So I was reading in a recent issue of Equus about the current discussions and opinions about the issues of horse slaughter. The author is againist horse slaughter, but she was basically writing about why, and what's going on right now in the states. Many people believe that horse slaughter is a neccessary evil for America's horse industry, but that doesn't have to be the case. Number one, the way horses are slaughtered, is not humane, I don't care what people say, there are thousands of videos, pictures, etc. online that prove my point, AND unless that can be stopped completely, I think it's better for horses to try and at least fend for themselves than being trampled to death on the trailer.
Right now there are some states trying to reopen slaughter plants. Montana is trying to allow the development of a horse processing plant in the state to become law in May. Norht Dakota enabled a feasibility study regarding a horse-processing facility that went into effect in July. Tennessee is trying to get a slaughter plant to open up, along with new packaging and labeling requirements for horse meat. Illinois tried to legalize the slaughtering of horses for human consumption, but this failed.
In the U.S. Congress several things are happening. An amendment to the Wild Horse and Burro Act of 1971 that prohibits the euthanasia of helthy horses under the care of the Bureau of Land Managment and expans acreage available to free-roaming herds is awaiting a full House vote. Also--the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act which would "prohibit the shipping, transporting, moving, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donation of horses and other equines to be slaughter for human consumption, and for other puposes. The whole deal of completely banning double-deck trailers for the transporting of horses to slaughter is also going to try to be completely banned too.
It should be interesting how all of this plays out. There are so many views and opinions, and so many ideas, but really, what matters in the end, are the horses.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Do you think that the amendment banning the Bureau of Land Management would be effective? Will the amendment be written in such a way that would effectively stop the Bureau of Land Management from turning healthy unwanted horses over to a third party for Euthanasia?
ReplyDeleteNo I don't think this will work, and I don't think it will be effective...and personally I think that we should be able to euthanize healthy horses, IF there is no other option, you know?
ReplyDelete