As much as I respect this, I find it very hypocritical. Why is it perfectly alright to slaughter pigs, chickens, and cows for meat, but it is considered cruelty if the same thing is done to an animal we have an emotional attachment to?

That is a very good question. We have almost convinced ourselves as a whole people that "traditional" food animals are somehow different from companion animals.
I think the major issue that sticks out in the minds of most folks is that these horses are not raised for food. Rather, they are bought at auction from many different places, and some are former companion animals.
I know that's not justification in any way, but I think that's how most people view it.

I agree with both the article and the comments.

I'm as conflicted on these animal issues as most of us are.

I'm certainly being a bit hypocritical to feel this way but still eat meat...that is except for one kind.

If it upsets you to hear that horses are trucked for long distances without food, water or any decent accomodation, I suggest you stop eating veal. I had a friend that owned a dairy farm and all male calves, considered practically useless, were kept penned up without food, waiting for a truck to pick them up for the slaughterhouse which could be days.

Absolutely horrible treatment.

Because I'm one of the very few here who have tried it, I'll go ahead and say it.
Horsemeat tastes great. Also, it's very good for you. Very low in fat (I mean, look at a horse--they're RIPPED like a bodybuilder!) and good yummy food. I wish we had more horsemeat in the USA--I would eat it all the time.

It is very tasty dried like prosciutto. Nice and lean. It is too bad that the US outlaws importation of the meat.

I live in the states but when ever I go up to Canada to visit family I must have my horse meat. But I don't agree with the cruel treatment that the horses get.

It isn't just horses; most farm animals are treated pretty cruelly in the US.

In Arizona we just passed a law that makes it illegal to keep pregnant sows in pens so small that they can not comfortably lie down... What they don't mention though is that the law only applies to late term pregnancies.

And don’t get me started on the Poultry industry. -_-

In many countries around the world people eat things like horse and dog and birds (not chickens) and we often make the mistake of saying how strange and weird and cruel it is because we do not agree with other countries food culture does not mean that their food culture is wrong. Please understand I do not condone cruel treatment of any animal. Bu more so, I do not condone cruel treatment of people and I think there are so many human atrocities going on…maybe we should concentrate on fixing those problems with the same zealousness we put toward fixing the conditions some of our food faces before slaughter.

I have a feeling I might have pissed someone off and well I am sorry but….

Just wondering if you hold the same thoughts to dogs and cats as well?

To get back on topic....because these are not animals that WE eat over here in the USA. These are pets, racehorses that never made enough money or quit making money, and childhood ponies etc.

These animals are taken to auction by owners who have no idea that another owner is not going to buy their horse and use it for what is intended IN the USA. A pet, A showhorse, A 4H project. Alot of owners wouldn't drop off their horses if they knew what really happened. Enduring a long trailer ride to Mexico or Canada.

If ANYONE wants to eat horse meat fine. Raise it in your country of origin and do what you will.

The facts from the Humane Society. Perhaps I can encourage you to watch the video on the right as well. Then, let's talk!

Horse transportation and Slaughter

People don't see the atrocities that go on and refuse to watch was is documented.

If more people would SEE first hand what ANY any goes thru and the callousness of how we do it, maybe more WOULD care.

But it's far easier to not watch it.

Being a former horse owner, I know the love and companionship they can give.

Then how can do you eat it? I can't agree with eating anything that was mistreated.

What makes you think I eat veal? I don't. But your friends dairy farm and veal operation is not the norm. Generally, as I lived on a farm, I BOUGHT many of these male calves for my childrens 4H projects. Dried up umbilical cords still hanging. Weak and confused. I never paid more than 30 bucks for them at an auction, which is where I think your friend shipped the calves. Some of them made it and some of them didn't as we had to bottle feed them and watch them 24 hrs for weeks, as they were ripped away from their mothers from day one. The stress is unbelievable. They get scours (diarreah) and dehydrate very fast...

There is NO meat on a newborn calf. Veal is typically slaughtered at 18-20 wks.

If you are one of the few who doesn't know how I roll, let me hip you to what I put in my body.

I buy from a local meat market who won't even buy my kids 4H projects as he raises his own beef, pork and chicken, and it is just as good and well treated as my kids animals, and I know I am getting a good product. They are kind, Christian and caring.

I also bear a responsiblity in providing dinner for my family by hunting as well.

I try to aspire to do things as ethically as possible in ALL areas of my life.

I don't own a leather coat, have leather seats, or even any leather shoes. All payless shoes, kids. I eat alot more soy burgers and products than real meat.

I choose my products for my face, body and life according to how it tests on animals.

So before you try to accuse me of the cruelties of something, know that I am quite proactive in my life as well to do MY part to ease animal suffering and put money into the pockets of those who don't care about it.

Please tell me what you do towards easing the suffering of humans? Do you do anything? Donate money, make calls, volunteer or get loud about something that makes you angry? Or are you just saying that I should direct my focus towards that?

I work hard on projects important to me on those issues as well.

But we all have a right to choose what we care about. I tend to speak more for those who cannot speak for themselves. This goes for humans as well.

you make some good points there TM.

a lot of people just turn a blind eye to these sorts of things because they don't fit conveniently into their lives. this goes for mistreatment of people and the environment as well. it's time that everyone became aware of the mark that their daily lives leave on their surroundings. a simple truth is that if you eat factory farmed meat, you're contributing to the mistreatment and sometimes torture of innocent animals.

while i think that the entire meat industry needs an overhaul, this legislation is definitely a step in the right direction, and will effectively save countless numbers of animals from mistreatment, torture and death. lets hope that in the future the same steps can be taken to help cows, pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, turkeys and every other sort of animal that is a part of this horrible industry.

