Re-Opening Slaughter Plants - Online Petition

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]

Here's an online petition if you are in favor of reopening horse slaughter plants. Here's a chance for your input.

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/horse-owners-in-favor-of-re-opening-slaughter-plants.html

 

[HAY MAKER]

I notice the author made sure she was unidentified,not gonna get in to the horse deal argument again BUT................if you aint man/woman enough to tend your horses and that includes shooting them and burying when the time is right.
You dont deserve to own a horse PERIOD.
good luck

 

[Soapweed]

I notice the author made sure she was unidentified,not gonna get in to the horse deal argument again BUT................if you aint man/woman enough to tend your horses and that includes shooting them and burying when the time is right.
You dont deserve to own a horse PERIOD.
good luck

HAY MAKER, you are a good man and usually right in your thinking. You are wrong on the horse slaughter issue, though, but I will not go into all the details of why right now. There are pages and pages of this discussion back a year or so ago. It can undoubtedly be found through the Search capabilities. Please feel free to rethink your position on this issue.

P.S. Wouldn't it be better to have a horse slaughtered in the United States with humane treatment and proper inspection, than to have those same horses slipped across the line into Mexico, hauled for several days, and killed inhumanely?

 

[HAY MAKER]

I notice the author made sure she was unidentified,not gonna get in to the horse deal argument again BUT................if you aint man/woman enough to tend your horses and that includes shooting them and burying when the time is right.
You dont deserve to own a horse PERIOD.
good luck

HAY MAKER, you are a good man and usually right in your thinking. You are wrong on the horse slaughter issue, though, but I will not go into all the details of why right now. There are pages and pages of this discussion back a year or so ago. It can undoubtedly be found through the Search capabilities. Please feel free to rethink your position on this issue.

P.S.

Wouldn't it be better to have a horse slaughtered in the United States with humane treatment and proper inspection, than to have those same horses slipped across the line into Mexico, hauled for several days, and killed inhumanely?

yes it would,but better still if folks would think about breeding horses they caint afford to feed,or getting rid of the horse they have because they found a faster one............I mean after all that old bay aint what she usta be,so lets take her to the killers for a few bucks,feed some foreigners,and go get another one so we can do the same thing over and over,horses are special around here,those horse eaters will get a damn site skinnier waiting to eat one of mine,we dont shuck our work or responsibilities.
good luck

 

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]

HAYMAKER,
Horses are special to us too. But not everyone has the same outlook on horses that we do. Our retired horses, are just that, retired, livin out their life on pasture, until they need our assistance in goin to horse heaven. Not an easy task, but one that we will take care of when need be.
Have you been to a horse sale lately? It's a sad sight. Most of the time if you go more than a week or two in a row, you see the same horses rotating thru being sold over and over again, for $15 to $50 bucks a head. Even good working horses aren't bringin much of nothin these days. Often times ending up in the hands of these folks that don't know how to take care of a horse, don't have the money to buy feed for a horse. Just because you have the money in your pocket to buy one, doesn't mean you have the knowledge to take care of one. If the horses that are rotating thru the ring could be sold for slaughter they'd be much better off, than being shuffled, hauled, skinny, mistreated etc.
Buying a new horse is a big disicion for us to make. Not something we take lightly. First we take into concideration the cost of adding one more to our feed bill, vet bill, etc. Alot of these folks, think, oh...I've got an acre of land, I can put a horse on, so they go out and buy one. Not knowin that there's alot more to it than that.
I didnt mean to start any kinda debate on the horse slaughter issue, just thought if there was anyone interested in signin this potition, that might somehow help this issue that they'd do it.

 

[HAY MAKER]

Lilly,I have seen my share of mistreated horses and cattle too,pretty common around the outskirts of these big cities to see some drug store wanna be buy a half acre of land and pull a trailer house in then get a horse tied up in back,no shelter,no water and no feed,just standing all day in this good ole Texas sun.
I have never called the sheriff for any reason in my life,but my attitude is fast changing on some of these folks,if we keep slaughtering horses for the overseas meat market,nothing changes,start backing them up and making it harder to shuck your responsibilites and prosecute some of these calloused _________they might think twice about getting a horse,they make it hard on everyone,and most of them wont take care of their family much less a horse.
good luck

 

[Emma]

This is Promise. bought her last year, she came from the feedlot in Yakima just before the truck hauled her to slaughter in Canada. Nice, affectionate, beautiful, 8-year old buckskin mare. Nothing wrong with her but some trust issues and they're fading.

I struggle with this issue. I don't have a problem with broken, crazed or diseased horses going to slaughter if that's the best their owners are willing to do for them, but for good, strong, kind, young, healthy horses to be sold to kill buyers is wrong. Still, there are always going to be irresponsible no-good people in every aspect of life (i.e. the people who can't be bothered to take care of their own families let alone some animals), and better for the horses to go quickly rather than starve to death.

We can't stop bad ones from breeding themselves and we can't stop them from buying and breeding horses. There has to be a place for these horses to go. I have 4 good ones I've bought out of the feedlot, all were slaughterbound and all are great, young horses - easy to love and easy to train, but not so easy to rehome safely.

