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H.R. 6598, The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2008 (1896 comments ↓ | 11 wiki edits)
- This item is from the 110th Congress (2007-2008) and is no longer current. Comments, voting, and wiki editing have been disabled, and the cost/savings estimate has been frozen.
H.R. 6598 would amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit certain conduct relating to the use of horses for human consumption.
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Visitor Comments 
Leah
November 4, 2008, 6:25pm (report abuse)Sensible:
Thank you for sharing, now I may be wrong, but I see it a little differently than you.
According to Temple Grandin 77% of the horses going to slaughter are unwanted and abused horses. She found that these horses all had old wounds and injuries.
Horse slaughter covers up the abuse and unwanted horses they did not care for properly.
If we get rid of horse slaughter the truth would be open for the world to see what is going on in the horse industry. This is the real issue to be addressed.
In part there is no overpopulation of horses, just overbreeding for horse slaughter. The AQHA is the major player in this overbreeding of horses for slaughter.
For me it is not about humane slaughter of horses, but to stop slaughtering horses at all for any reason.
We do not slaughter our dogs and cats and we should not slaughter our horses.
Horses are a whole breed apart from livestock which are slaughtered for food.
Ann M. Marini, Ph.D., M.D.
November 11, 2008, 8:32pm (report abuse)Please note: Our wild horses are in danger of being KILLED:
Wild Horses in Danger from the BLM
Your help is needed now to save them
Dear Wild Horse Supporters,
It is regrettable that the recently released Government Accounting Office’s report failed to hold the BLM accountable for rounding up some 30,000 more horses than could be adopted over the past eight years. The GAO looked only at the train wreck and not the reasons that the train left the tracks in the first place. As you know, the BLM has proposed killing the horses in long-term holding to remedy their self-made budget crisis. We cannot allow this to happen and I am concerned that we don’t have much time to stop them from carrying through with this despicable plan. These horses belong to us, the American public, and they should be returned to the wild, not killed by the thousands.
Ann M. Marini, Ph.D., M.D.
November 11, 2008, 8:34pm (report abuse)Our Wild horses in DANGER OF BEING KILLED CONTINUED:
As I write this, the BLM is rounding up over 400 healthy horses to be removed from the Cedar Mountain Herd in Utah. It is likely that only a handful of theses horses will be adopted and the rest will end up in long-term holding where they are in danger of being killed.
Please act now to save America’s wild horses, here are some things you can do
· Contact your local papers, radio stations and national media outlets.
· Contact both your Senators and your Representative: call 202-224-3121 or visit www.congress.org for contact information.
"CC” your comments to BLM Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board. E-mail them to BLM Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board attn: Ramona DeLorme, or write 1340 Financial Blvd, Reno, NV 89502, phone number (775) 861-6583.
Note: Every BLM employee should be FIRED NOW!
Leah
November 12, 2008, 8:29pm (report abuse)Hi Ann M. Marini, Ph.D., M.D.
I spent my day working on this and other projects. Thank you for sharing this information and let us pray that this will be turned around as well as horse slaughter for all our horses.
LIN
November 15, 2008, 3:03pm (report abuse)I have been writing, calling the BLM since they had their last summit in Las Vegas and then they did another round up the week after.
I wish I could go to Reno for Monday....they need to be investigated. All we can do is keep after them and pray. Your right they should be fired.
I'm wondering if the ones making these decisions are sitting behind a desk and never once went out and looked at them, they make me sick.
Leah
November 18, 2008, 12:26am (report abuse)Hi Lin:
I am sure you have heard the good news about the BLM wild horses.
We still have our work cut out for ourselves, but this was a first step to saving them.
Lin
November 18, 2008, 7:00pm (report abuse)Hi Leah
I herd lol and I think I might get a good nights sleep:) Yes we do have work to do.
EquineSense
November 19, 2008, 2:00pm (report abuse)Don't like my comments so you won't accept them?
Equine Sense
November 19, 2008, 2:56pm (report abuse)The government has NO place in dictating how my horse’s life is ended - it's MY choice. Having experienced my colt being euthanized - I WILL NEVER subject another animal to that. A gunshot to the head is more humane. Lethal injection it is neither humane nor quick.
