May 18, 2012

You are here: Home / News / Horse Slaughter Bill and High Gas Prices

Horse Slaughter Bill and High Gas Prices

May 17, 2007 By 85 Comments

So what does the Horse Slaughter Bill and the High Gas Prices have to do with one another? Unwanted Horses!

The Anti-slaughter Horse Bill is one of those topics I like to stay away from, it has passionate people on both sides of the fence and it seems much more FOR the anti-slaughter bill than against and although it has a lot to do with horse welfare it doesn’t really pertain to health, but since when has that stopped me…LOL

Pretty much I agree that horses are companion animals and should not be slaughtered for meat; however it is a free country so if it is legal, I feel that it should be done in the most humane way possible. However, according to the accounts of the people supporting the anti-slaughter bill this is not the case.

Now it has been proposed by the opponents of the anti-slaughter bill that if it were to pass there would be a large increase in numbers of unwanted horses – approximately 90,000 a year, as that is the number being slaughtered here in the US each year. I am not convinced completely of that argument as we have had ever decreasing numbers in horse slaughter over the past 20 years without a huge influx of unwanted horses coming from that decrease.

But wait now lets add in some money! The increase in fuel costs is now leading to a big surge in alternative fuels and the one that is at the forefront right now is the use of ethanol made from corn. What is happening is interesting. The price of corn has increased so horse feed made from corn (which I advise against feeding) has increased in price and not only that but many hay fields are becoming corn fields this year! That’s right, there is an expected hay shortage coming this year due to lower production because people wanting to get on the high price of corn for use in making ethanol! This will really drive the cost of feeding horses up.

Now lets add to this the decrease in prices at horse sales, whether it is from the perception that there is an over abundance of horses or the economy is slowing down and people are just not wanting to buy horses or whatever, the price for horses is dropping.

All this adds up to unwanted horses. Unwanted horses have no where to go. Now supporters of the Anti-slaughter bill are claiming that there is no unwanted horse problem and that there will not be. Unfortunately, I think they are wrong and there is evidence already in Illinois. Shawnee National Forest now has a wild horse herd. Now I have not seen this herd I have only heard about it from a client, so I went and did a little research on the net and here is a statement from Jim Fraley, Illinois Farm Bureau commodity livestock program manager (now I know his viewpoint may be a little biased as he is an opponent of the Illinois bill)

We’ve already seen first-hand accounts of people who have ‘turned loose’ unwanted horses in the Shawnee Forest. I’m sure we will see more of these types of abandoned animal stories in the future. Simply saying that these horses will be adopted out is looking at the issue through rose-colored glasses. It simply is not viable.

This quote is from the Prairie Farmer dated May 9, 2007 – Horse Slaughter Ban Puts Animal Agriculture on Guard by Cherry Brieser-Stout. This does not suggest that there is a herd there but I certainly can see that it is a possibility.

So although I think morally and ethically the Anti-slaughter bill is a good law to have I believe there are problems with this legislation that will have to be addressed that the supporters are either ignoring or are just not realizing the reality of the situation. These issues will have to be dealt with, so I am hoping that these proactive people who have a desire to stop the inhumane treatment of horses due to slaughter will continue their mission when the bill becomes law and creates another inhumane condition for horses. Although if I were a horse I certainly would like to live in the Shawnee Forest, but with that said, I certainly would not like to see a large herd develop there or anywhere were a population of people are… I have hit a deer with my car before and did some damage, I can only imagine the kind of damage that can be done by a horse that weighs several hundred pounds more.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: , , , , ,
← Older Comments
  • http://www.theponyplaceusa.com CIndy

    New news. Cavelle is reopened during the appeal process. With the current drought and wet weather across the states this may help some from starving to death.

    Hay prices at auction for grass in our area has gone up to over $5 a bale for marginal hay. Can we say hay shortage?