 

[kolanuraven]

Still, there are always going to be irresponsible no-good people in every aspect of life (i.e. the people who can't be bothered

Emma....this is a VERY profound statement you just made.

 

[Soapweed]

Still, there are always going to be irresponsible no-good people in every aspect of life (i.e. the people who can't be bothered).

Emma....this is a VERY profound statement you just made.

That is a very profound statement, Emma. What about in other aspects of life? How about irresponsible people that conceive a child and then have an abortion just for convienience' sake?

It is not a perfect world, and it won't be even if the Democrats take the White House this fall. :roll:

Animals are animals. They are to be treated humanely. That doesn't mean we can't eat beef, or kill a deer for venison (and sport), or shoot a skunk if it is smelling up the area. We need to make a clean kill, and make sure the animal doesn't suffer needlessly. There are good dogs and there are bad dogs. A good dog can be a lifelong friend. A pack of dogs can chase cattle, causing the cattle to suffer. Good dogs deserve a funeral and burial in the back yard. Bad dogs deserve to be shot and left for the crows to find.

There are good horses and there are bad horses. Once again, a horse can be a lifelong friend. When they get old, they deserve to either die with respect or be put down in a humane fashion. For every "special" horse, there are probably 99 others that are just horses.

The government has spent untold amounts of money screwing up a system that wasn't broken to start with. Take for example the wild horse problem. Look at all the money the government spends trying to keep the unadoptable horses alive. At least with deer and elk, the Game Commission sells permits to hunt them to keep the population in check. The wild horses get a free pass to "live forever" just because they are "horses." It is a travesty.

We need jails for people that don't behave. We need capital punishment for certain criminals who are murderers and rapists.

We need horse slaughter plants. They fulfill a very useful function. Let common sense prevail.

 

[Emma]

Hi Soapweed, I think we need the slaughter plants too. It's only going to get worse for backyard horses without them, especially with the cost of feed what it is now, and I don't have a problem with crazy/wild/dangerous/diseased/crippled horses being sent to slaughter. I hope a horse that's used up and worn out after offering it's person good service will be cared for in retirement, particularly a pleasure horse, but not every rancher who needs a working horse can afford to provide this option.

My disgust is not that there are slaughter plants, it's that people dump good, viable young horses there because they can't be bothered to do the right thing by them. There are so many horse rescue groups in place now that it would just take a phone call to get rid of any unwanted horses responsibly, and probably get paid meat prices to boot. Heck, some of them will even take the crazy/wild/dangerous/diseased/crippled horses in their mission to save the noble beast, tho I wouldn't.

 

[Choclab]

Heck, some of them will even take the crazy/wild/dangerous/diseased/crippled horses in their mission to save the noble beast, tho I wouldn't.

Too much liability.....canners for sure. I had a few that were "meat sale only" horses cause they were shirt bag nuts and I didn't want anybodys death/pain on my shoulders. I think it's neat that some people will rescue horses, not really my bag though. Too much bagage and you never know whats gonna set em off.


We need the slaughter houses. Mexico is a horrible place for white people and all animals.....period. Animals get treated horribly down there. These horse lovers need to remember that Livestock is Livestock. It's funny how people *cough* *kalifornia* *cough* will call livestock companions. People have been eating horses forever. Who are we to say they can't or shouldn't? Don't get me wrong, I am pretty fond of a couple of my horses, but they are just animals after all is said and done. It might be a different story if Vets would make it affordable to put a horse down. 200+ to kill a horse when you could make a few pennies at a slaughter sale.....what do you think people are gonna do? Vets ain't helping the problem any.

if you aint man/woman enough to tend your horses and that includes shooting them and burying when the time is right.
You dont deserve to own a horse PERIOD.

LOL.....thats funny. I suppose you humanely put down (instead of selling them from profit...of course) your best producing cows after they hit their prime cause they made you a ton of money from great calves eh??? Texans and their horses....lol

 

[kolanuraven]

Don't give Haymaker crap.....we put'em down with shot ( no lead involved)here in GA also.

I look at it this way...if they've done good by me and earned their keep, paid their way and lived a good life for me and them both....I'll spend the extra $$$$ to put'em down nice and quiet on their own home turf.


You got one expensive Vet if it cost $200 to give a shot to a horse/cow....here it's $30.

 

[Emma]

You got one expensive Vet if it cost $200 to give a shot to a horse/cow....here it's $30.

LOL, it's true. We have "designer" vets here (just outside Seattle) and it's getting so we're darn lucky to have any large animal vets at all, and they charge us like they well aware of it, too. There's only 1 cow vet in this area and he spends 1/2 of each month on a circuit in eastern Washington so my cattle better not have an emergency on the wrong day or it's curtains for them.

A neighbor's horse had to be put down last winter and it's the only time I've seen the procedure. It took the vet I-don't-know-how-many shots to kill that poor horse the "right" way. I was thankful that bill wasn't going to be showing up in my mailbox.

