With things coming down to the wire as far as horse slaughter, I’ve taken some time to do a bit more reading on the issue over the past few weeks. I have to admit, I don’t really like reading endless articles saying the same thing over and over, mostly because I find it all quite depressing. I don’t need to be beat over the head about how horrible slaughter is or what really happens during transport, because I get it. I have my favorite sources I look to for information and I mostly stick to those and what ends up in my emails. If I’m writing a blog, I become a bit more masochistic and actually dig a bit deeper to see what our PSA buddies are saying. Mostly I find it amusing, but lately it’s just kinda annoying. Ok, it’s a whole bunch annoying, but what I find sadly funny is what they pull out as their `expert’ proof and how many of them proclaim themselves authorities, but leave their asses hung out in public. Endless fodder. Because they have beat the GAO Report to death and nobody other than the PSAs really give it any credibility, I thought we’d look at some of their other `irrefutable proof’ today. They truly are grasping at straws lately…..
While not new to the slaughter issue, I’ve seen the name of Baxter Black getting kicked around a lot lately. The PSAs just love this poseur. After all, he wears the cowboy hat and the rest of the asstard uniform that counts for a lot in the PSA’s eyes. If you want to be seen as an authority, jam a cowboy hat on your head and talk with an `aww shucks’ drawl and make sure to use bad grammar. Seriously, WHAT the actual fuck makes this idiot an expert on horses and their welfare? Oh, I can already hear the PSAs stomping their hooves and shrieking, `but he’s an actual veterinarian!’. Actually, no he is not an actual veterinarian. He WAS one many, many years ago, but he was never an equine vet. He was a large animal vet mostly dealing with cattle and, I’m sure, a few PSA type horses thrown in the mix, but we all know that the majority of those types hardly provide a lot of veterinarian care for their equines. The fact is, he ceased being a vet of any type way back in the 80’s after being `let go’ from his last job which was, according to his own bio, a `tech’ position. He quit being a vet in 1982, which for our mathematically challenged PSAs, means he hasn’t practiced in over 30 years. Even then his veterinarian career lasted less than 13 yrs. Not even half as long as many of us have actually been in the horse industry and making a good living btw. Hardly a stellar career in horse husbandry and certainly posing his ass on a few horses and writing lame poetry does not make him any more of an expert than the city guy that paid to go on a trail ride a few times in his life. Naturally, Black is a slaughterphile and he has never spent a single week of his lifetime making his living from working with horses exclusively. He bases a lot of his opinions on the widely ridiculed GAO report. (http://www.tsln.com/article/20110818/TSLN04/110819970).
Now, admittedly, Black isn’t new to the `slaughter em all’ bandwagon, but for whatever reason, he’s getting linked around a lot lately. I guess it’s been a slow few days for their regular mouth pieces or something so it was time to dust off some of his ramblings on the subject. Black’s actual claim to fame, such that it is, is that he’s a cowboy poet. Unlike Slaughterhouse Sue, he can actually pen a sensible verse or two. Because of this, he comes up with some rather interesting euphemisms for slaughter. Now, maybe it has been used a bit before, but I had not heard of CHEER until I read one of his articles (http://amarillo.com/news/local-news/2011-02-19/horse-owners-lovers-mull-over-cheer). CHEER, is an acronym for Centers for Humane Euthanasia and Equine Recycling. Doesn’t that sound so incredibly brilliant and amazing? I get visions of fat happy ponies romping in sweet clover and drinking out of crystal clear streams. It almost sounds like the Rainbow Bridge right here on earth! I bet every single horse gets a kiss on the nose and a hug before they are sent over that bridge too! While this all sounds a lot like the United Horseturd’s concept of having a rescue, college, slaughter emporium on one property, as near as I can find, CHEER seemed to be the original brain fart of Black’s. He wanted us to think of CHEER as a `boutique abattoir’ and if you were uncomfortable eating your own horse, you could swap with a buddy. So much awesome to contemplate! If you don’t want to eat the toxic waste at all, you could even donate it to another country like Africa or North Korea. Quite the humanitarian, Mr. Black is! It lead me to extrapolate on that and wonder why not save ourselves a lot of grief and ship all this tainted meat over to countries that have a lot of oil or other things we need. It would save us starting all these wars once they are all suffering and dying from strange maladies brought on by eating our companion animals. Black goes on to say the tired old line of nobody should have a say in what somebody else eats. He’s actually right. I don’t really care what anybody else eats. What I do care about is how you treat that animal, be it a pig, chicken or horse, while it is still living. Perhaps Black realized at some point that his stumping for slaughter was going to hurt his bottom line as far as audio sales and tickets to his little talks as he seems to have not had a lot to say in print on the issue for a while. That’s a real shame as he is fun to pick apart.
