The Case Against Horse Slaughter in Canada

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The Case Against Horse Slaughter in Canada

The Text:

The horse has a status in our society comparable to the dog, cat or other household pet.

Our relationship with them is intimate, we give them names.

The progress of human history has been carried on their backs

They assist us in many different activities and as a working animal.

THEY ARE NOT A FOOD ITEM!!

THEY ARE OUR FRIENDS, COMPANIONS AND WORKING PARTNERS

HORSES ARE COMMEMORATED ON OUR STAMPS
THAT ARE SEEN AROUND THE WORLD

HORSES HAVE BEEN COMMEMORATED IN MONUMENTS, ART AND SCULPTURE FOR CENTURIES

AND HAVE GRACED THE COVER OF MANY POPULAR PUBLICATIONS

WHY THEN DO SO MANY END UP ON THE PATH TO SLAUGHTER??

THE PATH TO SLAUGHTER

The path begins when a horse is no longer wanted

Compassionate owners will seek the best solution for their horse’s future

Some people are unaware of the dangers of sending their horse to a rural auction while others only want to make a quick buck

These people send their horse to auction knowing fully that there is the strong possibility of their horses going to slaughter where there are few kind voices or caring touches

The pipeline that supplies the slaughterhouses is very clandestine. Typically, when owners give up a horse, they assume he will end up in good hands. But when that horse enters "the market" he goes into a different world, a world of auctions, price per pound, horse traders, kill buyers and slaughter houses. Everything is shrouded in secrecy. They know how horrible the truth about slaughter really is and don’t want it to be public knowledge.

ð Many horses end up sold for slaughter because they are unwanted or avoid humans (generally because of poor handling or abuse by previous owners)

ð Their suffering is solely caused at the hands of humans - neglect, cruelty and abuse

ð Some are young and have not had a chance at a happy life

ð Many are mistreated to the point of avoiding contact with any humans because of an abusive past

ð Others are older and have had too many hard years of being used as breeders or faithful workers, only to be tossed aside once they are "too old" to be financially viable

ð Many are starved of positive contact, proper food, veterinary attention, and basic every day needs such as worming, hoof care by experienced farriers and veterinarians

Many people don't realize that when they sell their horse at auction there is a VERY big risk that he will be purchased by a meat buyer. The majority of horses sold at rural auctions do go for meat.

At rural livestock auctions, anywhere from 50 – 90% of the horses are bought by the meat buyers - weanlings, yearlings, pregnant mares, mares with foals, broke horses, wild horses, healthy horses, sick horses…

THE KILL BUYERS DON’T CARE

AUCTIONS

For the novice horse person auction may be looked at as a viable alternative

Investigations have proven that this generally is a poor choice

Your best friend, your horse, can be subjected to horrible abuse and terror
at auction and if bought by kill buyers will often never see food and water again
in his life which will end sometime after the auction.

Horses going directly to the slaughterhouse can go more than 36 hours without food and water. It keeps them quieter for transport and handling but lack of sustenance can cause injury due to weakness and dehydration.

Auctions facilitate the slaughter industry and are dumping grounds for irresponsible owners and also where the discarded foals and used up mares from the PMU industry are dumped

Foals are also a “by-product” of the nurse mare industry

Virtually every horse auction has in attendance KILL BUYERS whose only goal is to buy horses for the slaughter industry

They will buy any horse including mares in foal, mares with foal at side AND foals alone.