The horse industry economics including the ability to make a living for some breeders and prices of low quality horses are depressed by Congress not allowing the humane processing of horses.
All animals are part of the food chain in some manner. We, as humans, are just lucky to be towards the top. I am an animal lover and would rather an animal be put to good use, however that may be,than to see it starve.
More jobs have been lost,more horses are suffering, and local econmys suffering because of the closing of the slaugher houses. People that do not understand the management or processing of livestock have poluted the intelligent leaders of this country. IF you were farmers or ranchers you would understand what NEEDS to be done. PLEASE re-open the slaughter houses and HELP this country.
disregard my vote..I did not mean to vote on this at all and do not believe there is any reason what so ever to endorce horse slaughter. It is wrong and evil and everything barbaric in the world....disregard my vote..it is incorrect
I am an AVID animal lover and yet I see the devastating effect that the closing of slaughter houses has had on animal welfare. I see neglected, starved and abandoned animals on a regular basis. As sad as it is, there has to be a way for unwanted or crippled horses do be humanely disposed of. I think that is the key, humane treatment. You can never satisfy the extremist view that many of the animal rights organizations have. They are not willing to take in the thousands of animals and the animals are suffering a slower and crueler fate. A focus should be on reopening the slaughter houses but imposing strict rules on treatment at the facilities AND transport.Making sure that haulers are not putting too many horses on trailers or ones that are too sick to travel humanely.
Every day I drive past horses in corrals or bare pastures that are starving and mistreated. The processing plants would allow the owners an option and the horses would no longer have to suffer. Please see the good in processing these horses that have no other options. There doesn't need to be so much wasted horse flesh!
Finally a common sense approach to the over abundance of horses. In our small city thus far this year we have had 6 horses abandoned, one injured fatally by a car as it roamed the highway.
As a person that originally supported the anti-position and works diligently to rescue and rehome horses, I agree w/this petition and we need to bring slaughter back to the USA.
Our economic times, w/no end in sight is making it impossible for people to sell or give away horses they can no longer afford to care for, and instead they are finding themselves facing criminal charges while local authorities and rescues confiscate their animals and their property.
Rescues themselves are turning people away that are asking them to take horses and many of the rescues are facing criminal charges for neglect as well because they can't afford to care for the number of horses under their care.
the regulated slaughter of horses is much more humane than the abandoned, old or lame ,unrideable horses.The value of good riding stock has bottomed out .
Failure to have a horse slaughter has led to more cruelty to animals, not less. What does one do with an old, injured or permenantly lame individual? It is inhumane. And, for those of us who love, train and care for horses, it has made it nearly impossible to sell them at a price that allows us to continue.
enough is enough. I am tired of seeing starving horse. People could afford to sell one goodone and feed all their stock for a year have shoeing and vet checks. The economy is not goind to get better till you put the first dominoe back into place. Check on what happened in the sixties.I would not sell mine in an auction barn, I cannot give a horse away now. The free ones we pick up would make you cry.
Despite educational efforts, the small animal population of unwanted dogs & cats continues to rise, leaving the majority of unwanted animals having euthanasia at local animal shelters. The equine industry should not mirror this trend. Free & low-cost castration clinics have been offered across the country to horse owners, but the problem of unwanted horses continues to grow. Humane slaughter is a viable alternative that will not put undue constraints on tax payers.
Please restore this much needed element to U.S. equine management. The benefits of properly operating slaughterhouses outweighs the uneducated public perception of their necessary function.
Restore Humane and Regulated Horse Processing in the U.S.
1,702 People Have Sent 1,200 Letters and Emails
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Some recent comments: these messages are published with permission of the signer.
Liz
Costs need to be borne by both seller and buyer for inspection
Our economic times, w/no end in sight is making it impossible for people to sell or give away horses they can no longer afford to care for, and instead they are finding themselves facing criminal charges while local authorities and rescues confiscate their animals and their property.
Rescues themselves are turning people away that are asking them to take horses and many of the rescues are facing criminal charges for neglect as well because they can't afford to care for the number of horses under their care.
Sign the Petition