As most of you are aware, PSAs pretty much refuse to listen to anybody that they identify as anti-slaughter. They don’t like being confronted with truth and fact and often find themselves at a distinct advantage in a battle of wits. However, while I was looking around I found some interesting YouTube videos linked on a social networking page that perhaps they will address (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfzX4Fx5xuE). I’ve linked the first video in a series of three that feature an actual kill buyer talking about his profession as well as transporting horses. This KB is ashamed enough of himself, that his face has been blurred out of the video, but he otherwise lays it all out and is admittedly not too proud of his chosen profession. There is no graphic footage in any of the videos, but they are worth watching if you feel a need to hear it straight from the source. He talks about poking eyes out of horses to calm them down, wiring their mouths shut to transport, horrific injuries, and the scams they ran to buy up horses cheap, telling people whatever they need to hear to get those horses. He even chuckles at the one lady who mistakenly sold her horse to a KB and when she tried to get him back at a profit to the KB, because she SAW him in their pens, they lied to her and ran her off. It was her horse and his buddies thought it quite funny even though she left in tears. They show some notes that owners had attached to their horse’s papers upon selling because they thought they were going to real homes. These weren’t exactly the mythical unwanted horses we hear that KBs rescue and return to dignity all the time. These were naive people that got scammed and never imagined that this nice man buying a horse for his kid was actually a kill buyer. He mentions about filling loads at all costs, including one KB that even pulled the saddle off his favorite horse to make up a full load. Pretty much any horror story you’ve ever heard about kill buyers and transport for slaughter is confirmed by this guy. Admittedly, the video is a few years old, but as we know from organizations such as Animal Angels (http://www.animalsangels.org/) it is still happening every day. It is also interesting to note that this interview took place during a time when domestic slaughter was still available and horses were shipping in country. The simple fact that this KB doesn’t know the difference between a hock, ankle or knee pretty much tells you about the `horsemanship’ of people that choose his profession and this guy claims he started out as a farrier. I’m sure none of you will be surprised to hear that hardly a single PSA made a comment on these videos other than they were `old’. You know, the same PSAs that like to trot out a 23 yr old quote our of context that Wayne Pacelle makes as undeniable proof that the real agenda behind the antis is to wipe out all domestic pet ownership.
The fact is that the PSAs tend to look to people like Slaughterhouse Sue, who doesn’t even own horses or like them, and Douchebag Duquette, failed trainer and industry joke, as their leaders. They allow these people to represent them and speak for them. That, alone, should be enough to disregard anything they have to say about the `industry’ or horse welfare. I mean, it’s not like they have actual successful people with international reputations like George Morris or Beezie Madden out there stumping for slaughter. You know, the people that actually make a really good living with horses. You don’t get any Nick Zitos or Graham Motion type people out there telling you to slaughter horses either. I have even noticed a few PSAs that claim to be involved in racing, but a quick Equibase search on their animals and credentials will soon reveal that they too, are bottom feeders in their chosen fields. Do you see a common thread? Which comes first, the respect of the animal or the success? I guess the answer depends on whether or not you believe in karma. Nobody that truly loves horses would fight so hard for such a horrible death and refuse to look at any other option than slaughter as a solution to current problems. Perhaps if they would take a seat and let the rest of us get on with things, the majority of our time and money could go towards addressing neglect and abuse rather than this never-ending battle to take the path of least resistance. If they cared as much as they claim, they would choose to be part of the solution rather than the biggest part of the problem. IF…….
