Race Horses Are Running For Lives

[tulip]

S.1915
Title: A bill to amend the Horse Protection Act to prohibit the shipping, transporting, moving, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donation of horses and other equines to be slaughtered for human consumption, and for other purposes.

Bills in the House, (H.R. 503), and Senate, ( S. 1915), would make it illegal to possess or transfer a horse to be killed for human consumption. The Senate bill is pending in the http://commerce.senate.gov/public/">Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. Feel free to contact members of this committee to share your support.

The horse-slaughter issue drew significant attention three years ago when it was reported that 1986 Derby winner Ferdinand died in a Japanese slaughterhouse.

Barbaro's owner, Gretchen Jackson has thrown her support behind these bills. Long active in finding homes for retired race horses and housing more than 20 retired race horseshttp://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060609/BUSINESS/606090342/1003/rss03">Jackson saids , "Caring (for a horse) means seeing that it's fed, that it's warm, that it's not in pain," she said. "All those conditions that I just mentioned are certainly conditions that we can control as human beings, and why I'm so much in favor of this anti-slaughter bill."

Additional resources:
http://www.ford.com/en/goodWorks/environment/natureAndWildlife/saveTheMustangs/default.htm">Ford Motor Co.: Save The Mustang

List of Senate sponsors of S.1915:
Sen Bayh, Evan - 12/12/2005
Sen Boxer, Barbara - 3/8/2006
Sen Byrd, Robert C. - 10/25/2005
Sen DeMint, Jim - 10/25/2005
Sen Dodd, Christopher J. - 1/25/2006
Sen Feinstein, Dianne - 2/9/2006
Sen Graham, Lindsey - 3/29/2006
Sen Inouye, Daniel K. - 10/25/2005
Sen Kerry, John F. - 1/25/2006
Sen Landrieu, Mary L. - 10/25/2005
Sen Levin, Carl - 10/25/2005
Sen Lieberman, Joseph I. - 10/25/2005
Sen Lott, Trent - 10/25/2005
Sen Menendez, Robert - 1/25/2006
Sen Snowe, Olympia J. - 3/8/2006
Sen Specter, Arlen - 10/25/2005
Sen Stabenow, Debbie - 1/25/2006
Sen Stevens, Ted - 11/1/2005

If your Senator is not on the list please contact them, irregardless of party affiliation, and ask them to join the fight for ethical and humane treatment of our beloved symbol of freedom: the horse.

[Vickers]

1. Horse meat is actually pretty tasty.

I thought the bald eagle was "our beloved symbol of freedom" ?

Never tried bald eagle meat, btw.

[tulip]

3. Yeah....ok

they are a symbol to our Western heritage. Part of our pioneer history.

You eat horse meat? It's not legal in our country. Where were you?

[MADem]

20. I used to live near a horsemeat store in Italy

Never tried it, though. I don't eat a lot of meat anyway....

[Vickers]

35. Germany.

And if it's not legal, why the need for this additional law?

[tulip]

36. Because US horses are sold

and shipped to other countries for slaughter. Our wild horses were protected until Republicans took power.

[Vickers]

37. Do you think horses are only raised in America?

:shrug:

This was before Repukes were in power, btw.

[tulip]

38. We have no

control over what happens in other countries. But we do have control over what happens in ours. You're not from out west are you? East coast maybe??? Maybe you don't know. Here's a little help.

Last April, 2005 the Department of the Interior abruptly halted the delivery of wild mustangs to buyers amidst the investigation of the slaughter of 41 animals that had been sold after Congress removed a 34-year old ban on slaughtering wild horses in December 2004. In 1971, Congress recognized wild horses and burros as "living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West" and passed legislation to protect and manage them. Since then, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has conducted regular roundups. More than 200,000 animals have been adopted by people after demonstrating they provided humane treatment for a year.



Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary
http://www.wildmustangs.com/

http://www.sdpb.org/www/TV/horses/Wild_Horse_Sanctuary.htm

Dayton O. Hyde’s heart beats along with the thunder of hooves across the prairie.

