If anything, this whole pro and anti slaughter business has been a fascinating look into human nature. Sometimes fascinating is a good thing, like a double rainbow after a violent storm, and then there are the times fascinating is like a really horrific train wreck. I’m sorry to say, but lately it’s been all train wreck and some of our antis are have been on that train. None of us were thrilled to see the news come out that the slaughter-house in Iowa was poised to open its doors in a few short weeks. Not a single one of us on the anti side. However, the panic and histrionics that have erupted have been nothing short of astonishing. I did expect a lot of upset at the news earlier this week. That isn’t surprising. However, the defeatist attitude I’ve seen is a bit surprising.
The biggest thing that irritates me lately is when I see people say `Well, I’m anti, but I don’t see any other way’. Oh really? Has anybody considered the amount of dollars and man hours that it has and continues to take to stop this horse slaughter thing once and for all? All money and time that could be spent working towards the welfare of all horses. Anybody that owns a horse is responsible for caring for that animal adequately. That has never changed and it’s not going to change. However, we’ve had a problem enforcing existing neglect and abuse laws. When animal welfare people attempt to put stricter laws in place, the slaughterphiles work to strike them down. It doesn’t serve them to see a reduction in abuse and neglect. They would have you believe that abuse and neglect has become rampant since the cessation of domestic slaughter. That is a complete and utter falsehood (http://www.equinewelfarealliance.org/uploads/Study_of_Equine_Abuse.pdf). To say that lack of slaughter is the sole cause of neglect and abuse is to assume that every single person that neglects and abuses an animal only does so because they don’t have a friendly neighborhood slaughter-house. Slaughter has ALWAYS been an option and I suggest that if you’re the type of person that neglects and abuses animals, then you probably aren’t overly concerned with how long they may or may not have to stand in a trailer to get there. Besides, how many of the more vocal PSAs have we seen with skinny or even emaciated horses? Why didn’t they ship them before it got so bad? Dorothy Robertson, owner of the two mares pictured below, was busted for neglect and abuse BEFORE slaughter ended in this country as well as after. Nothing changed.
In another display of defeatism, I’ve seen some antis say `Well, at least they won’t have to ship so far to slaughter’. I guess that means that y’all think that all those horses maimed and injured during transport only get hurt during the last hundred miles of a long journey. Actually, most horses are injured during loading and in the initial stages of the journey when they are unsettled. The rowdy stud colt will likely have his eye poked out before or right after he gets on that trailer and most of the kicking and scrambling, aside from when a horse falls, occurs while they are jostling for position upon loading. They are still going to have horrible transport conditions and they are still going to be horribly injured whether they are shipping 100 miles or 500 miles. Think about it!
Maybe not so many antis, but I see a lot of remarks about the horse market recovering with slaughter coming back. I guess those 100 or so jobs are really going to boost the economy. Otherwise, I don’t see the prices changing a whole bunch immediately, especially given the fact that kill buyers have continued to haunt overnight sales without interruption during the past six years. What you absolutely will see more of is theft and deception. We’ve all seen those Craigslist Ads where a horse owner says that if they don’t get their price by such and such date, the animal will be shipped. Well, get ready to see a whole bunch more and get ready for more kill buyers trolling ads and lying their ass off to get free or dirt cheap horses. The good news is that the prices of quality horses have alreadyrecovered slightly along with the economy (http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/79438/average-up-at-fasig-tipton-kentucky-july). I guess the next thing we can expect to hear them all whining about is the lack of backyard breeding means the poor 4H kids have no horses to ride. Although, I saw one of the PSA brainiacs suggest that 4H kids slaughter their horses at the end of the year too, so we all know how far removed from reality they actually are.