Shedrow Confessions 
Yes, horse slaughter horribly heartbreaking; WH&B round ups deeply depressing; PSAs nauseously sickening!
Baxter Black is a tragic ‘joke’. If a veterinarian like him showed up to treat any of my beloveds they’d be promptly escorted off the property. What a sorry, disgusting excuse against the veterinary oath. My hope is that there’s a special ‘hell’ for PSAs where they will have to confront and repent from their arrogance and ignorance or face eternal karma for such…
~”Becoming aware of the intense suffering of billions of animals and of our own participation in that suffering can bring up painful emotions: sorrow and grief for the animals; anger at the injustice and deception of the system; despair at the enormity of the problem; fear that trusted authorities and institutions are, in fact, untrustworthy; and guilt for having contributed to the problem. Bearing witness means choosing to suffer. Indeed, empathy is literally ‘feeling with.’ Choosing to suffer is particularly difficult in a culture that is addicted to comfort — a culture that teaches that pain should be avoided whenever possible and that ignorance is bliss. We can reduce our resistance to witnessing by valuing authenticity over personal pleasure and integration over ignorance.” – Melanie Joy~
I look forward to being greeted by all my 4 legged pals one day….I’m sure I wouldn’t if I had been the one that knowingly sent them off to be terrorized and tortured. I do think that would be a very fitting eternity for the PSAs though.
Wow. Did Melanie Joy read my mind today or something?
It truly is pitiful who their so called “leaders” are in the PSA world. Baxter Black is no expert, if that’s the best they can do then they are in a world of hurt.
They like to bring out Henneke’s letter as proof that banned drugs are no big deal as well. Nevermind the fact that his area of expertise was body scoring and not toxicology, but slap a Dr. or DVM on there and they feel that’s enough.
Baxter Black is also a supporter of killing all the wild horses, he hates them. He is a cattle rancher.
Doesn’t surprise me how short of a vet career he had.
Baxter was one of the original funding founding board members of United Organizations of the Horse. The board, a little supergroup of extra special asstards, was listed on the original amateur quality site which has been archived (for proof of their scuminess). Somewhere (during that era) I swear i read that he was also behind (as in $) the disgusting eater-humane supporter site amillionhorses.com
Seems he is a hero to many slaughterphiles and I’ve totally pissed them off by saying I think he’s an asstard. They’re even emailing him to tattle on me. LOL
Your last sentence says it all for me “If they cared as much as they claim, they would choose to be part of the solution rather than the biggest part of the problem. IF…….” Yes, if they just let us quit fighting to stop horse slaughter we could spend our time and money finding homes and supporting those who are REALLY having a hard time taking care of their pets. Get our of the way PSAs let us move on. Stop horse slaughter and let us help the voiceless.
I think I have seen this asshole on RFD TV. If that’s the type of personality they have on their “family values” horses hour, I will no longer be watching their programs.
Yep…that is the dumbfuck being supported by Berkshire-Hatheway Group (Warren Buffet, et al) either as owner, part owner and/or major sponsor (GEICO for one) on RFD/Rural-TV….and he ain’t good. I’ve watched and in the beginning thought I was just DUMB! NOPE…he stinks!
Well to the author of this, you’re my hero. It’s so hard to understand why people feel the way that they do. Anyone who has been around horses in a constructive manner knows that the animal is just too sensitive to be treated the way it is
“Anyone who has been around horses in a constructive manner knows that the animal is just too sensitive to be treated the way it is”
You’ll never hear a PSA admit that, which is what I think separates them from a true horseman. They just don’t get it; their tiny little minds won’t allow them to view horses in such a manner. All they can see is $$$ and the need for an outlet to dispose of their mistakes.
