http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/133320
Kari NIienstedt, Commentary
In response to the Dec. 19 commentary, “Horse slaughter a humane option” by Arizona Farm Bureau President Kevin Rogers:
It is true that the last two U.S. plants that butchered horses for foreign consumption have closed and that the slaughter industry continues to ship horses on a long, miserable journey to be killed in Canada and Mexico. The U.S. plants were rife with animal abuse and recent disclosures by the U.S. Department of Agriculture document those cruelties quite graphically.
Being a horse owner is a choice — one that comes with the responsibility of providing humane, competent care for the horse at all stages of his life. There are many alternatives to sending these iconic animals to the horrors of slaughter. If an owner can no longer care for their horse, they can sell or lease their horse to another competent caretaker; relinquish the horse to a rescue or sanctuary, or if no other option exists, have the horse humanely euthanized by a licensed veterinarian. In most parts of the country, the cost of humane euthanasia is equal to or less than the cost of one month’s care.
Both backyard and large scale breeders have relied on the killer buyers to snatch up their “excess” horses and turn a profit on their deaths. This creates little incentive to breed horses responsibly, or to put any time or training into their animals. The result?
Thousands of horses needlessly trucked thousands of miles with no food, water or rest, to a gruesome death in foreign slaughter plants.
It is only a matter of time before legislation passes to finally end horse slaughter. The horse industry must take steps now to encourage more responsible breeding and stop hiding behind a foreign-owned industry that preys upon our companion animals.
Kari Nienstedt of Queen Creek is Arizona state director of the Humane Society of the United States.
It's about time somebody set the Farm Bureau straight!
ReplyDeleteKevin -
ReplyDeleteMy name is Jim Gath & I run Tierra Madre Horse Sanctuary in Cave Creek, AZ. Tierra Madre is the "forever home" to, at present, 30 previously unwanted, neglected, injured or abused horses. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization & depend upon the goodwill of others for our sustenance. I have been a member of the Arizona Farm Bureau for three years.
I just read your piece in the East Valley Tribune.
Although it didn't surprise me in the least, it saddened me.
It saddened me because I was under the mistaken impression that the person who runs the Arizona Farm Bureau just might have in mind a wider range of options for unwanted horses than the over-simplistic approach you put forth.
This whole pro-slaughter/anti-slaughter conflict has devolved (or perhaps it always was) into an either/or discussion: either we use slaughter to control the population or we don't.
There are many, many other options. For example, horse sanctuaries like mine being able to expand to house more horses; additional sanctuaries being developed; unused lands, as evidenced by Madeleine Pickens' recent initiative; increased use of horses in education, rehabilitation & recreation.
The ideas are almost limitless.
But they all come with a price tag.
It seems virtually every industry & endeavor nowadays is adept at lobbying those with their hands on the purse strings.
So, I had it in my silly head that our industry - the equine element of the agrarian community - might be able to rely on those organizations to which we belong to aggressively act on our behalf. Organizations like the Arizona Farm Bureau.
But, alas - it seems that we're cursed with an unimaginative, uncaring, feeble leadership that either won't or is unable to think out of the 2-sided box.
You should be fighting for the newest, best ideas out there. You should be fighting for new ways to accommodate unwanted horses. You should be fighting for better controls on breeding. You should be fighting to educate the public on behalf of these magnificent creatures.
Not clinging to the old, tired, outdated model you described in your newspaper article.
I am disappointed & - yes, embarrassed - to be part of an organization that is so very obviously stuck in such a simplistic mindset.
Or - maybe you're just taking the easy way out.
Either way, please accept this note as my resignation in the Arizona Farm Bureau.
Jim Gath
TIERRA MADRE HORSE SANCTUARY
27115 N. 45th St.
Cave Creek, AZ 85331
480.747.1070
www.tierramadrehorsesanctuary.org