His mission is to provide a place where wild horses roam free – safe from starvation, safe from thirst, safe from their cruelest predator: man.

[Vickers]

40. First of all, they aren't "wild" they're feral...do you know the...

...difference?
.
.
.
.
.

OK, I'll wait while you look it up. :eyes:

[tulip]

45. Yep

You've never been out West.

[Vickers]

46. I just flew in from "out west" on Tuesday night, thank you very much.

And there are "wild" (sic) horses on the east coast (look up Cumberland Island). :eyes:

[tulip]

47. Thanks I'll do that

Glad you made it back safe and sound.In pioneer days a horse would have been your transportation. :kick:

You mean you guys haven't eaten all the WILD Cumberland horses?

[tulip]

48. These ones?

http://www.kbrhorse.net/wclo/shackbks.html

SHACKLEFORD BANKS WILD HORSES PROTECTION ACT
(House of Representatives -July 22, 1997)


Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 765) to ensure maintenance of a herd of wild horses in Cape Lookout National Seashore.

The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 765

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

[Vickers]

49. No, different state altogether.

Awesome Googling skillz, yo. :eyes:

[tulip]

52. yep

[MercutioATC]

2. Too bad the cow...or the pig...isn't a "beloved symbol of freedom".

Honestly, unless you decry the killing of ANY animal for food, what makes horses deserving of an action such as this?

[tulip]

5. fair enough

Horses are in the PET category. For me they have the same distinction as cats and dogs. None are legal to butcher and eat here.....including horses. However many of our horses are sold to Japan and other countries for slaughter. Would you advocate the slaughter of cats for consumption? dogs? Should greyhounds who are done with their racing days be slaughtered for consumption in Japan.....they don't eat dogs there BTW.

[dysfunctional press]

8. but aren't horses used to make dog food...?

i guess that some pets are more equal than others.

[tulip]

12. No

It's illegal to slaughter horses for consumption in the US.

[dysfunctional press]

18. for "human" consumption...

and despite what some people would seem to think- dogs aren't human.

http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=7423

In Congress, 226 representatives and 10 senators have cosponsored the "American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act." Even the "Puppy Protection Act" only has 52 cosponsors. And no, we're not making this up.

Ironically, the "American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act" is not about preventing the slaughter of horses. It does nothing to stop horses from being killed for dog food or glue or as a good Godfather-style warning. The Act would only outlaw the killing of, or commerce in, horses for "human consumption." A better name for the bill might be the "More Horses for Glue Act."

[tulip]

22. Who said

they were????????

[dysfunctional press]

27. were what?

i said that horse meat was used to make dog food, and you said that they aren't.

they are.

[thereismore]

10. Yes I think killing an animal for food is fair use.

Even hunting - if the hunter kills to feed his family, it's OK.

Dogs and cats? Horses? What's the dif. There may yet be time when we'll kill each other for food. Hunger is bad. having dogs, horses, rabbits, etc. for pets is a waste of resources. You wouldn't kill your rabbit if your child was crying hungry?

[tulip]

15. Who is hungry?

They are not hungry. Japan is a VERY wealthy country.

[MADem]

21. Check this out; a lotta folks are eating My Little Pony

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_meat

[Clark2008]

42. ROFLMAO! During the campaign we called Edwards, "My Little Pony..

Sort of a fluffy hair joke, so when I read your subject line, I snickered so hard I blew my Mango Loco through my nose.

:rofl:

It's really not funny that people are eating horses, it was your subject line and it's meaning to me that made me laugh.

:hi:

[MADem]

43. I wouldn't eat it either, but the point about the "cuteness factor" is

well-taken. And while one shouldn't laugh at one's own jokes, I laughed when I typed the subject line, myself!

People are more willing to eat the ugly lobster, or the intelligent octopus, they wouldn't think about chowing down on kitten or puppy.

[MercutioATC]

11. I just disagree with basing edibility on the "cute factor".

Cows are ugly and lie in their own waste. Pigs and chickens are the same. A tuna is an ugly fish.

We eat them without a second thought.