Don’t think that eating horse is just not done. Many of our ancestors - Native American and otherwise ate horse. It's custom to eat cats and dogs in other countries -I'm not advocating for that here but stop sitting on your morals and dictating what someone else should or should not do with their animals. If you want to dictate - buy them - do what you want - but don't tell me what to do with mine.
EquineSense
November 19, 2008, 2:58pm (report abuse)Would you rather see dead animals rotting in a land fill rather than feeding the hungry?
With all that said - I think that the BLM is being manipulated behind the scenes by the Bush Administration for the destruction of our wild horses which is a crime and needs to be stopped. Create humane slaughter in this country.
viper
November 19, 2008, 5:32pm (report abuse)I co-own a horse and I know I don't want to eat horse
horses have the right to live just like you and I do with out this bill being passed all horses are not safe even the Americas wild horse are going to slaughter and they are our history they made the west as far as we know it as of today
Leah
November 19, 2008, 9:22pm (report abuse)Hi EquineSense:
You wrote:
Would you rather see dead animals rotting in a land fill rather than feeding the hungry?
The horses being sent to slaughter are not feeding the poor, they are feeding the rich in France, Japan and other European countries. They are paying $20 to $30 a pound for the pleasure of our horses suffering in transportation and death in Canada and worse in Mexico.
We stopped horse slaughter in the United States because it was inhumane and cruel. Is that wrong for the states of Illinois and Texas to stop the suffering of our horses?
As long as one is caring and treating their animals in a humane and loving way, then there is no law to stop people from doing that, but there are laws about abuse of our animals.
My vet has told me he has never had a bad down of a horse. Maybe he has been lucky in his 40 years of caring for animals, I wonder if the vet might not good experience in downing a horse?
Leah
November 19, 2008, 9:25pm (report abuse)Hi Viper:
Well said and very true. We all need to work together to help save our icon and American treasures, our horses deserve everything we can do to help them have full and safe lives.
Like you I co-own horses and love them very much. They have taught me a lot about myself and they are the greatest creatures on the earth, well maybe next to my Aussies.
vicki
November 20, 2008, 9:07pm (report abuse)Equinesense, yes, other cultures eat dogs, cats and horses. In our culture we do not. The government dictates how we dispose of many things from your car, computers to animals and human beings. Many states will not let you bury animals on your property so they are already telling you how you can and cannot dispose of animals. If you don't have laws on humane treatment of animals, people like Michael Vick abuse animals for profit. Horse slaughter is the ultimate abuse.
It sounds like the vet you used didn't know what he was doing. I'd switch vets. Are you aware that the horses were being butchered alive at the domestic foreign owned kill houses? Do you call that humane?
www.vickitobin.com
Terre
November 24, 2008, 2:46am (report abuse)This is for 'skippy' and his comment - I worked in animal welfare for over 30 yrs--if you had seen all the horror and abuse I've seen and fought...you too, would come to wish there wasen't a single breathing thing left on the planet for humans to exploit or torture anymore.
Lin
November 26, 2008, 5:29am (report abuse)Leroy Baker gets fined $162,800, from the USDA for failer to comply
with the Commercial Transportaion of Equines to Slaughter Act.
This document proves once again the extreme cruelty of the horse
slaughter industry.
http://www.kaufmanz oning.net/ nov24/Baker08100 1_AQ_08-0074_ dd.pdf
Take a look pro slaughter
Leah
November 26, 2008, 1:59pm (report abuse)The Beltex Report of the cruelty going on in the horse slaughter industry has been reported and documented. Please feel free to read and see the graphic pictures that should by any reason of sanity move perhaps the hardest of hearts:
http://www.animals-angels.com/index.php?pageID=675&synlink:docID=i11166...
Pro-farmer
November 28, 2008, 12:05pm (report abuse)I am so tired of idealistic city people expressing opinionss in a field they have little to no real experience or understanding. Unwanted horses running loose in many of our states is causing more danger and accidents than deer. Transport to slughter (at least an dog food/zoo animal feed) should be available in the U.S. for unwanted and/or problem horses. Human greed is what causes things to be less than decent. Animals do not have rights they have requirements and needs.
vicki
November 29, 2008, 9:51am (report abuse)Pro farmer, please let us know where those loose horses are located. We’ll investigate and send a rescue if the claims are valid.