I guess the main thing I want to take my anti brothers and sisters to task for is giving up all together. It’s NOT over. The announcement of the August 5th opening of Responsible Transportation LLC, is not written in stone. They still have a rather hard fought battle in court on August 2nd and their victory dance may be premature as always. The EU deadline of July 31st is very real and that will shut the doors to the export of horse meat to the European Union. Period. There is no possible way they can be in compliance despite Olivier Kemseke’s efforts to get `excluded’ animals allowed into the food system. Also, both the House and Senate committees have voted to defund inspections for horse slaughter (http://animallawcoalition.com/will-congress-reinstate-the-defunding-of-horse-inspections/), as well as the USDA has renewed their request for a ban. This is in addition to introduction of the SAFE Act (https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/113/s541). All of these things need all the support we can give them. I don’t know about you, but I think those are some fairly big hurdles in the way of them getting the plants open. However, that isn’t to say that Slaughterhouse Sue and her minions don’t have tricks up their own voluminous sleeves. With the way things have shaken out, it would appear that Iowa was always the `target’ for their flagship slaughter operation. After all, Iowa is home to Crazyass Steve King, who basically hates all things animal, female or living for that matter. You can read all about his hatefulness right here: (https://shedrowconfessions.wordpress.com/2012/08/01/slaughterhouse-sue-finds-her-soulmate/). Iowa also has fairly strict Ag Gag laws so that any monitoring or attempt to expose abuse and mishandling in that slaughter plant will be difficult. I guess even though the slaughterphiles love to throw Temple Grandin’s name around, they won’t be acting on her recommendation to have third-party video monitoring of the slaughter process to ensure compliance with humane standards. Dead horses don’t talk anyhow; especially not the ones that have been butchered.
I’m sorry for bitching at `my own’ today. I’m also sorry I sound like a broken record, but things are very serious. There isn’t a lot of point spending hours and hours arguing online with die-hard PSAs. They aren’t going to change their minds. What you can do is educate those people that haven’t ever considered horse slaughter or what it means. Educate them with the truth and realities of horse slaughter. How about writing a letter to your local paper? More importantly, continue to call your state reps and the president’s office. Here is a link to the ASPCA’s page where you just have to plug in your zip code to get your emails to the right people: (http://stage.capwiz.com/aspca/issues/alert/?alertid=62752306&type=CO) Even if you’ve done it before, do it again. Make your voice heard and make it count. Today is not the 5th of August and neither is tomorrow. Hell, it’s not even next week. The only thing that has changed is there is an identified date that we have all known was coming. Guess what? It’s not over yet.
I got no words (for a change!) just a big-ass smiley face grin, all bucked up.
Why the big-ass smiley face grin, Lisa? Are you a PSA, or do you know something good?
Lisa is Anti. She’s staying positive.
Good to know!
WE are not giving up! WE will never give up! WE will call and cal and call.
If WE do not reach our goals, WE will not change our goals, WE will change our actions. One way or another, one day or another,
If necessary, WE will change our calls for flaming pitchforks.
WE will End Horse Slaughter Forever!
Me, too. All bucked up!
BTW – It is time to call Frank Lucas OK-3, Chairman of the Agriculture Committee while still calling Chairman Crawford and the other members of the Sub-Committee asking them to move H. R. 1094 to the floor. You might want to call the Vice-Chair, Bob Goodlatte VA-6 and Ranking Member, Colin Peterson MN-7. Use the capitol number.
Nope, not giving up. If I was a quitter I’d probably not be smoking a butt with my cup of java right now… I appreciate this because A. I’ve told people the same thing a million times. The pro vs. anti pages are dumb. A huge ass waste of time that just annoys the shit out of decent people and makes them feel defeated while the eaters get their jollies, dumb. The gluttons for punishment can’t help themselves though, I guess. B. We need to keep it in perspective… Our horses have never stopped being slaughtered. It’s not like it’s been over and now it’s starting up again. August, December next year or not ever in the US, if they’re being slaughtered in Iowa, well, oh well, if not there it’ll be Canada or Mexico – business as usual. It’s a proven fact that it makes no difference where they do it, it’s that they’re doing it and unless we can end it and close the borders we haven’t won or lost anything. It ain’t over til it’s ALL over! C. I almost want them to open a couple slaughterhouses here, what better way to prove they’re full of shit and that it’s really that bad and no good will come from it than seeing no change in the market and no change in the state of welfare even with a couple slaughterhouses up and running? Do you really think that something that’s been happening all along will change anything if it keeps happening?? I don’t believe it can. Of course, when we close them down the next time, we’ll make sure the borders are included… We’re poised, right now, to shove the SAFE Act through. The USDA is begging Washington to do something to prevent their waste of time and money, the President has asked Congress to defund, Congress has done just that if they can manage to come in off their summer breaks long enough to get anything at all done, maybe it’ll be passing the appropriations bills that the committees approved along to the prez for his John Hancock. I hope everyone can peel themselves away from facebook long enough to make some phone calls today. Push, push, push. When the horse gives, you take away the pressure, not before!! Right now, this horse is being a little obstinate so we must calmly keep the pressure on. Giddy up!!