  • http://www.theponyplaceusa.com CIndy

    New news. Cavelle is reopened during the appeal process. With the current drought and wet weather across the states this may help some from starving to death.

    Hay prices at auction for grass in our area has gone up to over $5 a bale for marginal hay. Can we say hay shortage?

  • Jasper

    The anti slaughter movement, for me is more than just a knee jerk reaction. It started out like that, but through my research I have found other reasons. One is that it incourages irresponsable dreeding. Slaughter is seen as a dumping ground. It incourages theft, if one can get a few hundred bucks for a horse they didn’t pay anything for it’s naive to think no one would consider this.
    It also engourages a mentality that horses, or any animal is expenable.
    To answer the question about other animals being processed the same, yes. This is true to a point. It is acknowledged that horses require different care in transport at least. This is widely unenforced though. Horses are flighty, panicy animals. Cows are a bit more docile.
    As far as the affect this might have on the meat industry all together. The anti horse slaughter no doudt will affect this. My personal opinion is that you can eat all the meat you want, but you have to respect the animal. What we have in the meat processing etc. does not show respect, so I am for reform on this, somewhat.
    Shutting down horse slaughter in the states is not the cure all for the problems seen in the industry, but it’s a step in the right direction. After slaughter is no longer an option, the AQHA and others may start encouraging responsable breeding, and others people will think twice about getting, or randomely breeding a horse just because. At the very least we will have to acknowledge the bigger picture, and other problems with our horses.
    Those are my thoughts on this.

  • Jasper

    The anti slaughter movement, for me is more than just a knee jerk reaction. It started out like that, but through my research I have found other reasons. One is that it incourages irresponsable dreeding. Slaughter is seen as a dumping ground. It incourages theft, if one can get a few hundred bucks for a horse they didn’t pay anything for it’s naive to think no one would consider this.
    It also engourages a mentality that horses, or any animal is expenable.
    To answer the question about other animals being processed the same, yes. This is true to a point. It is acknowledged that horses require different care in transport at least. This is widely unenforced though. Horses are flighty, panicy animals. Cows are a bit more docile.
    As far as the affect this might have on the meat industry all together. The anti horse slaughter no doudt will affect this. My personal opinion is that you can eat all the meat you want, but you have to respect the animal. What we have in the meat processing etc. does not show respect, so I am for reform on this, somewhat.
    Shutting down horse slaughter in the states is not the cure all for the problems seen in the industry, but it’s a step in the right direction. After slaughter is no longer an option, the AQHA and others may start encouraging responsable breeding, and others people will think twice about getting, or randomely breeding a horse just because. At the very least we will have to acknowledge the bigger picture, and other problems with our horses.
    Those are my thoughts on this.

  • http://www.evetclinic.com Daniel Beatty, DVM

    @Jasper -

    You have some good thoughts, the one thing I am going to say is that you obviously have not been around very many beef cows or heifers/steers going to market. They are much more flighty than horses.

    The docile cows that you see are dairy cows.

  • http://www.evetclinic.com Daniel Beatty, DVM

    @Jasper -

    You have some good thoughts, the one thing I am going to say is that you obviously have not been around very many beef cows or heifers/steers going to market. They are much more flighty than horses.

    The docile cows that you see are dairy cows.

  • Jasper

    oh
    no I haven’t been around many cows much.
    I know they can be nervous creatures. My main point was that the care for horses and cows is different, and this is recognized in the transport to slaughter and processing, but again not really enforced.

  • Jasper

    oh
    no I haven’t been around many cows much.
    I know they can be nervous creatures. My main point was that the care for horses and cows is different, and this is recognized in the transport to slaughter and processing, but again not really enforced.

  • http://www.evetclinic.com Daniel Beatty, DVM

    Jasper can you elaborate more on why you feel the transport of horses to slaughter and the transport of cattle to slaughter is different?

    Is it any different? Enforced or not.