BTW-pet food hasn’t contained horse meat since the late 80s. All three kill houses could have remained open to slaughter for other than human consumption. One stayed open for a few months and then closed. All the kill houses cared about was money and the money is in meat for human consumption. So much for them performing a service, huh?
Instead of bashing people, where are your solutions for over breeding and getting owners to take responsibility for their horses? You know, attacking the issue at the source. I thought so.
www.vickitobin.com
Leah
November 30, 2008, 3:23pm (report abuse)Hi Pro-Farmer:
Unfortunately city folks do not have a clue of what is going on regarding horse slaughter or livestock slaughter.
If they did more would go vegetarian and horse slaughter would have ended long before now.
The issue of horse slaughter has to do with the economy and lack of responsibility by horse owners in regards to overbreeding an lack of care of the horse they buy and sell.
The horse industry is an out of control business that needs to start controlling the number of horses and what is being done about them.
If they do not, it will be done for them and they will not like that at all. So they need to start now while it is within their ability to do so and we would see a lot less horses going to slaughter, more than likely none.
CS
December 3, 2008, 12:46pm (report abuse)Anyone who thinks there is still a kill market in this country hasn't been to an auction recently. Horses at auction are being sold for less than it costs to feed them for a month. Well meaning people buy them with no idea of what it costs to maintain a horse.
I hate slaughter as much as anyone but there needs to be some solution for these horses. The local rescues cannot take them. I personally bought a young horse at an auction for $5. He was there with a group of horses that the owner had been trying to give away for months and no one (including the rescues)was willing to take them. They were half starved to death already and I shudder to think of what would have happened to him if I had not bought him. After seeing this happen a few times, you begin to wonder if slaughter was such a bad thing. 24 hours in a trailer does not seem like such a bad thing compared to months of slow starvation.
Lin
December 3, 2008, 5:32pm (report abuse)How about being alive for the butchering process CS ? No slaughter option and people will be forced to take care of their own. Maybe they will think about how many they breed. Starving horses...you see it report it ...we do have animal abuse laws in this country......horse slaughter hides it.
vicki
December 4, 2008, 4:38am (report abuse)CS, you are proposing an inhumane solution without addressing the root cause of the problem. To continue slaughter is not a solution, it has not fixed anything and will promote more of the same behavior. As an example, the number one breed going to slaughter are Quarter Horses. They bring over 135,000 horses into the population every year. How will slaughter correct that behavior?
www.vickitobin.com
Leah
December 4, 2008, 4:13pm (report abuse)Hi CS:
Your post is putting the horse before the cart. The solution is not slaughter, but responsibility and breeding.
We have become a throw away society and see horses more a commodity than a living breathing creature with feelings and needs.
Make the horse associations take more responsibility to the horse industry people will put back and breed responsibly and save thousands of horses a needless and cruel end to their lives by a cruel and inhumane slaughtering.
D. Masters
December 7, 2008, 2:12pm (report abuse)Good Ol' Dave D.
Just keep name calling. That certainly contributes to change and doing what's morally right. Your continual attempt to belittle people with opposing views is a childish attempt to inflate and protect the so called value of your opinion; at all cost. You can not be bothered with facts or the slightest possibility that there may be some truth to our position...God forbid that you may be on the wrong side of this issue. It's one of the oldest techniques on the books for attorneys: discredit and abuse the witnesses that may have information that can jeopardize the strategy of "winning at all costs" (being right). IOW-shoot the messenger! Poor, poor, poor frustrated Dave D. Not only are the horses casualties in this debate, truth and morality seem to be in the "place and show" categories.
vicki
December 7, 2008, 6:32pm (report abuse)Once again, we asked where the abandoned horses are located and no response.
D. Masters, the end of slaughter is near. The FOIA from the USDA is all telling. The pro folks can no longer use the argument that slaughter was humane in the US. They cannot dispute the evidence that came directly from the USDA. They can't say that it was a faulty investigation or that we doctored the evidence. Once again, we are proven right. Little by little, the truth is coming out. Baker has been fined and it is just a matter of time before slaughter ends for good.