Horses and puppies and kittens are cute. Dolphins conjure memories of watching "Flipper" (and isn't it horrible that we catch them in those tuna nets).

Eating them is supposedly wrong.


Meat is meat. Human meat (and others like polar bear meat) is unhealthy to eat. Otherwise, our sole criterion of what's "acceptable" to eat seems to be the "cute factor".

I think that's both silly and hypocritical.

[AngryAmish]

31. Agree but tunas are beautiful

<>

I have caught a few over the years (tho much smaller than above). Incredibly streamlined and powerful. Real tasty, too.

[tulip]

54. Actually Americans do eat cute animals

I think cows are beautiful BTW. But your point is well taken.

[mantis49]

75. I also think cows are beautiful.

[PinkyisBlue]

65. We have to start somewhere.

I'm glad this info. was posted. These battles have to be fought one at a time.

I think cute or not, all animals should be treated humanely. And it's inhumane to yank wild horses off public lands, round them up and ship them off to a factory to be slaughtered for who knows what. It's also inhumane to force-feed ducks through a pipe stuck down their throats to make liver pate (foie-gras, sp?). It's wrong to conduct useless research on animals (monkeys, dogs, rats, whatever) and not give them appropriate medical care in the lab. And yes, it's unethical to kill a pod of dolphin along with the school of tuna just because they swim together. It's not because the dolphins are cute (although they are), it's because it is wrong.

Laws and regulations are the only way to ensure humane and ethical treatment of animals (and even when passed, they are often not enforced).

By the way, what makes human meat unhealthy to eat?

[LeftyMom]

9. I happen to agree

Which is why I don't eat the flesh or reproductive tissues of animals. :D

That said, one could make a welfare argument that there's no painless way to slaughter horses becuase of thier anatomy, or a human health argument that eating racehorses- animals so full of steroids and medications they make Barry Bonds look like a straightedger by comparison- is an awful idea just because of the unknown effects of consuming those medications on humans. Even if we don't buy into the idea that horses are animals worthy of respect and decent treatment eating them is still unwise at best and unethical at worst.

[MercutioATC]

14. And I can completely respect that view.

It's consistent.

You don't eat animals. Period. Therefore, you wouldn't eat a horse.

There are plenty of people, however, that eat cows and pigs and chickens that try to turn eating "cute" animals into a moral issue. THAT'S what I take issue with.

[tulip]

24. Understood

Can't argue there.

[LWolf]

50. Horses are partners.

Horses were domesticated because of the valuable services they offer, like a dog, rather than raising livestock for food. While other cultures may have decided that it's ok to eat your partners or your "servants," it shouldn't be.

Personally, having lived my life with horses as partners, eating them would be a kind of cannibalism. I value my horses' (and dogs) lives just as highly as I value human life, and, in some individual cases, more.

[MercutioATC]

61. Oxen were domesticated for field labor...pigs were used to root truffles..

They're hardly "partners". If you insist on equating them to humans, they're slaves...slaves that we've historically eaten.

If you remove the "cute factor" and the rest of the emotional reasonings, horses are meat every bit as much as cows and pigs are.

[dionysus]

67. i couldn't get more than 2 burgers out of my cat...

I think I like him alive warming my lap and being my pal more.

[MercutioATC]

72. I could probably feed a family of four with my cat...he's fat.

:)

[bread_and_roses]

71. Supporting horse slaughter supports free market greed and irresponsibility

The conditions of slaughter are inhumane and as an outcome is another instance of a multi-billion $ industry dumping its unwanted by-products irresponsibly.

There are 2-3 horse slaughtering operations in the US, the meat is shipped abroad. Two are in Texas, I believe. Horses are transported and slaughtered under conditions designed for cows. They often suffer cruelly during transport in vehicles designed for the cows. Being bred and raised as companion animals - NOT food - they are alert and sensitive to their environment (See bklyncowgirl #70). The method of slaughter is reported to be extremely cruel to horses - both in terms of physical pain and of panic, again being designed for the shorter and more placid cow.