  • http://www.evetclinic.com Daniel Beatty, DVM

    Jasper can you elaborate more on why you feel the transport of horses to slaughter and the transport of cattle to slaughter is different?

    Is it any different? Enforced or not.

  • Jasper

    This is partly information I got off of the Fund For Horses website. I know horses cannot be transprted in double decker livestock trailors, but sometimes still are. This is rare, but it did happen at least once since it was outlawed. (I got that information about the transport. from a horse rescue website I forget the name right now)

  • Jasper

    This is partly information I got off of the Fund For Horses website. I know horses cannot be transprted in double decker livestock trailors, but sometimes still are. This is rare, but it did happen at least once since it was outlawed. (I got that information about the transport. from a horse rescue website I forget the name right now)

  • Jasper

    There may be more information at
    http://www.manesandtailsorganization.org/captive_bolt.htm
    I found it on another forum post that talks about the regulations for slaughtering horses and other animals.
    It’s mentioned that horses are hard to restrain in the same ways you would restrain a cow in the killbox, because of their longer necks.

  • Jasper

    There may be more information at
    http://www.manesandtailsorganization.org/captive_bolt.htm
    I found it on another forum post that talks about the regulations for slaughtering horses and other animals.
    It’s mentioned that horses are hard to restrain in the same ways you would restrain a cow in the killbox, because of their longer necks.

  • Pingback: E-Vet Clinic - Horse Health Care - Straight Talkin’ Information On Your Horse’s Health » Horse Slaughter in the US Revisited

  • Paula

    Excuse me Vicki, but do some research before you talk. You are correct cows do not run in the Kentucky Derby, but their are several cow racing associations. Cows do carry mounted police officers too. Cows work, cows perform, cows are used for therapy. And cows are companion animals. Cows are also used for meat and other products as should horses… besides horse meat is healthier.

  • Paula

    Excuse me Vicki, but do some research before you talk. You are correct cows do not run in the Kentucky Derby, but their are several cow racing associations. Cows do carry mounted police officers too. Cows work, cows perform, cows are used for therapy. And cows are companion animals. Cows are also used for meat and other products as should horses… besides horse meat is healthier.

  • Maribel

    Paula

    Cows are raised for consumption and that is a fact!!!! Horses are not an entree in this country !!! The good ol american cowboy( to quote a certain judge from a certain circuit court in Texas) never ended his ride in the wild west or anywhere by sitting down by his campfire and chowing down on his horse!!!!!

    This discussion is about HORSE SLAUGHTER not cows pigs chickens or any other animal!!! If the moderator would stick to the topic it would be greatly appreciated by ALL !!!!!
    THANK YOU

  • Maribel

    Paula

    Cows are raised for consumption and that is a fact!!!! Horses are not an entree in this country !!! The good ol american cowboy( to quote a certain judge from a certain circuit court in Texas) never ended his ride in the wild west or anywhere by sitting down by his campfire and chowing down on his horse!!!!!

    This discussion is about HORSE SLAUGHTER not cows pigs chickens or any other animal!!! If the moderator would stick to the topic it would be greatly appreciated by ALL !!!!!
    THANK YOU

  • Maribel

    Mr Beatty

    To help Jasper with the transport of horses issue….horses are taller than cattle !!! Making transport in double decker transports extremely cruel!!! BUT…YOU already knew that didn’t YOU Mr. Beatty???!!!!

  • Maribel

    Mr Beatty

    To help Jasper with the transport of horses issue….horses are taller than cattle !!! Making transport in double decker transports extremely cruel!!! BUT…YOU already knew that didn’t YOU Mr. Beatty???!!!!

  • http://www.evetclinic.com Daniel Beatty, DVM

    Maribel,

    Not sure where your negativity towards me is coming from, I think you are presuming and making assumptions on my viewpoints without further reading this blog. As for sticking to topic, we are and everyone is allowed their opinion and making comparisons to the other animals that are slaughtered is on topic. As for the transport, I was going in a different direction but you do bring up a good point that they are taller, however I was referring to the stress that cattle go through on their transport to slaughter but that is OK.

