipeline - from auction to kill floor it's a hideous process. And those owners that bring animals that are abused and neglected should be arrested when they bring the poor animals to the auction house. Intended or not, those that continue to breed do breed for slaughter. Contrary to remarks in the article over 93% of the horses sent to slaughter are sound healthy young horses. Stop blaming animal rights people for a problem YOU created and YOU can fix. It's within your power to stop this, stop looking to others to take on your responsibility.
Debbie "
Debbie "
Lin wrote on Nov 12, 2008 10:39 AM:
" No where for the horses to go???? HR6598 will make horse owners responsible for their horses. No slaughter option. So that means call a vet and have the animal put down, if you don't want to care for him/her anymore.
Then they won't have a horrendous death by getting stabbed in the spine or shot with a captive bolt that don't work on Equines. Save the horses "
Then they won't have a horrendous death by getting stabbed in the spine or shot with a captive bolt that don't work on Equines. Save the horses "
D. Masters wrote on Nov 12, 2008 11:44 AM:
" Come on Arizona Range News. There is so much misinformation in this piece, it's going to take me two days to annotate and rebutt with references to show where you are incorrect. This isn't news, this is an editorial piece with a ton of myth perpetuation and plain proslaughter poop. Slaughter is still available. That it takes longer to ship (and Canada and Mexico still received US horses when the 3 US plants were open here) is irrelevant and that horses at auction aren't being bought is a function of "SUPPLY AND DEMAND"....too many horses and the worst time of year-FALL. Many people don't want to pay winter feed costs. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this out. Horse owners always have the option of euthanizing by chemicals (vet) or bullet (expert here please, that you own a gun/pistol doesn't make you a qualified knacker). But the rub is that option will cost about three hundred dollars, some emotional currency and planning versus getting a few bucks in that owner's pocket.
Please. What a load of cow dung! I wouldn't call this investigative in the least or reporting, at a minimum and at best, this story is nothing more than pure local, fear fed misinformation. "
Please. What a load of cow dung! I wouldn't call this investigative in the least or reporting, at a minimum and at best, this story is nothing more than pure local, fear fed misinformation. "
skippy wrote on Nov 12, 2008 11:49 AM:
" All of you need to call the HSUS about old horses needing a place to go. They had a 1,200 acre horse sanctuary donated to them. They have room for around 500 horses. The HSUS got the slaughter houses closed down. Make them take care of the old horses. But tell them not to kill them and dump them in your landfills. Theres e-coli coming out of the landfills into our water. Just a matter of time before the kill drug shows up in our water. "
Sherrie Stolarik wrote on Nov 12, 2008 1:58 PM:
" Euthanasia needs to be low-cost.
Slaughter is inhumane. If abandoning
an animal, etc. that is a crime and always
has been. YES, THE ECONOMY has
caused a lot to happen...people have
too many kids, too many horses, too many of this and that...soooo,
STOP OVERBREEDING OF ALL OF THE ABOVE. Slaughter is INHUMANE and is
still going on. Poor killer buyers can't afford to take them either? Then the owner MUST EUTHANIZE - LOW COST PROGRAMS ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED
and overbreeding is a majore culprit, not
the economy and closing of the slaughter plants..Slaughter perpetuated
overbreeding and that it was OK TO DO
SO..afte 50 YEARS SLAUGHTER helped
people to keep on doing what they have done best, overbreed, starve, abandon,
and then ship to slaughter to cover their
inhumane treatment to begin with BUT
92 % are healthy and many were stolen
and IMPORTED to be slaughtered. "
Slaughter is inhumane. If abandoning
an animal, etc. that is a crime and always
has been. YES, THE ECONOMY has
caused a lot to happen...people have
too many kids, too many horses, too many of this and that...soooo,
STOP OVERBREEDING OF ALL OF THE ABOVE. Slaughter is INHUMANE and is
still going on. Poor killer buyers can't afford to take them either? Then the owner MUST EUTHANIZE - LOW COST PROGRAMS ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED
and overbreeding is a majore culprit, not
the economy and closing of the slaughter plants..Slaughter perpetuated
overbreeding and that it was OK TO DO
SO..afte 50 YEARS SLAUGHTER helped
people to keep on doing what they have done best, overbreed, starve, abandon,
and then ship to slaughter to cover their
inhumane treatment to begin with BUT
92 % are healthy and many were stolen
and IMPORTED to be slaughtered. "
sherrie stolarik wrote on Nov 12, 2008 2:04 PM:
" Hi
a couple of other issues come to light
stated within the article..horses need
to be put down..there is a big difference
between euthanasia vs. shipping to slaughter. Also, if sooo little go to slaughter, i.e, 1% = 100K, then again,
overbreeding needs to be stopped.