Shedrow, I can’t thank you ENOUGH for the “shot in the arm” I needed today! I’ve always been a STRONG Anti-advocate. I’ve never had one of your above-mentioned opinions (necessary evil, travel, etc.); but sometimes I feel “tired” of fighting, climbing uphill, searching for hope and experiencing roller-coaster emotions. However, every time I’ve felt “overburdened” I have been able to reach out to a true horse-LOVER or look WAY DEEP inside of me to find the energy necessary to make the calls again and send the emails again and beg my friends again to do the same.
THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!!! THANK YOU!!!!
Well, just go back and read about how MANY dates have been set when they “expect” to open. I distinctly remember when April was when they would open. But, they did not. They blow a lot of hot air, but in the end, it all amounts to nothing.
Everyone should subscribe to the newsletter from the Equine Welfare Alliance. They – er, we, cuz I’m a member – are movers and shakers.
Read their latest newsletter here: Hint – it WILL cheer you up 🙂
http://myemail.constantcontact.com/2012-07-18-So–you-want-to-know-what-s-been-going-on–huh-.html?soid=1103281455502&aid=Rgnooa1dJwQ
It’s not over until all borders in the U.S. are blocked. Even then, there is much work to do. California was on the right track in ’99 with the passing of Prop 6, but without a total U.S. ban/enforcement, humane equine solutions cannot grow/prosper to the benefit of all equines. It is imperative that the S.A.F.E. Act be passed and enforced. States passing their own no transport laws will double that protection and further lock down/lock out this horrific irresponsible business.
There are humane responsible equine solutions that will provide thousands of jobs which Americans would be proud to hold. Those approximate 100 jobs that might be generated by horse slaughter plants were reported to be shrouded in secrecy, excessive employee turnover, unsafe conditions and the direct opposite of the word “proud”.
Think the horse training method applies …..
~ make the right answer easy and the wrong one hard ~
I haven’t given up 😉
I’m not a quitter, especially on this issue. The sad fact is that the likes of Bob Goodlatte and Steve King and even the ex-Florida Veterinarian, Ted Yoho, are serving on the House committee and several avowed PSA’s on the Senate committee and they will stop at nothing to block the SAFE Act and the defunding of inspectors.
But, there is MUCH more awareness about this issue in Congress than there has ever been before. Even IF the plants do open – an extremely depressing thing to have happen – it doesn’t CHANGE anything!
Keep swinging!
I can’t imagine anyone who is truly passionate about horses and their welfare being intimidated nor discouraged right now. After all we have been through already and knowing how far we’ve come, why in the hell would anyone feel defeated!?! We haven’t achieved our goals yet so, it’s business as usual with even more determination and drive. What do you do near the end of the race-quit? NO, YOU SPRINT!!! We are the strong, the ethical, the caring, the passionate, the intelligent and factually informed. We are horse lovers/advocates and we will never quit caring and we will never quit fighting until we achieve our final destination. Just imagine the day when that happens………….
Not giving up but the House I believe passed SAFE Act. The Senate now has to act. How in the freak do we get around Harry Reid who has stonewalled any equine protection?
My Senator actually sits on the committee to fund DOI. When I’ve written them before I get the form letter that says thank you and I will keep your thoughts in mind. Just another snow job in Washington.
I won’t stop. I’m going to a rally tomorrow in hopes we can get shelter for the wild horses in Nevada. Will BLM listen? Most likely not. But if we can get enough noise going and enough people to start calling maybe those in charge will try something new.
And here’s a little tidbit. We know how dry Nevada is. And I most certainly do seeing as how I have just driven through the state twice in the past two weeks. Yet BLM wants to use the most precious commodity known to man WATER to spray the pens where the horses are kept. Don’t get me wrong. I applaud the idea that a first step was taken. But I don’t understand where all this water is coming from. And BLM is trucking thousands of gallons to the horses all over the state.
Where is this water coming from? Would it honestly not be more conservative to get the horses shelter and save that water for drinking or trucking it elsewhere?
I implore the BLM to try to get a big shelter erected for one pen or even two for the larger pens. Just one pen as a trial. Let’s see if the horses use it or kick it down. If they fight as the BLM says they will. Just one pen. And then let’s committ to go from there.
