Horse Travel Network Blog

6 Responses to “Follow up on H.R 6598”

1. tvnewsbadge // Sep 13, 2008 at 2:42 pm

   “If the bill passes, we are bound to see more unwanted horses being abandoned”.

   “Abandoned” as opposed to what ? I’m not so sure, from the horses point of view, the alternative would be considered to be that much better.

   We need to remember, we’re not talking about humane euthanasia such as you might see at the race track or as might be in the case when a beloved pet needs to be put down.

   We’re talking about the transportation and slaughter of the most cruel kind imaginable at the hands of human scum.

   Now, I’m not taking sides here, but we need to stop painting these opponents of H.R. 6598 as saints that have the best interest of the animal at heart, because that is NOT what they are.

   The fact is, folks, if there truly is no other way to save the surplus horse population, there’s plenty of money in the equine community that can be tapped in a manner that will “spread the load” and not cause undue hardship to any horse owner to at least allow the animals to die a humane death.
   Bu the industry doesn’t want to do that, do they. Because it won’t line their pocketbooks.

   TvNB

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   totalhorse reply on September 15th, 2008 2:39 pm:

   “Transportation and slaughter of the most cruel kind imaginable at the hands of human scum” seems just a little excessive, don’t you think?
   Are you a horse owner? Or involved in the horse industry? If so, please let me know how to “line my pocketbooks” in this industry. I’ve owned and raised horses for the past 30 years, and have yet to make a profit. I do it for the same reason that people golf, fish, garden, etc. I enjoy it and I love horses.
   I take good care of my animals and am proud of the horses that I have raised. I think allowing the horses to live a humane, well-cared-for life is as important as their humane death.
   Removing options for disposal of unwanted horses will not do this. It de-values the animals, which forces their abandonment by people who don’t have the financial resources to care for them or who no longer have an interest in them. Horse rescue sounds great, but these are large animals that live 20+ years, take up a lot of room, and cost a lot to feed. It’s not like rescuing a puppy dog.
   No, those who oppose H.R. 6598 are not saints. I certainly don’t consider myself one. However, I do feel that I have the best interests of the horses at heart. I hope this issue can be resolved in a manner that will satisfy both sides.

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2. tvnewsbadge // Sep 15, 2008 at 9:33 pm

   “Removing options for disposal of unwanted horses will not do this. It de-values the animals, which forces their abandonment by people who don’t have the financial resources to care for them or who no longer have an interest in them. ”

   I’ve never owned a horse but my relatives in Southwest Virginia and east Tenn did for the 50 years or so that I can remember.
   Through the years, they were sometimes forced to put an animal down due to serious illness or the complcations of old age.
   They were not rich people by any means,. but they NEVER considered selling their horses to the meat merchants.
   They were put down on the property where they always lived and were buried on the property where they always lived.
   For that reason, I don’t buy this “no option” argument.
   Domestic animals, dogs, cats, racehorses, are put down all the time and they’re put down without torture, and without being made to suffer any more than is necessary to get the job done.

   TvNB

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   totalhorse reply on September 16th, 2008 2:56 pm:

   I agree whole-heartedly that it is important for animals not to have to suffer any more than necessary at their death. I think most people would agree with that statement.
   But what is the key issue in the opposition of horse slaughter? Is it that they are slaughtered for meat…”selling their horses to the meat merchants”? Horses are large animals, and a good source of protein. It is not unlawful to eat horses in the United States, and if you travel abroad you may find horse meat on the menu in many different countries. Not something that I would want to eat, but a delicacy to some. Is it right to waste an animal of that size which could be feeding people?
   Or is the issue the fact that horses are “tortured” before they are slaughtered? I was under the impression that our U.S. slaughter plants were under government inspection before they were shut down. Are all the meat plants to be targeted with the same fate? I happen to like to eat beef, so I hope not. But if it was inhumane to slaughter horses, why not cattle, sheep, chickens, hogs, etc?

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   tvnewsbadge reply on September 16th, 2008 8:59 pm:

   I certainly can’t speak for others.
   The sole basis of my opposition is the cruel and inhuman methods used by the meat merchants to transport and kill these animals.

   As far as the U.S. slaughter houses go, the equine community loves to use their closures as a rationale to support the present despicable system.

   What they would like us to forget is that the reason these killing floors were closed was because the practices in American plants were reported to be as bad or worst than any other place in the world.
   You may have seen the video recently of the cow being dragged across the floor by a forklift in one slaughter house because he was so sick he was unable to walk to his death.

   It’s a sad fact that a lot of horses have to be killed every year.

   That doesn’t mean they have to be tortured in the process.

   TvNb

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   Anonymous reply on September 21st, 2008 8:28 pm:

   I agree 100% with totalhorse on this argument. Horse meat is a rare delicacy in eastern countries and the US profits from this export. Or I should say USED to profit. The slaughter plants must pass the government inspection and even if they did not have government inspection it would not do them any good to treat the animals (whether it be horses or cattle) inhumanely because they would not be able to sell the meat therefore not making any profit.

   I believe the “no option” comment made was in reference to people who own more than a few horses. Sure, the careful disposal of a beloved horse can be afforded by most people if it is one. Much more than that and the expense becomes too much for someone of lesser wealth.

   I encourage everyone to contact their representative and voice your opposition.

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