Also, horses are not used in pet food!
Perhaps we should be eating horses
here then?? Ride and Dine on your
friend's horses?? You may not wish
for YOUR HORSE to be slaughtered,
but your friend's horse could end up there..do you care??? NO..any winner,
jumper, etc..crown 'em, give 'em a trophy, ship to slaughter and eat..
What a wonderful great way to celebrate
our horses and their lives. Again, it
was stated in the article - euthanize..
work towards low-cost, and rendering
plants WILL NOT BE OVERWHELMED..
SINCE many many go there now by responsible horse owners... "
a couple of other issues come to light
stated within the article..horses need
to be put down..there is a big difference
between euthanasia vs. shipping to slaughter. Also, if sooo little go to slaughter, i.e, 1% = 100K, then again,
overbreeding needs to be stopped.
Also, horses are not used in pet food!
Perhaps we should be eating horses
here then?? Ride and Dine on your
friend's horses?? You may not wish
for YOUR HORSE to be slaughtered,
but your friend's horse could end up there..do you care??? NO..any winner,
jumper, etc..crown 'em, give 'em a trophy, ship to slaughter and eat..
What a wonderful great way to celebrate
our horses and their lives. Again, it
was stated in the article - euthanize..
work towards low-cost, and rendering
plants WILL NOT BE OVERWHELMED..
SINCE many many go there now by responsible horse owners... "
Sandra Church wrote on Nov 12, 2008 2:38 PM:
" Horse slaughter in the US was not humane and never will be humane. Horses were abandoned even when the US plants were in operation. This article is full of pro-slaughter banter and misinformation. For example, my last horse was euthanized for only $80 and the backhoe operator charged me $150. Just as many US horses have been slaughtered this year in Mexico and Canada as when US plants were open so why are the pro-slaughter folks acting like the sky is falling? The main problem is the breeders who continue to overbreed instead of cutting back in response to a weak economy. And please remember that 92% of the horses slaughtered in the US were younger, servicable animals according to the USDA study. These plants don't want the old, injured or ill horses. American horses ane not bred and born to be butchered! "
Nancy wrote on Nov 12, 2008 7:11 PM:
" It is a problem but the answer should be a compassionate one. Horses are our companions and need to be cared for as we would care for a relative. Spending money on humane euthanasia rather than sending the animal to slaughter should be the responsible alternative. Those who complain about the spending will not think twice about purchasing somethin elaborate for their home or go on a vacation or some other selfish act. The horse has been a faithful companion and has no one else to turn to but his owner. We owe that much to the animal to end his suffering humanely if we can no longer care for it. Just like purchasing any pet, it is a lifelong responsibility and should not be treated as a disposable commodity. Give careful consideration before purchasing a horse. It's the right thing to do. "
Kate Kujat wrote on Nov 13, 2008 8:00 AM:
" As someone who owns rescued horses and has participated in numerous feedlot rescues, I can tell you that most of the horses that go to slaughter are the by product of over breeding and irresponsible owners. They are young and healthy. Many are taken straight from the race track where they’ve done their best but it wasn’t good enough. Even race winners are sent because it’s an easy way out instead of giving them a chance of being retrained after they are no longer wanted. As long as there is a market to slaughter horses the problem will not go away. It's supply and demand. If the demand goes away, the supply will follow. We need to pass the Prevention to Equine Cruelty Act to end this horrific, inhumane practice. Many kill buyers work for the foreign slaughter houses and are not interested in selling to families. And how nice that Mr. Self believes that, once a horse loses its usefulness to the rancher, it's disposable like yesterday’s garbage. Nice way to pay back the horse for all his years of loyalty and hard work. Responsible horse owners know the day will come when a horse is old and makes plans for a humane euthanasia. There are vets who give discounted rates to their clients. Obviously, Mr. Shores had not been to the slaughter houses when they we re operating here in Texas. There is nothing humane in the way they slaughtered horses. Tough times affect everyone. But doing the right thing never changes. I don't claim to know all the answers. But I do know that we are working hard to raise money for humane euthanasia funds and placement of horses abandoned by their owners. I have another one arriving next week. Education is needed for responsible ownership – I agree that most owners do not want their horses to end up slaughtered in fact many never know that they do. But a horse is not a lawn ornament or a disposable breeding machine. They are a life time commitment and responsible owners keep their commitment and when the time comes give their horses a dignified, humane last act of love. "
Pat B .....Reno NV wrote on Nov 15, 2008 9:23 PM:
" You know it is such foolishness to consider an animal -that was and has been bred for the "use" as a conveyance and working "Animal"and yes, even included in the food chain, during different times, an animal bred and raised for human use since time began, all of a sudden to become a companion animal compared to a relative or member of the family, and being extended "Rights" over and beyond human beings in a lot of instances!