As with the glut of dogs (and cats) in the US, rescue is not a sufficient solution. While there's a place for rescue, I seriously doubt there are enough homes for the # of horses slaughtered in the US. Some system should be designed in which breeders are required to pay into a fund for humane disposition of unwanted animals as part of the stallion fee. Buyers/sellers ditto. For racehorses, which are sometimes slaughtered even after earning large sums for owners and supporting a multi-billion $ betting industry, a minuscule fraction of earnings and the sums wagered should be set aside to support retirement, retraining, or humane euthanasia where that is not possible.

If I or my child were starving, yes, I would eat a horse. But horses are not feeding the starving. Nor, for the most part, are they being bred in the back yard by your ordinary working/middle class family or family farmer. They are bred solely for our pleasure and profit, and support multi-billion $ industry.

Supporting horse slaughter not only supports cruel and inhumane treatment of animals, it supports another instance of an industry producing in excess, taking it's profits, and then abdicating responsibility for dumping its' unwanted by-products (excess horses) on the public/charity to care for or consigning them to a cruel death for a few $ more.

(immediate edit for inadvertent repetition)

[BrklynLiberal]

4. Thanks for posting.

[tulip]

6. You're welcome

[dysfunctional press]

7. "our beloved symbol of freedom: the horse"

umm...how is a horse, especially a thoroughbred race horse, a "beloved" symbol of freedom?

i've never heard them described as such.
and most horses(again- especially thoroughbred race horses) are anything but "free". -how do bit, bridle, and saddle fit into freedom?

[tulip]

19. The bill covers all horses

Mustang roundups are happening and they are being sold for slaughter out of this country.

Mustangs are part of our national heritage. Are you from out East? Have you ever seen wild horses in our West? It's something to behold.

http://daw.dyndns.org/thumbs/gallery/horses/TN_Wild%20Horses%20in%20the%20Desert,%20California.JPG

[dysfunctional press]

26. and from what i understand, that mustang meat is pretty tasty...

i think i know what i'm going to try when we're in france later this year...

http://www.fund4horses.org/info.php?id=485

Once an ersatz beef of the poor, horse meat has morphed into a high-end fare of discerning European carnivores.And some of the world's tastiest comes from the United States, where mustangs roam the range buffing up on nothing but grass, according to European horse butchers.

"Horse meat is very good for your health," said Max Marki, proprietor of Boucherie Chevaline on the Boulevard du Pont d'Arve in Geneva, Switzerland.

"During World War II, it was the meat of the poor. Now it's become a therapeutic meat. Doctors recommend it, especially for people with heart problems."

"It's lean, high in protein and low in cholesterol," said Alfred Bredel, proprietor of the 110-year-old Ross-Schlachterei Bredel, Berlin's only horse butchery. "It's healthier than beef and costs about the same. It's no longer the meat of the poor."

and as far as mustangs being part of out "national heritage"...weren't they actually brought here by the spanish? they aren't a natural species to the american west.

[tulip]

29. better yet bait your hook with a live cat or dog

and do a little shark fishing off the coast of France. They do that there to. Nothing to brag about.

[dysfunctional press]

30. hey- people do the same things here with worms too...

a living being is a living being...

[PinkyisBlue]

63. I hope you never swat a fly or mosquito...

a living being is a living being.

I'm for humane treatment of all animals, cute or not. There's something psychologically wrong with a person who enjoys harming or killing an animal. After all, that's how George Bush got started, blowing up frogs as a child.

It's not fair to make fun of someone who's bothered by the inhumane treatment of an animal, and it shows a lack of compassion on your part.

And for your information, the sponsors of the bill to allow slaughter of wild horses are ranch and farm owners who dislike the horses grazing on public lands, our lands, because there is less grass for their cows to eat.

On edit, I think it's okay to swat flies and mosquitoes; they're not animals, and I was being facetious.

[LWolf]

51. They were brought by the spanish.

They are not an "indigenous" species. Of course, neither are people. They did play a big role in the conquest of the Americas.