I even take a vegetable alternative to Premarin, since I had a hyster years ago.

Many PMU foals end up at slaughter too...a byproduct of making a drug.

No thanks!

PMU foals

Don't make me out to be a bad person. I like animals. I have cats, they are my children. I stated my opinion is all. I agree that animal cruelty is wrong; I agree that we should care about other creatures on this planet, I like animals. I also think that you are free to support whatever cause you feel you need to.

My personal opinion is that humans are suffering great injustices as well and we need to remember that. Some are going through things that only we as humans can help to change. I do things to help others; I do a lot to help others. I volunteer and I give to charity. It just makes me sad sometimes to see that people will sign a check to send to help save the whales or build homes for animals with disabilities but will not spend one cent or minute of their time for the single homeless parent who can't feed her children. I am not saying that all people are this way, just that I have seen this happen. Again, this is my opinion. I am not saying that anyone is wrong or horrible for helping animals...I just feel that we should not forget those people that are also helpless.

Sheesh that is the last time I am posting my opinion.

I am not out to make you a bad person. I have always wanted to tell you that I love your avatar, btw.

My point is, some people are proactive and some are apathetic.(not saying you are, my dear...please know that) We all have our passions and that is what makes us so different.

I post things to make people aware that bad things still go on in areas they don't think about.

I have posted stories on a HUGE cause of mine that doesn't receive the outrage that an animal does.Police domestic violence, for one..I DO put animal lives below human, for sure.

I talk the talk and I walk the walk. You donate to charities that are important to you. I do as well.

This particular story tugs at my heartstrings as I have had horses and I have been to auctions, seeing kids cry saying goodbye to their horses and hoping they get a good home and knowing they probably won't.

In the US horses are pets, companions, police officers and search and rescue tools. They are NOT dinner.

And shame on anyone who takes on the responsiblity for any pet and then discards it such as dogs/cats/horses etc, because they cannot honor their commitment to take care of it, or are too lazy to look at shelters, rescues, etc to give it a good home.

xoxo

One of my pet peeves actually is people who will not take responsibility for their pets. I have cats I and I bend over backwards to be a responsible pet owner, for example making sure they have their shots, fed well, loved and cuddled (even when they don’t wanna be). I realized that I may have overreacted slightly but by that time I had already posted my response and so damage was done. I guess the bottom line is we should show care and compassion for all living things…human or otherwise.

This particular avatar makes me smile…glad you are enjoying it.

I'm a horse person. I own them and raise them, work with them for a living. And I support horse slaughter.

I think it's sad and definately needs better regulation, and I, for one, would never in a million years eat horse meat, but it's a necessary evil. The problem is that there are millions of unwanted horses all over due to indiscriminate backyard breeding practices. These horses are unregistered, untrained, and unsaleable for the most part. Without slaughter these horses slowly starve to death in backyards and pastures. It's a little like euthanasia in pounds. It's sad and ugly, but necessary. There's been a surplus of equine cruelty cases since the ban on slaughter was imposed.

TM> I think it's wonderful that you take an alternative to Premarin. The conditions faced by those horses are so sad. There's a project called the Blessed Broodmare Project that I've had some involvement in, concerned with adopting out the mares and foals from Canadian PMU farms that are shutting down.

Have you watched the video of how it is done in Mexico? I think if you did, you wouldn't feel it is still necessary.

Humane euthanasia is an option for ANY animal, when one takes a pet on as a responsibilty. I realize that many animals are humanely put down in shelters, we owe horses that as well.

Horse slaughter is not necessary at all. Why should our horses be privy to a good death, but others not? Would you ship your horse to an auction when you were tired of it, couldn't afford it, or whatever excuse people use? I don't think you would.

Several alternatives exist, such as humane euthanasia performed by a veterinarian. The bodies of euthanized horses can be picked up by rendering plants for disposal. Horse owners can have their animals euthanized and bury them (where permissible) or have them cremated. Another option is to donate the horse to an equine rescue organization; some will take unwanted horses and find them good homes. The horse racing industry recently initiated the Ferdinand Fee which will be used to fund retirement homes for race horses to ensure that no more racehorses like Ferdinand wind up at a slaughterhouse.

I know it's not pretty, but I still feel that even a death in the slaughter plants in Mexico is preferable to starving to death in a back lot.

Yes, humane euthanasia is an option for responsible horse owners, problem is that it is expensive, at least a couple hundred dollars around here, and the cost to have them picked up to go to rendering plants runs into the hundreds of dollars as well. It's illegal to bury them here, though I'm not sure about other states. That's expensive though too, with the cost of hiring a backhoe/ labor. I would never ship a horse off to an uncertain fate, as I'm sure a lot of people wouldn't. I would, and have, found a way to raise the couple hundred dollars it costs to put a horse down. But the fact is, there are people who won't. A lot of people, and it's sad. I'll never understand why people don't donate horses to a rescue, maybe because a number of rescues (especially this year with the hay shortage) are completely full. Maybe because they can't be bothered. I don't know. So, without the ability to sell them for even $25 at an auction (I've seen that too, can't tell you how many horses I'd have if I had the space), they stick them in their backyard and forget about them. They die horrible, agonizing, drawn out deaths.

I guess my point is, slaughter is horrible. It's sad and violent, and I would do anything I could to stop it if I thought that was the best option. But, even as bad as slaughter is, slowly starving to death is worse. If I could force people to be responsible, to put the animals that served them so well down in a humane manner, then that would be great. But that won't happen. And until people who don't care somehow get a clue that torturing living beings because allowing them to die with dignity is too much work is unconscionable, I’ll continue to feel that the slaughter of America's horses is sad, but necessary.

If it were allowed in the US, it could be better regulated, and therefore more humane, but that's another issue entirely.