I love my animals. and have owned many over my life time including 100's of cattle, horses and many dogs, cats, fur and feather, I would never condone any kind of inhumane treatment, but when the time comes for the animal to be disposed of, I do not believe it is anyones business if I put a bullet between their eyes or have a vet "euthanize" it.
For people that have no conception as to the real world around us I say you have caused a horrendous lot of problems for the equines.
How many of you would open your arms and pocket books to keep several horses in your backyard until they die, I will lay odds there are not many and the ones that would would really get tired of it very shortly.
Due to the flooding of the market with horses refered to as "Mustangs", (not so), at the price of $125. per horse, many persons wound up with horses that otherwise would never have been able to purchase, these same people didn't realize that these horses didn't come with a lifetime guarantee of care from the government and with all of the hawgwash laid in front of the unsuspecting public many horses suffered terribly before they died or starved to death or had halter's too small that had to be removed surgically.
I have seen these things and believe me it is not pretty, they would have never suffered as much going to slaughter as what they went thru.
I was in NV during the inception of the "Wild Horse & Burrow" act, I personally knew the people involved, and a lot of the stories told and blown out of proportion were just that, a big blow up of fiction not facts!
As to the people abandoning horses, it was not even a conceivable option, as there was no need to do that.
Feed was affordable and the animals could go to auction, many of these horses went to private homes not to slaughter, a person paying $1100, for a horse is not going to slaughter the animal, many horses bought by the killers also went to private home's making the buyer a good amt. of profit.
People let their emotions rule there brains, and one bad apple in a barrel is allowed to ruin the whole barrel, because people are not capable of differentiating between what is real and what is not, so condemn all of the auction houses, all of the horse breeders but don't accept any blame for your own actions, God help us all when people that push these bills thru blame all of the problems on the government or other people! "
I love my animals. and have owned many over my life time including 100's of cattle, horses and many dogs, cats, fur and feather, I would never condone any kind of inhumane treatment, but when the time comes for the animal to be disposed of, I do not believe it is anyones business if I put a bullet between their eyes or have a vet "euthanize" it.
For people that have no conception as to the real world around us I say you have caused a horrendous lot of problems for the equines.
How many of you would open your arms and pocket books to keep several horses in your backyard until they die, I will lay odds there are not many and the ones that would would really get tired of it very shortly.
Due to the flooding of the market with horses refered to as "Mustangs", (not so), at the price of $125. per horse, many persons wound up with horses that otherwise would never have been able to purchase, these same people didn't realize that these horses didn't come with a lifetime guarantee of care from the government and with all of the hawgwash laid in front of the unsuspecting public many horses suffered terribly before they died or starved to death or had halter's too small that had to be removed surgically.
I have seen these things and believe me it is not pretty, they would have never suffered as much going to slaughter as what they went thru.
I was in NV during the inception of the "Wild Horse & Burrow" act, I personally knew the people involved, and a lot of the stories told and blown out of proportion were just that, a big blow up of fiction not facts!
As to the people abandoning horses, it was not even a conceivable option, as there was no need to do that.
Feed was affordable and the animals could go to auction, many of these horses went to private homes not to slaughter, a person paying $1100, for a horse is not going to slaughter the animal, many horses bought by the killers also went to private home's making the buyer a good amt. of profit.