Just watched the first video. Knowing the nature of horses there is no way on this earth to ship horses in that quantity humanely, That fact alone should be enough to stop this madness. The story of that poor woman who was so close to saving her horse is heartbreaking.
I’ve seen these videos too, and that woman trying to get her horse back was the worst part to me. I keep thinking what I would do, and I’m pretty sure they would have to kill me to make me go away, When I get THAT angry/desperate I kinda loose any common sense that I ever had and go for broke.
Fortunately, I don’t get that crazy very often. But, when it comes to my horse(s), watch out!
It was very disturbing to hear hit talk about that. The PSAs don’t consider the fact that the horse industry would likely be far healthier and better off if the SAFE Act gets passed and you can buy and sell horses without that being a concern. They assume every hungry horse or owner in over their head is due to no slaughter, but just maybe it’s because of slaughter….they hang on too long for fear of instances such as this? It would sure give me pause if I was selling one of my `pets’.
Baxcter Black is a founding member of United Horsemen.
Baxter Black looks like like a badly drawn cartoon character.
LOL@Dorothy, yes, yes he does
Uhhhh..I think he looks like a bovine muff diver; if bovines had pubic hair.
He must have been shopping at the Douchebag Hair Club for
Slaughterphiles and Wife Beaters.
(joke…just a joke!)
Someone on CL just posted an ad yesterday about being scammed and how they are extremely heartbroken. They were looking for a “good home” for their perfectly trained horse which they could no longer afford. They admitted that they didn’t verify the buyer, only to later find out they had placed their horse in harms way. They also stated they should have just “given” him back to the previous responsible owners and now they are ALL just sick with worry, posting on CL to warn other potential victims. They stated there was nothing they could do now for their horse.
Okay ….
1. Well then don’t be a victim !!!…..become this scammers worst nightmare and fight to get your horse back
2. PSA’s – another shining example of the criminal element involved in horse slaughter – spinning lies to get inventory – disregarding horses, humans and God which equates to an unforgivable sin
3. The only safe horse is a horse whose owner makes a lifetime commitment – all the rest are at risk
If every owner made that lifetime commitment, there would be no slaughter, no PSA’s, and no dingbat spouting an absurd acronym.
CL is the WORST place to list a “Pefectly trained horse”. There are plenty of equine sites to list them at that would gain attention of equine minded individuals, and many are FREE listings. A “Perfectly trained horse” is still worth a good amount if sound, especially if it can be ridden by novice. Shame on the owners for not researching better places for advertisement.
Baxter Black: In addition to his dubious affiliation with United Horsemeat, he is also the “brain child” behind the (apparently now defunct) ridiculous website of which the sole purpose was to “document Abandoned, Abused, and Neglected Horses” in an effort to “prove” that slaughter would have prevented all of it. The usual sad photos’ of starving, dying horses, all offered as “evidence” that their caring, responsible (insert eye roll) owners would have taken them to slaughter plants had they only been available .
I once saved a great quote about him; I’m not sure who said it, so apologies for not crediting:
“When they (PSA’s) need to put a down-home, folksy, horsey face to their message they can defer to horse slaughter supporters like Baxter Black, who, until a few years back, was in the closet about his horse slaughter advocacy. (You know, sort of like finding out Santa Claus is actually into kiddie porn when he isn’t delivering presents to boys and girls.)”
That’s an awesome quote! LOL
You mean “Millions And Millions of Horses”? I remember it. Most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen – over the top even for “them!?
Thanks for the great article!
It makes me sick that these slaughterphiles are so desensitized to horse slaughter and all it entails. How could you take someone’s pet, lie to them, tell them it’s getting a good home, and then send it to slaughter?? That takes a heartless individual, right there. These PSA’s consider our compassion to be a weakness, yet they behave like sociopaths when it comes to animals outside of humans. How arrogant. Only humans are deserving of compassion and humanity. They think they’re tough, but really, because of their environment, they’re practically sociopaths. Killing is fun to them.