The pro slaughter folks know it and if they were wise, they would start cleaning up their messes. They have had ample time to change behaviors. Although they will never agree to working with us, the offer still stands. Let's work together for an interim solution until the breed and dumpers start being responsible and breed only what they can care for. Breed for quality, not quantity.
You hear that AQHA?
www.vickitobin.com
Leah
December 9, 2008, 8:24pm (report abuse)I try everyday to understand how anyone that is in the horse business and deals with auctions can even be so blind to not know the horrible things that go on there.
From the auction owners, to the owners of the horses that are sold there, to the kill buyers that they can rationalize in their minds that they are doing something good for these horses through the whole process.
The revelation that came from the USDA just recently tells us of just one auction and where there is one there are more doing the same cruel and horrible things to not just the horses, but to all the animals.
I applaud all those that have the courage and strength to go to these places to rescue the horses from the horrible conditions and from horse slaughter itself.
All I know is that some how, some way and some day it is going to end and the horses will be saved from the suffering that goes on everyday.
D. Masters
December 11, 2008, 11:50am (report abuse)Leah,
I've come to the conclusion that some have a"respect" for life...no matter what level and others consider life a business and opportunity to turn a buck. Dave D. is involved in turning a buck, not respecting a life or the committment that comes with it when it comes to horses.
Secondly, what really flips my beenie is that horse meat competes with traditional beef market exports! And these *sshats keep pushing horse slaughter...PUHLEEZE!
Not the sharpest tools in the shed.
Leah
December 11, 2008, 1:19pm (report abuse)D. Masters:
Actually it is in concert with their goal. I believe that on one end they are pushing horse slaughter presently so that the number of horses to slaughter will go down at some point.
I think in secret they do desire the anti horse slaughter groups to win so that there will be no competition for beef. They may not say so, but I think they push the whole horse slaughter to get our blood running and we will end it for them.
It may sound like a paradox, but in the end one way or the other they will bring horse ownership and numbers down one way or the other and beef will be the only red meat left.
D. Masters
December 12, 2008, 3:51pm (report abuse)Leah:
I respect your opinion, but disagree that there is some kind of paradox. In fact, in Texas the last I heard horses were sent to the killers with some type of unspoken rebate incentive. They want to quickly dispose of horses that are no longer useful or require more care than they are willing to expend. Because you see, they never address the over breeding aspect of horse neglect/abuse/slaughter. It's a car to them and when they are through, they want the least payout under the guise that it provides some added value (meat...forget that it's tainted and abused). Sorry, but that is the way I see it.
Dave D.
December 12, 2008, 4:20pm (report abuse)I haven't been on this site for well over a month now and I am happy to see the same small group still has me on their minds. Soo much has changed in this last month in this battle, keeping up with you 4-5 wingnuts has not been a priority. You are all so knowledgable that I fiquered I better check in to see what grand advice has been offered me. Most of you are oblivious to what is going on around you, well lets just say, we like it that way. "Dave The Barbarian"
vicki
December 13, 2008, 11:56am (report abuse)Welcome back, Dave. Yes, it’s the same group, asking the same questions and not getting any answers. Oblivious? Quite the opposite. We know what is going on. It is the pro folks that don’t know what is going on. 2009 will bring many changes and we suspect, the pro folks are not going to be happy campers!
D. Masters
December 13, 2008, 4:07pm (report abuse)Dear old, tired, condescending, intolerant, ill informed, dinosaur Dave D.:
Would you like a little cheese with that aged whine?
And you know, Dave...maybe we are more knowledgeable. Maybe we've evolved beyond the 1890's. Maybe we know how to call a spade a spade. I haven't been here for several weeks either; you don't own the patent on having a life. And we aren't "offering" advice, we are explaining what is wrong with horse slaughter as it exists today. Hope your ego and manhood can handle it, becuase the days of antiquated, abusive horse slaughter are numbered. You better start thinking about a new hobby that doesn't include horses because the times they are a changin'.
Still waiting for those answers Dave.....