People let their emotions rule there brains, and one bad apple in a barrel is allowed to ruin the whole barrel, because people are not capable of differentiating between what is real and what is not, so condemn all of the auction houses, all of the horse breeders but don't accept any blame for your own actions, God help us all when people that push these bills thru blame all of the problems on the government or other people! "
Corrine wrote on Nov 16, 2008 8:10 AM:
" I hate seeing this "misinformation" from PETA spread.
Quote from USDA
Humane slaughter and transport of horses was mandated in a 1970 law www.usda.gov/documents/ANIMAL_WELFARE.doc
"USDA is the primary Federal agency responsible for animal welfare issues. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) enforces the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) in order to protect certain animals from inhumane treatment and neglect. USDA, through the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), is also responsible for verifying the humane treatment of livestock in slaughter plants. The Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (HMSA), the Federal Meat Inspection Act, and the Poultry Products Inspection Act provide FSIS statutory authority in this area.
APHIS also enforces the Horse Protection Act (HPA) and regulations governing the humane transport of horses and other equines to slaughter. The HPA was established in 1970 to eliminate soring—the use of pain-provoking methods to enhance a horse's gait. APHIS has the authority to impose civil and criminal charges against individuals violating the HPA.
Another major component of USDA animal welfare responsibility is the humane handling and slaughter of livestock. FSIS Public Health Veterinarians and inspection program personnel at all federally inspected livestock slaughter plants ensure compliance with the HMSA. This law provides enforcement authority to ensure that Kosher and other methods of ritual slaughter (e.g., Halal) are humane. In February 2004, FSIS implemented electronic Humane Activities Tracking (HAT) to document inspection activities that ensure livestock are humanely handled and provide FSIS with readily available information on these activities, including the time spent by inspection program personnel to ensure that humane handling and slaughter requirements are met.
In September 2004, FSIS published a Federal Register notice encouraging establishments to use a systematic approach to ensure that they are meeting the requirements of the law during handling and slaughter. Establishments are to identify and minimize circumstances that may cause livestock excitement, discomfort, or accidental injury. "
PETA does not care about horses or people. I speech from my own knowledge where members of PETA put out the eye of my animal and on several occasions setup situations guaranteed to hurt a toddler so they could photograph it. I reported the incidences and wittinesses names to the FBI.
A child dies of starvation every 5 seconds and we are feeding meat that would feed a family of four for a year to the worms. We are also feeding grain to useless animals for ten to twenty years. Yes that is SOOOoooo humane. "
Quote from USDA
Humane slaughter and transport of horses was mandated in a 1970 law www.usda.gov/documents/ANIMAL_WELFARE.doc
"USDA is the primary Federal agency responsible for animal welfare issues. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) enforces the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) in order to protect certain animals from inhumane treatment and neglect. USDA, through the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), is also responsible for verifying the humane treatment of livestock in slaughter plants. The Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (HMSA), the Federal Meat Inspection Act, and the Poultry Products Inspection Act provide FSIS statutory authority in this area.
APHIS also enforces the Horse Protection Act (HPA) and regulations governing the humane transport of horses and other equines to slaughter. The HPA was established in 1970 to eliminate soring—the use of pain-provoking methods to enhance a horse's gait. APHIS has the authority to impose civil and criminal charges against individuals violating the HPA.
Another major component of USDA animal welfare responsibility is the humane handling and slaughter of livestock. FSIS Public Health Veterinarians and inspection program personnel at all federally inspected livestock slaughter plants ensure compliance with the HMSA. This law provides enforcement authority to ensure that Kosher and other methods of ritual slaughter (e.g., Halal) are humane. In February 2004, FSIS implemented electronic Humane Activities Tracking (HAT) to document inspection activities that ensure livestock are humanely handled and provide FSIS with readily available information on these activities, including the time spent by inspection program personnel to ensure that humane handling and slaughter requirements are met.
In September 2004, FSIS published a Federal Register notice encouraging establishments to use a systematic approach to ensure that they are meeting the requirements of the law during handling and slaughter. Establishments are to identify and minimize circumstances that may cause livestock excitement, discomfort, or accidental injury. "
PETA does not care about horses or people. I speech from my own knowledge where members of PETA put out the eye of my animal and on several occasions setup situations guaranteed to hurt a toddler so they could photograph it. I reported the incidences and wittinesses names to the FBI.