Anyone who would steal horses that are obviously pets – or ANY horses for that matter – or look someone straight in the eye and LIE in cold blood about what they intend to do with their horses IS a psychopath.
Could any of US ever do such a thing – even if we were desperate? I don’t think so.
Appears the members of these organizations have been hoodwinked. Would be hard to believe so many could be that stupid unless deductive reasoning is a new super power
Dumb fracks are being chummed by their own kind for a buck
oops….my comment is for your next one below…dumb smart phone…ha
I just found that part so disturbing. They knew they had the horse, they knew they lied to get him and they laughed at her tears while they shipped the horse. What a great bunch of guys!
Suzanne Moore:
Pet or not…anyone that steals…unless they are Jean Val Jean….is SHIT!!! when they steal for profit.
We need to all put our heads together to come up with a good option to slaughter. Unfortunately until people learn to respect other people, only then will they learn to respect animals and the horror of slaughter and abuse will end. I see abuse in our neighborhood but when called on it they have a good excuse for the cops and you are threatened with harrassment charges.
Enforcement of existing cruelty/neglect laws and stiffer penalties would be a good start, but the PSAs fight those at every turn too.
Yep, they do, and they have deeper pockets than the HSUS backing them up. They know it and we know it. How about Cattleman’s Beef Assn., The Farm Bureau, The Pork Producers, etc. Those were the top three money spenders lobbying to defeat the last legislation that was up to ban horse slaughter.
I guess they are still doing it, in spite of the horse meat scandals abroad. Seems really stupid to me, but then, it seemed stupid to me before.
joani
I know what you mean about calling on abuse
some years back when we lived in our old neighborhood the house behind us went into foreclosure, they left behind 2 dogs-now I kept on eye on them-they did come twice a day and feed and water them for about a month a the they came and got them for good-but in the mean time I noticed they had a koi pond in the back yard-well it went alright for about 2 months and then the filter started to plug up -on day I noticed that one of the fish was dead so I called our city animal services, they came out and unpluged the filter-she told me well we don’t have any rules about fish – had to call animal services 4 to 5 times over the summer they even said they contacted the owners, but nobody wanted to take responsiblity for those poor animals who were stuck in a whole in the ground and could not get out-after my husband who went over there almost every week for the whole summer he said someone was going to have to really get in their and clean that filter and pond if they were going to make it threw the winter-well here in Colorado these ponds are pretty popular and koi fish are pretty expensive(these
fish were about 5 inches already) I figured if no one was going to help them I would-if I would have had a pond I would have taken them myself but I did not so one add on Craigs list for free koi and the rest – well ~~it was better for the fish anyway.
I say Animal Protective Services-My A$$
Big Ag scares the shit out of me. I see them as one big psycho trying to take over. They are forcing people to cut meat out of their diet or to raise or hunt for their own meat. To say that I don’t trust them is a gross understatement. They are really shooting themselves in their collective, greedy, fat foot.
The saddest part is that there are many, many ranchers that are not abusive assholes. They don’t need Ag Gag laws because they aren’t doing shit that they are ashamed of or feel the need to hide from the general public. Anybody at any time can walk into our barn and see our animals and what we’re doing. There isn’t a single thing we are ashamed of. Take pictures even. If you have nothing to hide, you don’t need these ridiculous laws to protect your ass.