The best and brightest part of my childhood was the little mustang mare that served as friend and family member while I was growing up. I'd sooner slaughter the likes of anyone who considered her "tasty" than eat her kind. Happily, she lived a long, healthy, productive life, passed away peacefully in old age, and her service was never dishonored by someone who viewed her as food. As did, and will, all the rest of the horses since.

[bklyncowgirl]

53. Horses evolved in the western hemisphere & crossed into Asia

Technically they're a reintroduced species.

Horses died out in North America along with other large herbivores like mammoths at about the same time that the first humans arrived on the scene.

Scientists aren't sure whether it was human predation, disease or climate change that wiped out the equines & the elephants. It was probably a combination of all of the above.

The Spanish reintroduced the horse when Cortez conquered Mexico. Horses were key in awing the sophisticated Aztec civilization who had no tradition of using domestic animals for work, much less as living war machines. Eventually the Indians caught on the the mystery of horse training and handling and began to "liberate" large numbers of the animals from their conquerers.

That was the beginning of the mustang herds. As a horse lover, I believe that they are well worth preserving.

[WHAT]

33. Let 'em Run...

image


Let ’em Run

Lacy J. Dalton
Aaron Anderson
(Wild Horse Crossing)

Up in Storey County where the wild ponies run
And the gold was mined that fueled the civil war
There’s a fierce but friendly people
And if you ask ‘em to a one, they’ll tell you
There’s still a lotta things worth fighting for

Up in Storey County the Mustangs still run free
The eagle soars above the Pinion pines
And these horses stand for something
That is precious and more rare
Than all the silver and the gold from them ol’ mines

CHORUS:

So let ’em run
Let them wild ponies run
Don’t you brand ’em, don’t you break ’em
Don’t you let the killers
Take a single one – Let ’em run

BRIDGE:

In a world where fences
Scar the earth
From sun to risin’ sun
There’s still a few proud places left
Where they let the wild things run
Let ’em run

Up in Storey County in the high Nevada hills
Freedom rides the wayward western wind
And the Mustang is a symbol
With its wild and fiery will
Of the way the west will never be again

CHORUS:

So let ’em run
Let them wild ponies run
Don’t you brand ’em, don’t you break ’em
Don’t you let the killers
Take a single one – Let ’em run

Let them wild ponies run
Don’t you brand ’em, don’t you break ’em
Don’t you let the killers
Take a single one – Let ’em run



©1998 Blue Piggie Music, BMI

I love this song and it evokes that feeling of freedom...

Lacy has a foundation...http://www.letemrun.com/Lacy-Bio.htm

[The Deacon]

13. Gay Marriage. Flag Burning. Banning Horse Meat.

As long as we avoid anything having to do with runaway deficits, an unwinnable war, a broken medical system, soldiers families on food stamps, utter lack of preparation for hurricanes now that the season is here, being the only Western nation the U.N. won't certify elections for, and being diplomatically isolated from the rest of the World due to our government unilaterally vacating every treaty we ever signed...
Yeah, expect me to waste some phone time calling my Senators to have them back this bill.

[tulip]

17. Only if you wish

I'm sharing the info. You are not required to do anything.

[Caoimhe]

16. Thanks, I am contacting Wyden and Smith

I view horses as pets as well.

[tulip]

23. Thank you

http://daw.dyndns.org/thumbs/gallery/horses/TN_Wild%20Horses%20in%20the%20Desert,%20California.JPG

[mtnsnake]

25. I doubt that Barbaro's owner, Gretchen Jackson, would be for it if

the bill also included the prohibition of the blatant over-breeding of stud racehorses for sheer obscene profits only.

[tulip]

28. Death or Making Whoopie

on providing sanctaury for retired race horses speaks for itself. Lets see the chocie is death or making whooppie for the rest of your life. I think I'd pick #2. LOL

[bklyncowgirl]

57. I have a feeling that Mrs. Jackson would actually agree with you on that.

The Jacksons run a relatively small, high class breeding operation. They race many of their homebreds including Barbaro--you're going to care alot more about soundness if you're going to have to live with the result.

She's on the board of several organizations that advocate for the welfare of race horses. Most of these organizations lobby against indiscriminate breeding and push for tougher rules governing drugs and are opposed to selling horses for meat.