A child dies of starvation every 5 seconds and we are feeding meat that would feed a family of four for a year to the worms. We are also feeding grain to useless animals for ten to twenty years. Yes that is SOOOoooo humane. "
BJ wrote on Nov 19, 2008 2:54 PM:
" We had a two year old horse that stepped her hind leg in a gopher hole and broke it. When we found her and knew that she had to be put down we called the vet out to euthanize her. It took 4 shots of 50 ml of medicine to put her out of her misery! She trashed and rolled and kicked and fought. Have any of you watched an animal that you love have to be put down this way? You call that humane!? I don't!!!! I guess that you should quit eating all together if you eat any kind of meat!! I am not one who wants to eat my horse because I love them and they love me. But if I or my family was starving we would eat!! Besides there is a food chain. Ranchers and farmers are the best stewards of the land and this country was founded on agriculture!! It is a real job and most of you people that have jobs that aren't out side couldn't keep up with the hours and work that those do that feed our nation!!! I guess that we shouldn't throw anything away or retire it as it is in humane!! Where is common sense? Put your money where your mouth is I'm sure that if you want to buy all of the crippled, unwanted horses for what every reason you could and then you can feed and care for them. I hope you have a unlimited amount of funds!! "
Sue Parmelee wrote on Nov 19, 2008 7:23 PM:
" As a person that has been blessed with many horses, cattle, dogs, cats, and a large varity of other animals, I am a true "animal lover". I have taken care of all my animals, and most have liived long, long lives. When the time came, I had a vet come and put them down, or I shot them and burried them. However, I do feel that we need these slaughter plants for control of the horse population that has been created by people. There are many animals that have been crippled, or injured in some way, and these animals need to be put down. While I agree that some of these horses are healthy, and for some reason the owners do not want them, there is no place to go with them. A lot of these people should have never had a horse in the first place! If PETA and other animal right activist are so opposed to these plants, I feel the only other soultion is for these people to put THEIR money where their mouth is, and establish horse rescue facilities around the U.S.. If this is done, then everybody is happy: The owners have a place to go with their animal, and the activist have saved them!
Ranchers, the AQHA, and all other originations supporting the horse, are not the problem. It's people who have nothing better to do than put their nose in somebody else's business. Our forfathers had horses, and settled this United States with these horses. Horses have been to war, and horses take care of our children, and when their job is done, we take care of them. These plants did humanely put a horse down! And yes there are medicines made from products of the horse.
Horses that are used to being fed by people will die a slow death when turned out to fend for themselves. They are not used to finding food for themselves, and do not know where to get water.
The truth is, the people you expect to put their own horse down, are not going to do it (not all, but most all). So if you want to govern the situation, set up your rescue homes, and as I said the problem will be solved. "
Ranchers, the AQHA, and all other originations supporting the horse, are not the problem. It's people who have nothing better to do than put their nose in somebody else's business. Our forfathers had horses, and settled this United States with these horses. Horses have been to war, and horses take care of our children, and when their job is done, we take care of them. These plants did humanely put a horse down! And yes there are medicines made from products of the horse.
Horses that are used to being fed by people will die a slow death when turned out to fend for themselves. They are not used to finding food for themselves, and do not know where to get water.
The truth is, the people you expect to put their own horse down, are not going to do it (not all, but most all). So if you want to govern the situation, set up your rescue homes, and as I said the problem will be solved. "
BJ wrote on Nov 21, 2008 8:47 PM:
" When we put our two year old down it cost over $500.00 for the vet to do it.
I meant that she thrashed. If my husband would have do put her to sleep it would have been over in a second and would have cost maybe $50.00 total and that is a high estimate. If we would have had to rent a backhoe to bury her it would have been more. I totally agree with Sue!! "
I meant that she thrashed. If my husband would have do put her to sleep it would have been over in a second and would have cost maybe $50.00 total and that is a high estimate. If we would have had to rent a backhoe to bury her it would have been more. I totally agree with Sue!! "
Dixie wrote on Nov 11, 2008 9:14 PM:
As to cost of euthanization by a vet (one of the only HUMANE methods) here in Texas it costs $75.00. That's what you do with old, crippled or sick horses - not slaughter them to get the last few bucks you can out of them so that rich Europeans can dine well. "