My grandparents had a farm when I was growing up. Gestation crates and all of that crap didn’t exist Chickens existed in a chicken yard and roosted in real chicken houses. Hogs were kept in a big, muddy pen. Cows grazed on acres and acres of pasture. They went to a nearby slaughterhouse, hauled there by my Grandfather and my uncle. Sometimes they were slaughtered on the farm, if the animal was for us. It wasn’t considered funny and jokes weren’t made about the business of slaughtering. It was a somewhat somber process. We didn’t name the animals that were slated for slaughter, actually, it was the opposite. If it had a name, it wasn’t going on a plate. This was the case with my aunt’s pig, Phoebe. My grandmother had hens that were her favorites and had names. They didn’t go on a plate. I remember my grandmother taking such good care of those chickens. She made little nesting boxes for them and they were affixed to the side of the chicken houses. The chicken houses were not the kind you see today, but more like little clapboard houses around the chicken yard. I know there are still people around with those good, farm ethics. Good, honest farmers/ranchers never make the news. It’s always the assholes we hear about who wouldn’t measure up to what a real farmer/rancher is in my eyes, or yours.
I care what “you” eat when, in reality “you” (the consumer) are lied to and taxpayers are paying for the lie at the cost of our food production reputation.
As to GAO….ummmmm, Congress twats (sorry, dicks) pay attention to it as an excuse…not just idiot PSAs and it is more like PSAs stomping their cloven hooves.
And folks ought to watch Gasland 2 (II…HBO)…discusses wild equines (briefly)…but the real reason they are being wiped out. Bad news folks…really bad.
Gotta love the Shedhoe and her lies about others. REALLY?? Is that the best way you know how to make yourself feel better? GROW UP! Its NEVER RIGHT to make yourself look better by putting others down or lying about them.
Really? What part did I lie about? Proof?
Ooh hit a nerve again did ya SrC?
I seem to be good at that lately!
Shedrow , you especially you and your supporters , disgrace any true Anti, you lies and slander are shameful, your judgmental attitude is disgusting,. you are doing nothing to hep any horse with theses blogs all you do is alienate people, maybe you should put your efforts into adopting a couple hundred horses , you and your followers, all of you put your money where your mouth is. Better yet shut your pathetic mouth
Ahhh, I wondered with Ms. Olivas would pay us a visit. You may well be next as a feature on this blog for all the lies and misinformation you have been spouting. As for my money and where I put it, you really have no clue at all. Why don’t you and your ilk stop creating these problems and expecting everybody else to clean them up. You want to eat a horse? Eat your own.
We’ve been adoptng them as fast as we can!!
Is this Daffy in disguise again?
No, she is still blocked
Hey who do you think takes in all these horses? I have personally. I also help to rehome horses. More than you ever will cause you are too busy saying kill them.
A few pros may actually try to rescue some but the majority only take in the so and so lines just to breed them then off to the slaughter house if someone doesn’t pay what the breeder wants. Had that happen to me once trying to buy a horse from them that wasn’t worth what they wanted.
Brenda no this is not Daphane it is a different loon from the pro side.
What lies? I haven’t seen any lies here. I suppose you haven’t noticed that SRC backs-up what is said with links to documentation.
As for US, we’re dong our part just by taking full responsibility for the horses we decided to purchase. If everyone did that, there would be no problem. Of course, we all know that you lie about the mountains of abandoned horses that their owners couldn’t take to slaughter – wait a minute! They COULD have taken them to slaughter if they wanted to. Wonder why they didn’t take advantage of the ever present “slaughter option?”
Hmmm…. A year or so ago there were two separate stories in the paper about two different couples who had abandoned their horses. When the authorities caught up with them – and they did – BOTH couples said they turned their horses loose because they were afraid if they sold them they would end up being slaughtered. Maybe that’s why all the people you guys are always babbling about abandoned their horses, ya think?
The real irony of this story is that, if these people had only checked around a little bit, they could have given their horses to the same rescue that the cops gave their horses to when they found them abandoned. Really sad.
They were likely afraid to do that too with all the rescue trashing the PSAs do as well. Not to mention the faux rescues that support slaughter. I know some people that hang onto horses too long because they are too afraid to run them through sales because a kill buyer might get them. They’d be happy to give the horse up cheap to a kid or a family that could look after it, but instead they have to worry about kill buyers posing as regular buyers if they advertise and then the sort of sales that are a haven for kbs.
