Saturday, December 20, 2008

Horse slaughter a humane option...What?????


http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/132828

December 19, 2008 - 6:49PM

Horse slaughter a humane option

Kevin Rogers, Commentary

How many times have we heard the phrase “unintended consequences” in reference to government actions? Some actions have great intentions, but result in a major calamity.

Let’s look at the issue of horse slaughter. There are no horse slaughter facilities operating in this country due to government actions.

Congressional efforts are afoot to turn this into an outright and permanent ban. My family owns and loves horses — we have for generations, but there are certain realities of dealing with unwanted horses. Unfortunately, the unintended consequences of stopping horse slaughter were predictable.

It costs $2,300 per year to feed a horse and add to that veterinary services, care and equipment. We are seeing some cash-strapped horse owners, some losing their homes in foreclosure, first cut the feed ration and veterinary care. Next is abandonment at livestock auctions or releasing the horse into the desert where it has no idea how to find water or food. Horse shelters are already stretched and there is low demand for adoption. The Arizona Department of Agriculture is running low on resources to round up and feed abandoned horses. These cash-strapped owners make the decision to not spend the $300 to $500 to properly dispose of an unwanted horse. It is not the right decision, but it is reality.

What should be done with these unwanted animals due to economic times, age or the owner deciding the animal is not trainable or wanted? A horse can live 25 years or so. Until government shut down regulated and humane slaughter in this country, there was a local demand and value for unwanted horses.

The Humane Society of the United States says we protest too much. Large animal veterinarians, animal control and livestock officers around the country don’t seem to think so. They see the abuses firsthand. The American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Quarter Horse Association, to name just a few credible organizations, agree these abuses are occurring.

Of course horse ownership should be responsible. Abandoning horses, failing to provide adequate food and water and neglect constitute animal abuse. However, the reality is animals are being abused because we have eliminated an option, i.e. strictly regulated horse slaughter facilities as an outlet and market for unwanted and uncared for animals. There is a market for horse meat in the world. For example: we are shipping live horses to Canada for slaughter and the product is coming back to U.S. zoos — does this make any sense?

Again, my family loves horses. We board and provide a training facility on our farm for other horse-owning families and we hate the abuse resulting from good intentions — simply because some people recoil from the thought of an animal being slaughtered.

At the same time, no one is arguing that horses should not be euthanized, when sickness, old age or infirmity requires it, but when we stopped U.S. slaughter we pulled the rug from the economics. The radical ban has not been good for the horse, the horse owner or the entire horse industry. It is time for states and Congress to rethink this issue before more horses suffer abuse.

Kevin Rogers is president of the Arizona Farm Bureau

2 comments:

  1. This is a typical article you would see from those that don't want to take care of the horses they are responsible for. They would rather feel like they were doing the right thing with old horses, horses that become ill or they cripple and move on to the next so they need a place to take horses to slaughter instead of taking care of the horses. In other words these are people in the business or in, my opinion, have no business having horses. They operate out of greed for money, extreme sports and not love of these sensitive and intelligent horses. Those that love their horses work at making sure they find a better solution instead of dumping horses to auctions or the desert. They find alternate homes, they continue to take care of them and feed them or they have their vet put them down if they are suffering. Caring people do this for their families. Don't let people that want to exploit horses make you think everyone is this way. If they were there wouldn't be so many horse rescuer's operations and private people working 7 days a week and 24 hours a day to help animals that are in the hands of people that don't care about them. They just care about what the horse can do for them or their wallets. If you think about what Farm Bureau does you will understand his rationale. They help farmers raise animals for slaughter. So they are helping those that make money from animals. Horses aren't for eating and the horses know full well what is going on. I can't imagine the terror they feel in any of those places and I won't let it ever happen to my horses under any circumstance. The first step is STOP THE BREEDIMG. In Jan-April there will be more horses and the foals are being separated from their mothers and going to slaughter in separate trucks especially in this bad economy. Why keep doing this? Can you imagine how they feel? It's beyond cruel. I don't know a word for what is going on with horses that can't be sold or otherwise except pathetic. Please help the rescue organizations and make many calls before you get in trouple. Stop breeding until the economy turns around and buy horses that need homes. Be responsible for your animals. They need you. By the way it does not cost over $2000to feed a horse a yr. I have 5 horses 2 are rescued. It is around $1,1000.00 to feed a horse adequately a yr. unless you buy an awful lot of supplements.

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  2. I left several comments on the East Valley Tribune site. Here is one of them:

    There is really only one premise I don't understand. What ever happened to responsible horse owners? We don't send our dogs and cats to slaughter when they become old. We DO euthanize them sometimes.

    I have a thirty-five year old rescue horse. He does not pull his weight financially. The others at least go to competitions and bring us home a little for our efforts!

    But, "Fred" doesn't help us out in any way. Wait a minute.....I hug him when I go out to feed him. Statistically, my blood pressure goes down as I pet him. I get a lump in my throat when I think of anything bad happening to him. Yes, I love him! How do you measure that kind of benefit?

    Only Fred and I know!

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