    Also for the record I do have a degree that does entitle me to the correct salutation of Dr, but I am also the father of four kids and their friends call me Mr. so I guess that is OK as well. Thank you for participating in this discussion you obviously are very passionate about this subject.

  • http://www.evetclinic.com Daniel Beatty, DVM

    Maribel,

    Not sure where your negativity towards me is coming from, I think you are presuming and making assumptions on my viewpoints without further reading this blog. As for sticking to topic, we are and everyone is allowed their opinion and making comparisons to the other animals that are slaughtered is on topic. As for the transport, I was going in a different direction but you do bring up a good point that they are taller, however I was referring to the stress that cattle go through on their transport to slaughter but that is OK.

    Also for the record I do have a degree that does entitle me to the correct salutation of Dr, but I am also the father of four kids and their friends call me Mr. so I guess that is OK as well. Thank you for participating in this discussion you obviously are very passionate about this subject.

  • Maribel

    What will it be then Mr. or Dr.???? You have posted as Daniel Beatty DVM …if you wish to be addressed as Dr. then perhaps your salutation should say Dr. Daniel Beatty DVM ????

    I have no negativity towards you??? I do not know you.I HAVE READ EVERY POST in this discussion. I disagree with you! The title of your article for discussion here is HORSE SLAUGHTER BILL and HIGH GAS PRICES…..not pig cow chicken BILL but HORSE SLAUGHTER BILL!!!

    As a DVM then YOU KNOW the conditions that horses undergo in double decker transports which are designed for cows and other equine???? As a DVM you would be aware of that?? Then my assumptions would be correct??? You would be aware of the cruelty of it????

    YES I am VERY PASSIONATE about this issue!!! Which is why I feel that allowing this discussion to go off in other tangents is not useful and is disrespectful of the legislation that has been introduced!!

    MY OPINION and according to you …I’m allowed to voice it here ????

  • Maribel

    What will it be then Mr. or Dr.???? You have posted as Daniel Beatty DVM …if you wish to be addressed as Dr. then perhaps your salutation should say Dr. Daniel Beatty DVM ????

    I have no negativity towards you??? I do not know you.I HAVE READ EVERY POST in this discussion. I disagree with you! The title of your article for discussion here is HORSE SLAUGHTER BILL and HIGH GAS PRICES…..not pig cow chicken BILL but HORSE SLAUGHTER BILL!!!

    As a DVM then YOU KNOW the conditions that horses undergo in double decker transports which are designed for cows and other equine???? As a DVM you would be aware of that?? Then my assumptions would be correct??? You would be aware of the cruelty of it????

    YES I am VERY PASSIONATE about this issue!!! Which is why I feel that allowing this discussion to go off in other tangents is not useful and is disrespectful of the legislation that has been introduced!!

    MY OPINION and according to you …I’m allowed to voice it here ????

  • http://www.evetclinic.com Daniel Beatty, DVM

    No posting, Dr. Daniel Beatty, DVM is redundant and incorrect.

    And no you are missing the point of what I was saying about what the difference between cattle and horse transport is that it is not different. Both horses and cattle suffer during transport. I am not saying that it is right that we transport horses in double decker trailers because we shouldn’t be and there are laws already banning the use of double decker trailers in the US for transport of horses. My point was that transport of animals is stressful and that there is no difference between the two groups, especially considering horses being transported the majority of the time are not transported using double deckers.

    As for your opinion it is absolutely welcomed here; however I am not going to censor other opinion when it relates to comparing horse slaughter to other animal slaughter. It is a valid comparison and is not a tangent and definitely not disrespectful. In the area of law it is common practice to compare one topic in legislation to other topics of similar substance to note similarities and differences and why one piece of legislation should be passed or not.