The problem with breeding horses is that you never know what's going to work. You can breed the same stallion to the same mare and get a champion and a whole bunch of duds.

Take the case of an ill tempered, undistinguished stallion named Old Bob Bowers. He was bred to an equally undistinguished mare and they produced a small, plain colt with a nasty temper. When one fine day the colt managed to bend a strong bolt on the door of his stall with one kick, the owners decided to name him after a famous steel driving folk hero.

The horse was John Henry and once he found a trainer who understood him, he went from being a cheap claimer to one of the greatest race horses of the 20th century.

Neither his mother or father ever produced any horse remotely as good ever again.

Genetics is a funny thing. I'm not condoning indiscriminate breeding of horses or any other animals but I understand the hope and optomism that can turn a bad legged nag into the father of champions--at least in the mind of his owner.

[Divernan]

32. Most slaughtered thorobred racehorses are "retired" at early ages

and slaughtered then because they simply aren't fast enough to win any purses. For every racehorse which is "put down" after breaking a bone, there are thousands every year which are killed at age 4, 5 or 6 (and the normal life expectancy, if well cared for, would be about 19-20), because they can't turn a profit for their owners. Vet & feed & training & transporting to the tracks all get pretty costly. So you buy five promising looking colts, race them for a year or two and sell the slower 3 or 4 to the knackers.

It's easy to come here and say, oh, horse meat, yummy - no different than eating chicken. Reminds me of the old Cole Porter song, "Let's Misbehave", i.e., let's be outrageous and in-your-face to people who care about horses, animal pets, etc. I'm sorry for those of you who have never bonded with an animal. See there are different levels of intelligence and affect in the animal kingdom - and certain domesticated animals, including horses, are capable of a loyalty and devotion to humans which many humans are not capable of. And one of my indicators for friendship is whether a person likes animals. Adults who are scared of both dogs AND cats, or can't enjoy the companionship of either dogs or cats, tend to have other irrational fears or problems being committed in general.
Many studies have shown that the companionship of a dog or cat is very psychologically beneficial, especially for people who live alone, or are elderly, or handicapped.

[MercutioATC]

62. No "in-your-face" intended. Just pointing out the hypocrisy.

I have no issue with people who don't believe in eating ANY animals. They're consistent.

To say it's wrong to eat "cute" animals but O.K. to eat "ugly" ones is subjective and based entirely on emotional issues.

"Save the horses"...or puppies...or dolphins doesn't have a thing to do with ethics or goodwill toward animals.

[MasonJar]

34. Certainly no animal should be killed for food, in my opinion;

still there are many who do not agree with me I know. To kill a horse for food is barbaric. Horses make the world better in every way. The slaughter houses do not care if the grand Ferdinand, a Kentucky Derby winner and a proud symbol of all that is beautiful, or the wild horse, taking up a small iota of some public land which some money-hungry rancher prefers not to share, is knocked in the head and brutally killed. It is after all a few bucks (a very few.) I no longer have any respect for the Japanese horse owners and industry. I have no respect for anyone who slaughters horses for any reason, but especially for profit. Just because man got a thumb and his brain supposedly developed more "adequately" doesn't mean he is more important in the scheme of things than other inhabitants of this earth. In fact man may be the eventual destroyer of the world we share with other species.

[tulip]

39. Race Horse Adoption

http://www.lfhr.org/mainadoption.htm

[Clark2008]

41. OK - normally I hate huge corporations, but as a Mustang

owner (five of 'em and counting now) and as a horse rider... all I can say is, "Wow." How very wonderful of Ford, makers of my favorite car, to protect one of my favorite animals.

This is beautiful.

My heart is swelling with pride. Wonder if I can get a bumper sticker (or in my case, window sticker. I don't put them on the paint job) to go on my new Mustang? (Except your link is going to Microsoft).

[tulip]

44. oopsy

http://www.ford.com/en/goodWorks/environment/natureAndWildlife/saveTheMustangs/default.htm

There is a place on their site if you wish to contact them.