 

[kolanuraven]

You got one expensive Vet if it cost $200 to give a shot to a horse/cow....here it's $30.

LOL, it's true. We have "designer" vets here (just outside Seattle) and it's getting so we're darn lucky to have any large animal vets at all, and they charge us like they well aware of it, too. There's only 1 cow vet in this area and he spends 1/2 of each month on a circuit in eastern Washington so my cattle better not have an emergency on the wrong day or it's curtains for them.

A neighbor's horse had to be put down last winter and it's the only time I've seen the procedure. It took the vet I-don't-know-how-many shots to kill that poor horse the "right" way. I was thankful that bill wasn't going to be showing up in my mailbox.

Those dosages are based on the weight of the animal that any Vet worth his/her diploma can guess within the reasonable range. If they know how/where to place the shot...it's truly a ' one shot' deal. Those guys are bilking people that don't know any better it sounds like.

 

[Emma]

Yup! Designer vets for humanely dispatching of designer pets. Here horses are not considered livestock, they're fine & noble animals and we pay for that distinction. Buy something for a cow...not too spendy usually. Buy the same thing for a horse...better plan on giving up some extra money for it.

Guess we're fortunate to still be allowed to keep horses outside instead of in our homes with the rest of the family.

 

[leanin' H]

I'd wager that peta and animal rights folks would love to see us so divided. I figure we can stand together or fall by ourselves. When will "THEY" start going no-kill for cows and hogs and sheep? Who decided horses have more rights than all other animals? I have cried many tears while taking a great friend on his last trip. And by that i mean to a spot on the place where we have put down horses and a couple good dogs. And i have taken some horses that were starting to show their age to the salebarn too. It hurts like hell either way. If some starving kid in a third world country can feel full for once, who is it hurting? If i choose to not eat horse i have that choice. But when you take away peoples options stupid people do stupid things like turn em' loose with the mustangs, abandone them, starve them, ect.. If you want to keep all your horses and put them down, i feel like ya have that right. But if some folks feel differently they have that right as well. And some "Good" horses will go to horse plants, but atleast folks will have options. No matter how hard ya try, no matter how bad it hurts, you WILL lose animals if you have them. It's the same way with people, enjoy every second ya have and cherish the memories!

 

[CattleArmy]

I'd wager that peta and animal rights folks would love to see us so divided. I figure we can stand together or fall by ourselves. When will "THEY" start going no-kill for cows and hogs and sheep? Who decided horses have more rights than all other animals? I have cried many tears while taking a great friend on his last trip. And by that i mean to a spot on the place where we have put down horses and a couple good dogs. And i have taken some horses that were starting to show their age to the salebarn too. It hurts like hell either way. If some starving kid in a third world country can feel full for once, who is it hurting? If i choose to not eat horse i have that choice. But when you take away peoples options stupid people do stupid things like turn em' loose with the mustangs, abandone them, starve them, ect.. If you want to keep all your horses and put them down, i feel like ya have that right. But if some folks feel differently they have that right as well. And some "Good" horses will go to horse plants, but atleast folks will have options. No matter how hard ya try, no matter how bad it hurts, you WILL lose animals if you have them. It's the same way with people, enjoy every second ya have and cherish the memories!

I wonder to if it starts with horses then when are cattle, sheep, pigs and such next. What makes one animal higher and more deserving then another? Now that I have children who love calves and the calves grow up and stay around we have a few cows that are just as big of pets as anything. Yet when the time comes they to will go to town. Much like horses that we use on the ranch and turn into pets being tame enough to come up to you, tame enough to be called in by yelling. Some cultures eat horses just as we eat the animals we eat.

In the past when we had horses that we knew we going to slaughter I'm not going to say it didn't bother me, but it also bothers me when the beef that we feed all those months goes to town to slaughter to. But it's just part of life.

To me closing the slaughter plants in the US hasn't stopped horse slaughtering at all. It's just made the horse market go all to hell and now they gather semi loads of horses for a long and uncomfortable ride to a kill plant in one of our neighboring coutries. Now that's humane isn't it?

 

[Hooks]

To me closing the slaughter plants in the US hasn't stopped horse slaughtering at all. It's just made the horse market go all to hell and now they gather semi loads of horses for a long and uncomfortable ride to a kill plant in one of our neighboring coutries. Now that's humane isn't it?

....I know a boy that's been in "the business" for years.............says his business is better that ever lately........... :? :shock:

 

[CattleArmy]

To me closing the slaughter plants in the US hasn't stopped horse slaughtering at all. It's just made the horse market go all to hell and now they gather semi loads of horses for a long and uncomfortable ride to a kill plant in one of our neighboring coutries. Now that's humane isn't it?

....I know a boy that's been in "the business" for years.............says his business is better that ever lately........... :? :shock:

Now they are just gathering semi loads and hauling them. The cost of hauling is not so bad when at some sales they are practically giving them away.

 

[Choclab]

Some of the recent sales I have been to have been pathetic. Anywhere from free to 100 bucks. A guy could make a decent living buying and selling to canners.........