    To think that there should be no comparison of horse slaughter to cattle slaughter is naive, because it has been done, is being done and will be done. You just did it yourself because the reason why cattle can be transported in double deckers and horses can not is because horses are taller.

  • http://www.evetclinic.com Daniel Beatty, DVM

    No posting, Dr. Daniel Beatty, DVM is redundant and incorrect.

    And no you are missing the point of what I was saying about what the difference between cattle and horse transport is that it is not different. Both horses and cattle suffer during transport. I am not saying that it is right that we transport horses in double decker trailers because we shouldn’t be and there are laws already banning the use of double decker trailers in the US for transport of horses. My point was that transport of animals is stressful and that there is no difference between the two groups, especially considering horses being transported the majority of the time are not transported using double deckers.

    As for your opinion it is absolutely welcomed here; however I am not going to censor other opinion when it relates to comparing horse slaughter to other animal slaughter. It is a valid comparison and is not a tangent and definitely not disrespectful. In the area of law it is common practice to compare one topic in legislation to other topics of similar substance to note similarities and differences and why one piece of legislation should be passed or not.

    To think that there should be no comparison of horse slaughter to cattle slaughter is naive, because it has been done, is being done and will be done. You just did it yourself because the reason why cattle can be transported in double deckers and horses can not is because horses are taller.

  • Maribel

    Then…what do you wish to be called??? Dr is wrong ….Mr is wrong????

    My suggestion to you and ALL OTHERS who wish to defend their animal of choice is to lobby and get your own legislation.

    The whole purpose of this legislation is to protect the horse who is and always has been a faithful companion animal in this country not an entree.

    It would be nice to think that we have evolved as a species that we reward our faithful trusting companion animals with humane euthanasia when their time comes. Slaughter is slaughter and I’m sure YOU as a DVM know the difference and it isn’t pretty!!!

    Comparing slaughter of animals raised for consumption to the brutal slaughter of a faithful trusting companion animal hardly seems fair to me !!! BUT this is YOUR BLOG !!! It obviously seems fair to you????? YOU allow it??

  • Maribel

    Then…what do you wish to be called??? Dr is wrong ….Mr is wrong????

    My suggestion to you and ALL OTHERS who wish to defend their animal of choice is to lobby and get your own legislation.

    The whole purpose of this legislation is to protect the horse who is and always has been a faithful companion animal in this country not an entree.

    It would be nice to think that we have evolved as a species that we reward our faithful trusting companion animals with humane euthanasia when their time comes. Slaughter is slaughter and I’m sure YOU as a DVM know the difference and it isn’t pretty!!!

    Comparing slaughter of animals raised for consumption to the brutal slaughter of a faithful trusting companion animal hardly seems fair to me !!! BUT this is YOUR BLOG !!! It obviously seems fair to you????? YOU allow it??

  • http://www.evetclinic.com Daniel Beatty, DVM

    I was just trying to lighten up the conversation by pointing out that I am a doctor when you called me Mr….geez.

    As for your passion it is getting in the way of some reasonable and rational conversation. I have no desire to pass legislation on abolishing slaughter in cattle. I just stated that it was a fair comparison when talking about the law. Your opinion is not the same as many others in this country that do not care about horses the way you and I do as a companion animal. It is a difference in opinion and tastes. The law has to be blind to those opinions and look at the problem as a matter of what is and what isn’t legal.