[Rhiannon12866]

55. Thank you for posting this. K&R.

I have been contacting my representatives for more than three years now, asking them to continue to support legislation that would ban the slaughter of horses in the US for human consumption overseas, primarily in France and Belgium. This is unconscionable, since Americans do not eat horses, and the treatment that these former beloved companion animals receive is inhumane. We are very close to getting this passed, for good, so need all the help we can get. So thanks!:-)

Rhiannon:hi:

[Rhiannon12866]

56. Here's the latest Humane Society "action" to ban horse slaughter,

which will make it easy for people to contact their reps. All you have to do is add your personal information and the letter will be automatically sent to your own representatives. You can edit the letter, if you want to. Quick and easy. Please take action and pass this one on! Thanks!:-)

https://community.hsus.org/campaign/FED_2006_horse_slaughter4

[tulip]

58. That made it easy for everyone, thank you

:kick:

[Rhiannon12866]

68. You're most welcome.

I take part in these "actions" all the time, and they're very easy to do, just fill in the blanks and click, unless you want to edit the letter, which I sometimes do. Perhaps I should be posting them more often. But, as I said, this legislation to prohibit horse slaughter has been in the works for more than three years, and is close to my heart, so we just need to give it one final push...:-)

Thank you.

Rhiannon:hi:

[PinkyisBlue]

64. Thank you for posting. I sent the e-mail.

[Rhiannon12866]

69. Thank you so much!

This is important and is so close to being passed, we just need one final nudge to our representatives. Thank you!:-)

Rhiannon:hi:

[troubleinwinter]

59. Unfortunately, I know more about this situation than I would like

Ten years ago in northern California, my old horse had a devastating condition and was in need of being 'put down'. A horse-owning neighbor said, "Ya can sell her for 40 cents a pound. They just put em on a truck to Texas and slaughter 'em there for dog food & other products."

I was horrified when I found out that this was true. Old, sick domestic horses were being crammed into trucks, shipped across country for slaughter. I also found out that they keep them crammed together in pens for several weeks locally, awaiting shipment. Crammed like this with strangers, some fight, kick and bite. No matter how severe, injuries go untreated, as do illnesses. They are not even fed... "after all, what's the use"?

I had my vet come and put her to sleep, and hired the "knacker-man" (at more money than her "per-pound" worth) with his winch truck to have the remains removed. I paid the vet, and paid the man for disposal. Maybe they made her into glue after-the-fact, I don't much care because she was gone, but I wanted her last days and her 'passing' to be humane, peaceful and at home.

To keep and ship horses under these conditions for slaughter is simply animal abuse.

[tulip]

60. lSorry to hear of your loss.

I've heard that story too many times. Anyone that would do that to a family pet shouldn't own one. What irritates me is that race horse owners have the money to take care of their animals. But it takes time for someone to advertise and sell an animal to the right people. And you're right they do not treat them for injuries or pain while they wait sometimes 5-6 weeks before their slaughtered.

[Pharlo]

74. Actually, I was already aware of that,

So, when my horse had to be put down, I told the vet to make certain there was enough drugs in his system he COULD NOT be used for either human or animal consumption. Then, like you, I paid the 'knacker-man' to come and retrieve the body. When you share 18 years of your life with an animal, they mean a hell of a lot more to you than 40 cents to the pound.

[MercutioATC]

78. You ARE aware that they don't butcher DEAD animals for human consumption?

If you put your horse down, there was ZERO chance that it would be eaten by humans.

Do you also know that the carcass legally belongs to you (as long as you don't sign a contract to the contrary)? You can specify its disposal in whatever manner you wish. If you state that you don't want the carcass processed for animal consumption, it won't be.

It's very simple, really...

[Quantess]

66. I hope horse lovers don't get too offended

But, why should horses get special treatment? Just because they are some peoples' favorite animal? I mean, I really like ducks, and I'd never eat one, but I wouldn't expect our lawmakers to outlaw duck consumption. Goats are adorable, and yet some people eat goat meat. Greyhound dogs are often put down when they are no longer racing.