Dave D
December 14, 2008, 12:26pm (report abuse)Vicki, I am wondering if you have seen the press release from the NCSL conference this week, an overwhelming response in support of processing horses. One nay vote, and I am sad to say he is from the Northwest. Yes there will be changes, one is we will be processing horses again, the other is in that processing there will be much more humane guidelines on the treatment of horses, hauling, handling, and the actual processing. We are going to make sure processing is as humane as possible. For most of you who stick your heads in the sand and say no processing is tolerable,your the ones that will either need to come and help us with strict guidelines or stay oblivious to the reality of what is happening and that this needs to happen.
What answers are you looking for Master "D"???
Sorry if I have missed some ?'s here but I don't have time to read all the posts.
Dave D
December 14, 2008, 12:33pm (report abuse)On another note, People who are affiliated with HSUS will soon be iin a discredited mode, HSUS is being outed as we speak for what they truly are and I just wish I was the one who was able to do it. On the Dec 11th it started in the New York Times. I am glad to see they are being exposed. www.humanewatch.org Go look and see what your Leader really is.
vicki
December 14, 2008, 3:56pm (report abuse)Sorry, Dave. There will be no processing plants in the US. There will always be legislation pending to shut them down and nobody with an ounce of brains is going to open a doomed business. No insurer would insure them for loss of business. It is already in violation of the 1958 Humane Slaughter Act. There is no way to make horse slaughter humane. You can open plants but they can’t operate without USDA inspectors. They will have to appeal the Supreme Court to reinstate the inspectors. The Supreme Court has refused to hear any appeals from the plants.
The committee is comprised of pro slaughter people. How is that overwhelming? Enjoy your little victory. It means nothing. We already have the legislation in motion and before the 111th congress recesses, horse slaughter will just a bad chapter in US history. Change is coming our way.
Leah
December 14, 2008, 5:28pm (report abuse)Hi Dave D:
Here we are and it is almost winter and we are getting snow here in the Eastern Sierra Mountains. Ugh!
To be truthful I have not missed you and had hoped that the pro slaughter people had given up and given in, but alas that is not true.
I read the website you noted and have seen it many times and still find it a lot of words with no substance. What do I mean by that, FACTS, FACTS and FACTS.
Just a lot of words with no dates, times, people or organizations mentioned. Believe me when I say I am no friend of HSUS, but I know garbage when I read it.
I recall one of them and did a background check and found out that it was all false about HSUS.
There are always two sides to every story and I have found the pro slaughter stories to be hot air and false statements NOT back with FACTS, FACTS, FACTS.
Have you read the current 900 page about abuse released regarding Sugarland auction? You see those pictures.
D. Masters
December 15, 2008, 8:45am (report abuse)To Leah:
I will repeat, Dave D. does not care about facts and he conveniently looses track of the questions posed. His inference that horses will be processed (cute term huh?) in the US (and they still are, just not for human consumption) is a fairy tale perpetuated by the proslaughter who never bothered to take Dr. Grandin up on her horse slaughter facility design when they had the chance.
The only ostrich I see posting here with any persistence is ole Dave D.
BTW Dave, I told you before that I am a master of nothing save for my soul and life. You would do well to acheive the same...get a little more clever, would ya'? Because you are boring and soon to be irrelevant.
Leah
December 15, 2008, 5:52pm (report abuse)Dear Masters:
Yes you are right, because if they did deal with facts they would anti slaughter right along with us because true be told horse slaughger is cruel, inhumane and a horrible way for a horse to die and they deserve better from us then what is happening.
Yes the times they are changing and have been since the dawn of time of this earth and history shows those that do not move up to the tune are left behind and are gone and forgotten.
There are better things we can do than to send our horses to a death they do not deserve. We can step up to the plate and do our part to help them and demand that people take responsibility for that which they bought and now should take care of.
To dump these horses and get paid to do so is the worse form of human beings I can come across.
Dave D. why not just admit the truth and come to the front and help us end horse slaughter. Be counted among those that care?
vicki
December 16, 2008, 12:35am (report abuse)Hey, Dave. I just checked out something on the website you keep promoting. Just love the reports of abandoned horses. They are not reports, they are articles. Could you provide the information or let me know who I can contact to find out the names of the officials that were contacted to verify the article was accurate? We have investigated many such articles (not sure if we checked those particular articles) and they were all false. I'm assuming whoever runs that site is verifying the information before presenting the article as fact. I couldn't find a contact for the website.
BTW-have you seen the FOIA on Beltex? 906 pages of the worst abuse I have ever seen. And the best part is that the pro folks can't accuse us of doctoring the photos or reports because it came directly from the USDA. There goes any argument you guys had about how humane the US plants were compared to Mexico and Canada. One by one, we are knocking down the pro arguments with cold, hard facts...
to both pro and anti slaughter
December 17, 2008, 10:35am (report abuse)Regardless of your stance, I think we can all agree that this act is despicable! Please sign the petition to have these two vets stripped of their licenses. Briefly...they were found to have 6 starving horses on their farm after they hooked up one of their 'living skeletons' to a car and spent 45 minutes trying to get him to pull it out of a ditch, until he just finally collapsed. This happened in British Columbia, Canada just recently.
http://www.gopetition.com/online/23978.html
vicki
December 20, 2008, 1:33am (report abuse)Another blow to the pro slaughter advocates. Read and view the KHOU news report on Slaughtergate.
http://www.vickitobin.com/id24.html
Suzette Morgan ZB Farms
December 22, 2008, 3:20pm (report abuse)I ask where do we draw the line? Next will it be our household pets, dogs, cats and/or a hamster. These animals are our friends and have true feelings toward thier humans. We have recently lost one of the herd and my horses morned the loss for over 3 weeks. Yes I understand that the slaughtering issues are bigger then most relize...it is even being blame on the falling out of the market our "Show Animals". My one mare once appraised at $60,000.00 at a 2 year old. I shutter to think what it would be at now. They are members of my family and are treated as such. They give me everything they have in the show ring, out on the trail etc...They deserve the same respect as they give.
Would you eat Grandma OR Grandpa? You should be ashamed of yourselves for even concidering it.
Andrew Washburn
December 29, 2008, 2:31pm (report abuse)Viki
As I read this bill it occured to me that this bill is not about slaughtering horses but the humane treatment of the horses that are to be slaughtered. Which I agree with in part a horse that is well taken care of is one that will have more better meat.
Amy
December 29, 2008, 4:55pm (report abuse)Horses are NOT companion animals and they should NOT be considered as such. They are livestock, pure and simple. I do think that horses should be treated humanly, and they should be protected, but slaughtering them is not that bad. The slaughter houses are regulated by the USDA and the transportation is also regulated by the USDA. If slaughter is banned then some people who no longer have the recourse to keep their horses are truing theme loose. An abandoned horse's future is not very rosy and usually they end up dead due to starvation or cruelty. People who love horses only want what is best for them and allowing them to die a slow and painfully death are unacceptable. Slaughter give a viable option that is regulated and humane.
vicki
December 29, 2008, 7:11pm (report abuse)Amy, horses perform functions in society that livestock do not and cannot perform. Livestock in this country are food animals. Horses are not raised or bred for food but as work, service, sport and companion animals. Most states tax horse feed but do not tax livestock feed. If you read the FOIA report you wouldn’t have made your comment that the plants being regulated. Much of the report covers the transport which was not and is still not regulated. Please, anyone that loved their horse would never send him to slaughter. Slaughter does not provide a regulated viable option. It hides abuse and perpetuates abuse. An owner can abuse his horse, dump him at an auction and never be held accountable. It perpetuates the breed and dump cycle and pays people to be irresponsible. A responsible owner will set aside $300 for euthanasia and disposal. It costs no more than one month’s care. If they can afford to own a horse, they can afford to provide a humane death.
vicki
December 29, 2008, 7:14pm (report abuse)Andrew, there is no such thing as humane horse slaughter. The bill was meant to end slaughter. If you were trying to look ridiculous with your comment on horse meat, consider yourself successful.
Justice
December 30, 2008, 7:10am (report abuse)That's great that we have people so passionate about a cause, however; they believe in fairy tales too. Buck up, we are all faultering in ways, wait till the donations stop, etc. This is the LAST thing we need right now is another animal bill that will cost the tax payers even more. You've managed to destroy the horse industry, horses are neglected and abandoned (whether you believe it or not), aim that passion towards people, not animals, people need food, jobs, homes...who can think of animals rights at this point or any organizations that operate on donations to lobby congress, rather than putting the money into animals. Now you want people to be taxed for it??
vicki
December 30, 2008, 7:38am (report abuse)Justice, again I ask, how is keep slaughter going to prevent abandonment? If you are seeing abandoned horses it is obvious that abandonment and the availability of slaughter have no correlation.. Anyone wishing to send their horse to slaughter can still do so. If slaughter was the cure, you wouldn’t be seeing abandoned horses. Thank you for proving our point.
vicki
December 30, 2008, 7:57am (report abuse)Justin, we are not AR activists-animals will never have rights. Why do pro folks blame everyone except the owners? France and Belgium destroyed the industry. They pay people to be irresponsible and to breed and dump to keep the horses coming. The lowest common denominator jumped on this. Blame the under 1% of owners that don’t want the responsibility of ownership. Unlike the cattle and Ag associations, we do not pay people to lobby or make donations to legislators to block bills. This is easily verified through PAC donations. You will not see any of our names but you’ll see AQHA (over breeders and no.1 horse breed going to slaughter) AVMA, Cattle and Ag Assoc. etc. They have hired PR firms and Burns and Stenholm to lobby. Why aren’t you asking why they don’t take the hundreds of thousands they spend to establish programs aimed at helping horse owners? Our donations go to rescues to pull the horses that irresponsible owners dumped. Tax on what?
www.vickitobin.com
Andrew Washburn
December 30, 2008, 11:26am (report abuse)Viki
I appologize for not placing a coma in my sentence. It does sound silly reading it again, thanks for pointing that out. Question for you are you against the slaughter of cows, chickens, pigs, fish, and other animals used for consumption?
vicki
December 30, 2008, 7:21pm (report abuse)Andrew, unlike horses, the animals you mentioned are an accepted food source in this country. Whether or not I am against their slaughter is irrelevant. We slaughter animals (livestock) in this country for our food. I know where you are going with this - the slippery slope pro slaughter argument. An argument that is totally false and without basis. Ending the slaughter of horses is NOT the first step to banning the slaughter of livestock.. That was a pro slaughter tactic made up to scare people into believing we wanted to ban the slaughter of all animals. That is not our intent and we have never mentioned livestock. The cattle and ag associations keep throwing it in our face. Do they want us to think about it? There is not one person in the thousands that I am involved with that is targeting livestock slaughter. It is strictly about horses. And before you ask, I am not a vegetarian!
Justice
January 2, 2009, 6:47am (report abuse)PETA and HSUS are siding with this bill, and is way more vegan driven than you immagine Vicki. Visit their web sites and save the chickens!! Horses are livestock, plain and simple. You can believe what you wish. Just look up the guys you are palling around with...
vicki
January 2, 2009, 5:28pm (report abuse)Justice, call them livestock all you want. They are not. Livestock cannot perform any of the functions that horses perform. In this country, livestock are food animals – they are raised and bred as food animals. Horse are not. Horse feed is taxed in most states, livestock feed is not. The differences are immense and the day that a cow is running in the derby, the mounted police are riding cows, there is a riderless cow at presidential or military funeral or they’re used in hunting, etc., you can call horses livestock.
PETA is NOT involved in the anti horse slaughter efforts. Chickens, cows and pigs have nothing to do with horse slaughter. The only welfare organizations involved are HSUS and AWI. I do not pal around with either of them. The majority of efforts are grass roots and do not involve any organizations. I work with thousands of individuals across the country comprised of horse owners, jockeys, trainers, vets and rescues.
Lin
January 5, 2009, 8:53pm (report abuse)Hello Vickie, I tried to post what AQHA bred in 2008 for our pro slaughter folks here. I couldn't down load it on my computer. Maybe you can.
I am sick of hearing about Peta.
I am a horse owner, I am against horse slaughter, I am not anti meat. You can livestock your reasoning till your blue in the face. The horse is a domesticated companion pet to most people in the United States....who do not see a horse as food. Your problem is "what are you going to do with all the culls that are bred. Stop over breeding them, then they won't be butchered alive and
made into a very expensive hamburger for Europe.
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