    In this case it is a matter of inhumane treatment which is already illegal in this country, everything else is merely opinion which can support the case, but many times is not even considered. For example just because we do not eat horse meat in this country has no bearing on whether it should be legal to slaughter horses, because there are other industries that have products that are not used in this country and are exported to others. However the fact that a horse is being inhumanely killed by use of a captive bolt with no head restraint is inhumane and should be illegal. This practice should be abolished. Double decker hauling of horses is inhumane so should and has been abolished. the biggest problem I see with this law being passed is that it does infringe on the rights off others to do what they wish with their property. IF, and that is a very large if, the slaughter facilities were able to clean up their act an make the killing process more humane (I know kind of bizarre to think that killing can be humane but we do it a lot) this bill would be tossed out because it has no LEGAL leg to stand on. However with the large scale atrocities with the entire process I believe this law will be passed and with it will come some consequences, which are being felt right now because of some other concerns such as high fuel prices, high hay prices and lack of shavings in this area of the country. WHICH is what I have been arguing since I posted this back in MAY.

    Also there are many horses that are not stolen, but rather raised specifically for slaughter. PMU foals in Canada – many of them are found to go to farms that are raising for horse meat. Very similar to the dairy industry here in which many of those calves born to milk cows are going to veal and other beef producing farms.

  • http://www.evetclinic.com Daniel Beatty, DVM

    I was just trying to lighten up the conversation by pointing out that I am a doctor when you called me Mr….geez.

    As for your passion it is getting in the way of some reasonable and rational conversation. I have no desire to pass legislation on abolishing slaughter in cattle. I just stated that it was a fair comparison when talking about the law. Your opinion is not the same as many others in this country that do not care about horses the way you and I do as a companion animal. It is a difference in opinion and tastes. The law has to be blind to those opinions and look at the problem as a matter of what is and what isn’t legal.

    In this case it is a matter of inhumane treatment which is already illegal in this country, everything else is merely opinion which can support the case, but many times is not even considered. For example just because we do not eat horse meat in this country has no bearing on whether it should be legal to slaughter horses, because there are other industries that have products that are not used in this country and are exported to others. However the fact that a horse is being inhumanely killed by use of a captive bolt with no head restraint is inhumane and should be illegal. This practice should be abolished. Double decker hauling of horses is inhumane so should and has been abolished. the biggest problem I see with this law being passed is that it does infringe on the rights off others to do what they wish with their property. IF, and that is a very large if, the slaughter facilities were able to clean up their act an make the killing process more humane (I know kind of bizarre to think that killing can be humane but we do it a lot) this bill would be tossed out because it has no LEGAL leg to stand on. However with the large scale atrocities with the entire process I believe this law will be passed and with it will come some consequences, which are being felt right now because of some other concerns such as high fuel prices, high hay prices and lack of shavings in this area of the country. WHICH is what I have been arguing since I posted this back in MAY.

    Also there are many horses that are not stolen, but rather raised specifically for slaughter. PMU foals in Canada – many of them are found to go to farms that are raising for horse meat. Very similar to the dairy industry here in which many of those calves born to milk cows are going to veal and other beef producing farms.

  • Maribel

    MY OPINION is the opinion of the majority .A VERY LARGE marjority!So the MANY others are not MANY. In a democratic society the majority rules does it not??? WE are supposed to be the most democratic country on the face of this earth?? WHY aren’t these bills being passed?? WE the american people have spoken…all our slaughter plants are closed!! WE don’t want OUR HORSES slaughtered here or anywhere else! WE WANT THESE BILLS PASSED!

    I am sorry for coming down on you so strongly
    but this is wrong if nothing else than for the fact that the horse is a revered companion animal in this country.It is nothing short of insane to think that the captive bolt is anything but inhumane.However towards the end right before it was closed Cavel in Illinois was slaughtering animals so quickly there is NO POSSIBLE WAY it could have been carried out humanely!You are right this industry has broken so many laws it does not deserve to exist!

    If the door closes here on slaughter and transport for slaughter here in our country half of the slaughter houses in Canada will have to close too. Sad to say OUR HORSES are fueling their market.

    It is just a matter of time until that PMU market ends.Women are becoming too wise about the dangers of ingesting foreign hormones into their bodies and who would ever think a horses urine would be compatible aka bio-identical. I have pharmacist friends. There are now much safer ways to deal with hormone imbalances which do not include the use of pregnant mares urine.I’m a breast cancer survivor I took artificial hormones for over 20yrs!! I speak from experience.