I'm personally more concerned about animal research on apes and monkeys, and cruelty to animals in general. And the loss of the rainforest.

[bklyncowgirl]

70. Horses are trained & conditioned to trust and work with humans

The difference between a horse and say, a cow--aside from arguments about intelligence and sensitivity--is that horses--at least in this country are not raised for meat. They are raised for work, sport and as companion animals.

That involves gaining the animal's trust and developing a working relation with it. When it works, a rider develops a relationship with another species like nothing else I've ever experienced where the slightest movement of the rider's legs, hands or a mere shift of weight signals this thousand pound animal to perform powerful athletic movements. Watch a cutting horse work a calf sometime--or an eventing horse maneuvering his way over huge obstacles or even your local police horse on patrol where the calmness and instant response of the horse can be the difference between life and death.

It's a two way street. The horse has to trust that the human won't hurt him or ask him to do anything that will put him in jeopardy. We got a powerful example of that trust in this years Preakness where Barbaro, knowing he was hurt, ignoring the adrenaline rushing through his veins and every instinct of a racing Thoroughbred, slowed down and stood quietly through the pain letting the vets put a cast on his leg, trusting that somehow the humans would make it better. The vet who operated on him said that that trust and good sense is what really saved this horse's life.

Horses are special in our society as are dogs and cats. We destroy thousands of unwanted dogs and cats every year in animal shelters but no one suggests crating them up and sending them thousands of miles away under horrendous conditions to be "processed". The outcry would be far too great.

Aside from supporting rescue efforts and promoting the racing breeds for use as pleasure and sport horses (something the Jockey Club has frankly neglected to do, imho) so that healthy ex racers can move into a new life and regulating the conditions under which unwanted horses are euthanized, I don't have an answer for the problem of unwanted horses.

I do think that we owe it to the horses to try to minimize pain, fear and suffering.

[MercutioATC]

77. So, can we at least eat the wild mustangs?

THEY haven't been "trained & conditioned to trust and work with humans".

???

[Quantess]

79. the messge is that cruelty to animals must be stopped.

Ducks are my favorites:
http://www.stopforcefeeding.com/page.php?module=home

[tulip]

83. With you on that one......

I just learned about that. Egads that is terrible.

[Quantess]

80. thank you for caring about horses.

They are animals, too. Just like the cute ducks / geese who often have feet nailed to the floor, so that you can eat their foie gras.

try google searching: foie gras ducks torture

[bklyncowgirl]

82. I am opposed to cruelty to any animal that is raised for food.

My post was about horses because the thread was about horses.

If we must eat animals, and I am not convinced that we must (I have all but eliminated meat from my diet) but it is a cultural issue and as long as people eat meat animals will be killed for food.

Just for the record, I'm absolutely opposed to force feeding ducks to create foi gras, crating calves to create white veal, cramming chickens into cages and feeding animals large amounts of antibiotics in order to cram as many as possible into poultry houses and feed lots. I also have a big problem with Kosher slaughter practices. I believe that if an animal is to be slaughtered it should be well treated right up to the moment it is killed and that it should never know what hit it.

My argument is that we should look at the horse as a special case because of the nature of its relationship with man. We don't butcher shelter dogs and cats and ship the meat off to China--even though the Chinese eat cat and dog. On the other hand just thing of all the money our humane societies could rake in by selling unwanted pitbulls and rottweilers to China! Maybe I should mention that when they come around asking for money.

If you can't agree on that horses are a special case, then let's agree that as long as we are going to eat meat, that all animals of whatever species are ending up in the human food chain should be humanely raised,handled and killed in a manner that minimizes pain and distress.

If we can't do this then we shouldn't be eating meat.

[livinginphotographs]

73. Attack of the cuddlytarians!!!!

They're so amusing when they get indignant. :eyes:

[MercutioATC]

76. I'm with you...

:)

[Quantess]

81. Sure, but wouldn't we all wish the luxury of being cuddletarians?

Instead of having to protest against human torture?
Shouldn't everyone get the satisfaction of having the troops home!?
BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW!