Thursday, July 16, 2009

The ever-touchy issue of horse slaughter.

With all the recently escalated talk of slaughter and over-population and a crappy in-the-toilet economy, I figured it's time to make this post:

How hard would it be to fix the horse slaughter problems?


In truth, it would not be very hard to get slaughter to humane standards. It wouldn't even cost the plants an atrocious amount of money and would actually save them time.

Firstly, talk about getting them there. Using proper trailers and tying the horses wouldn't be that hard. If the horse is going to be on the trailer for an extended period of time, give them hay nets. Seriously. Not a hard concept. Before they get on the trailer, have the shoes removed. This all takes MINIMAL work. I know there would be a lot of willing hands to do it in the name of a HUMANE death for an animal that has no other choice.

Then, them waiting. What would be so hard about setting up an outdoor pasture with water tubs, and then roll out some hay once in a while? That's ALL they would need. Just a big freaking pasture. Then round them up and send them down the chute. They get time to stretch their legs and run around before they die. Again, I know a lot of people would volunteer to set this up in the name of humane slaughter. You could probably even find people to catch horses and take them to the chutes.

Okay, so the chutes.

Raise the walls so the horses can't see out or try to climb out or scare themselves with all the goings-on outside the chute. Put rubber on the floors so they don't slip... it's not that hard, use the stuff they put in stalls. They're just as easy to hose down, too and would save horse from falling which stalls production anyways.

Cut the chute off 20 feet behind the slaughter chute so they can't see or hear what happens to the horse in front of them.

Then... use a bullet. None of this captive bolt bullshit.

Then continue as you usually do.


That's not even hard to execute. Horse comes in, shoot it, done. No struggle, no falling, no painful misses, no terror for the animals in waiting.

Then I would be perfectly okay with slaughter.


Spread the news and knowledge and let's hope to do something about it.

6 comments:

  1. I run into this working in animal research. A lot. What's humane, what's not?

    You realize the most important thing you're requesting a change of? Mentality. The way people THINK about the whole process.

    Some people find the whole thing horribly distasteful to think of... wah. They live in rainbow and butterfly land. No critter should die! Evar!

    Others, when it costs a little more or causes a wee bit more work whine and cry. Saying we've done it this way for 40 years (or whatever) and it was fine... but...

    No it wasn't. They turned a blind eye to pain and suffering to save (or in this case make) a buck. They're cheap and lazy.

    Neither want to deal with it head on and by GOD they won't work together for a better solution.

    What you're saying would probably work. In fact it might create a few jobs, which in this economy would be nice. I don't love what I do caring for research animals but EVERY DAY I spend trying to make their sad lives a little better.

    I'd sure as hell do it for horses. So would other people, that thought like us. Thing is death is a part of any life. If it isn't by natural causes/illness and there's no one to take care of the animal/s, and it's dignified, not fear filled and painful... sometimes they're better off. We should strive to make it truly humane and stick to the meaning of 'euthanasia'.

    Oh, and amen on the cultural/personal feeling thing a/b eating horse meat. It's a protein source... just because I wouldn't on principle doesn't mean someone else shouldn't.

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  2. second??

    dagnabbit..

    Great post, Mellificent.

    Although, have I seen and read about horse feedlots, where this happens?

    To Humane Treatment, beginning to end.
    amen.
    Thank goodness for people like you all.

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  3. Well done Mel, see a problem and suggest a solution ,rather than just cry about the problem . Your suggestions are reasonable , affordable and certainly do able!

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  4. Thank you.

    I'm planning to start handing out more fliers this week just as I did at the end of last July/through August, when people are getting rid of the Christmas phase of "daddy I want a pony!"

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  5. I really think that if we could get proper regulation this would work- why on earth do we have stringent regulation on restaurants and food processing but not on slaughter houses? Because horses can't sue the government for lack of regulation so the tax dollars never get spent to manage slaughter properly.

    Great post, good ideas- let's get the government to own this issue.

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  6. Great post Mel. What you said, exactly. I am tired of both sides of the issue thinking that a plan is 'running around in circles with your head up your butt!'
    I've also signed my organ donor card. Death is a fact of life. Too bad most people can't accept that fact and form plans to deal with it. It's kind of like the 'let nature take care of the overpopulation of (insert species here) who have never seen how cruel nature can be.

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