    Dealing with the hay shortage issue etc. There are many people waiting to help.If horses are starving they should be reported to ASPCA or HSUS.I was just in conversation with HSUS a couple of weeks ago and it was mentioned that people need to ask for help before their animals are beyond help. You can’t get help if you don’t ask!

    I assume as a DVM that you belong to AVMA??? Their is a group of DVM called Vets for Equine Welfare or VEW that have decided to stand up for the horses.IF you do not agree with the pro-slaughter stand of AVMA and what self-respecting DVM that believes in the oath he took could…perhaps you should consider joining VEW.

    This will not be easy but I think if ALL of us make an effort ….supporting and encouraging responsible ownership and breeding…working with the many horse rescues and there are over 400 …NTRA has taken a more active role in retirement of it’s horses…safer track surfaces mean less injuries….laminitis research etc ….Working together with ALL concerned groups…We CAN do this!!

  • Maribel

    MY OPINION is the opinion of the majority .A VERY LARGE marjority!So the MANY others are not MANY. In a democratic society the majority rules does it not??? WE are supposed to be the most democratic country on the face of this earth?? WHY aren’t these bills being passed?? WE the american people have spoken…all our slaughter plants are closed!! WE don’t want OUR HORSES slaughtered here or anywhere else! WE WANT THESE BILLS PASSED!

    I am sorry for coming down on you so strongly
    but this is wrong if nothing else than for the fact that the horse is a revered companion animal in this country.It is nothing short of insane to think that the captive bolt is anything but inhumane.However towards the end right before it was closed Cavel in Illinois was slaughtering animals so quickly there is NO POSSIBLE WAY it could have been carried out humanely!You are right this industry has broken so many laws it does not deserve to exist!

    If the door closes here on slaughter and transport for slaughter here in our country half of the slaughter houses in Canada will have to close too. Sad to say OUR HORSES are fueling their market.

    It is just a matter of time until that PMU market ends.Women are becoming too wise about the dangers of ingesting foreign hormones into their bodies and who would ever think a horses urine would be compatible aka bio-identical. I have pharmacist friends. There are now much safer ways to deal with hormone imbalances which do not include the use of pregnant mares urine.I’m a breast cancer survivor I took artificial hormones for over 20yrs!! I speak from experience.

    Dealing with the hay shortage issue etc. There are many people waiting to help.If horses are starving they should be reported to ASPCA or HSUS.I was just in conversation with HSUS a couple of weeks ago and it was mentioned that people need to ask for help before their animals are beyond help. You can’t get help if you don’t ask!

    I assume as a DVM that you belong to AVMA??? Their is a group of DVM called Vets for Equine Welfare or VEW that have decided to stand up for the horses.IF you do not agree with the pro-slaughter stand of AVMA and what self-respecting DVM that believes in the oath he took could…perhaps you should consider joining VEW.

    This will not be easy but I think if ALL of us make an effort ….supporting and encouraging responsible ownership and breeding…working with the many horse rescues and there are over 400 …NTRA has taken a more active role in retirement of it’s horses…safer track surfaces mean less injuries….laminitis research etc ….Working together with ALL concerned groups…We CAN do this!!

  • http://www.kentonbruicemd.com Katty Wayar

    when I first started reading your post I thought “that is inhumane, leave the poor horses alone!” but when I reached the end I imagined myself on the road and suddenly finding 20 horses in front of me and I realized that the bill was necessary, executed as humanly as possible though. Thanks

  • http://www.kentonbruicemd.com Katty Wayar

    when I first started reading your post I thought “that is inhumane, leave the poor horses alone!” but when I reached the end I imagined myself on the road and suddenly finding 20 horses in front of me and I realized that the bill was necessary, executed as humanly as possible though. Thanks

← Older Comments