Wow haven’t been here in a while…still take a few of the PSA descriptions a bit personally, but oh well. Any of you on here that know me also know I’m PSA…but I actually have nothing to say in regards to slaughter today. You start out stating you’re tired of reading the same old info…well, you keep writing the same old thing…I haven’t backed either side in any form other than opinion, and it wouldn’t take much to sway me to ASA, but nobody has the time to present real solutions. So I choose neither. I have my horses, I will just care for them and go on merry little way and add my resources once I find solutions I believe in. 😦
Lots of solutions have been given, it’s just that PSAs aren’t listening or they block them. People are concerned with abuse and neglect, yet when laws are introduced to have stiffer penalties, Puppymill Patterson and her ilk block them. When neglect and abuse laws are enforced, you can enter The United Horseturds to rally support and try and block that too. It’s a stalemate, so while you care for your horses, the rest of us will continue to fight for an end to this threat to all horses.
I’m sorry, I Re-read what I wrote and I came off kinda snotty…my bad! Yes I agree many possible solutions have been presented, and none are perfect (from either side). I guess my biggest problem is that for every one legit rescue I find 20 that are retardiculous and it pisses me off. I’m not a “kill them all” person, but I also don’t think it’s fair to have a save them all mentality either. Sometimes the rainbow bridge is the best choice for the horse, and yes I’m speaking of a humane path. Shed, you have access to my email as a poster here…would you possibly be able to send me information about NON RADICAL Asa groups in my area? Thank you, I’m pretty much picking a side that I see has the potential to do the most good.
I’m not sure of what your `area’ is and I don’t know of all groups everywhere. Equine Welfare Alliance, Animal Law Coalition, are good places to start though.
I guess another way to frame this issue is that only 1% of horses go to slaughter at most. I think if slaughter is not an option on any level, we can absorb those 1%. Let’s not forget that just because somebody abuses and neglects a horse does not mean it’s only because there is no slaughter available. In fact, it rarely is. People abused and neglected horses when there was slaughter here and they will continue to do so for all time. We need tougher laws and we need them enforced. That is the real solution to horse welfare concerns. My suggestion is that if you don’t like a certain rescue, don’t support them. There are many, many, good ones out there. The problem is they bad ones get all the attention. Kinda like what happens with PSAs. I also don’t think more rescues is the ultimate answer. I am perfectly fine for humane euthanasia and I believe it would be far cheaper to subsidize that than for the public to fund inspections and all the other costs associated with having slaughter back. I would even be ok if veterinarians adjusted costs on other things, so that they could offer gelding and euthanasia at a reasonable rate. Even if they don’t do this, the cost of euthanasia and disposal at a land fill generally is about the same as it costs to keep a horse for a month or two. I don’t know about anybody else, but my vet just sends me a bill at the end of the month. I don’t have to have the cash in my pocket to get him to come to the farm. What difference does it make to pay that bill or buy the extra feed had the horse lived? I’m not as callous as I seem as I will generally go to extreme lengths for my own animals and they aren’t disposed of in landfills or render plants, but I also don’t expect anybody else to pay the cost of cremation or burial. What happens after death is of no consequence to the animal, but right up until that moment, it’s a big concern of mine and standing on a kill lot waiting to die is not a good end for a horse, not to mention what goes on in the actual kill box.
When something is true, you can’t change it. What solutions do you want other than rescues, hay banks, free gelding clinics, free euthanasia clinics, grants for horse owners, rescue-in-place, and new stuff coming along almost every day? Why don’t you check things out for yourself? If you did, you would find out that there are many solutions.
You remind me of the people I just posted about. They abandoned their horses because they were afraid to sell them for fear they would go to slaughter – right there is an abandonment CAUSED by slaughter, and these aren’t the only ones that have done that. The real irony is that, if they had just made a few calls, they would have known there was a rescue nearby that would take their horses – the same rescue that DID take their horses – when the cops brought them in after they found them wandering.
Find thing out for yourself, for heaven’s sake! Do you expect them to come and knock on your door?