We should also be asking for plywood to be put on the sides of pens to act as a windbreak. Winter is coming–obviously still a few months off. But these horses stand in the bottom of a valley that gusts wind, rain and snow. Truly miserable conditions. These horses have no way out of the elements.
These conditions are all against BLM’s very own adoption policy. They can’t and won’t live to setting the example.
Margaret, I share your frustration with the BLM. And Harry Reid is not to be trusted when it comes to anything horse. He was the driving force behind the Burns Amendment. 😦
No, the House hasn’t passed the SAFE Act.
I feel tired but knew this day would come and the fight would get even harder. I’m mortified that they want to sprout plants all over the effing place. It never seems to stop. I’m dumbfounded at the sheer ignorance, the idiotic business plans and the waste of money. All this dough would be better spent on more stringent laws for animal abuse and neglect, oh but wait, no one gets rich doing the right thing.
I am no quitter period! They want a battle well they got one!
Well the pro side can show dollars. Whats the anti side got that will trump the all mighty dollar? Slaughter is not about killing horses. Well to the antis it is. But to the Pros its about lining that ole pocket book. With slaughter that will generate jobs and and and. Well anyways thats about all I got right now. Its all about the money. Its always about the money. I can see how the Pros won this one. I still dont see how the antis are gonna pull this off. How can you take something with no value and make it profitable? Its sad to say but the pros are going to make slaughter profitable.
Sorry it sounds like you are giving in to the Pro side, that is your choice but if you think the rest of us will quit fighting until it is gone forever no matter how long it takes then you don’t know a fighter when you see one.
Profitable? I suppose you think killing the dogs and cats will be too. You know that is next on Wallis’ list to be rich. Sorry they will find out it isn’t so easy to sell horsemeat now as it used to be. More people are getting educated.
Profitable for whom? Certainly not the communities that hose these facilities. Certainly not the people that live near to one of these horror houses. It’s already been discussed over and over about the fact that most of the workers will be minimum wage and many won’t be the sort of people that you want living in your town. Don’t believe me? Why don’t you plug in `Sinclair Hypothesis’ to the search engine here or even google it.
The pro side can show pipe dreams and lies about $$$, the antis can show where the actual dollars are now and where they won’t be after slaughter reopens. The only people going to profit from slaughter are a very few and many of those people will be foreign and not even pay taxes here. The same taxes that will fund those inspections that are now taken out of the same budget your beef, pork, poultry. etc. etc. use for their inspections. You know, the stuff that people over here actually do eat.
The pros haven’t won ANYTHING!
Horse Warrior I am not giving in to the pro side. The antis plan would be more work and less pay. The pro side showed Money. I dont judge anyone on what side of the fence they stand on. I dont think slaughter is the answer. I just wonder, this may be a little far fetched, but if one was to get the government on board to allow horse owners the option of slaughter or not by micro chipping. Than you can chip and record with a Anti slaughter database and your horse will be safe guarded. And for every recorded chip that did go to kill. attach a hefty fine of $5,000 or more. With all the technology now a a days. I am sure something can be set up. And all horses will be traceable via micro chip. Thats my thought on it.
Slaughterhouse Sue floated a similar idea except she wanted people to pay her to keep their horses out of the slaughter pipeline. Ransom? Also, say I am a legitimate breeder and I microchip all my babies before I sell them. What happens if the next owner wants to slaughter that horse? They own it, they should be able to, right? It’s a logistical nightmare. That’s assuming that all slaughter-houses will be ethical and check for those chips, which we already know they won’t since they accept horses that have had their brands freshly cut out or altered. they don’t don’t care as long as they fill a quota and all the identifying features of that horse, chip or brand are pretty quickly disposed of once the horse is on the kill floor.
None of my horses will ever go to slaughter. I can guarantee them that. They aren’t at risk at all. However, I don’t think slaughter is good enough for ANY horse. Just because I don’t know them doesn’t make them feel any less or any less afraid. Hell, it might make it more horrifying for the unhandled horse than the ones that are used to shipping around to different places and being handled a lot. It’s a barbaric and cruel practice and no, it’s not appropriate for ANY horse. We have cruelty laws on the books, yet we legalize something that is completely abusive and cruel. It doesn’t make sense.
Then we need to find a way to make it happen and make the plants look for it but chips don’t always read right. I think a national brand would be better or tattoo. Stopping it before it happens is best. There is one group who has a NO SLAUGHTER brand but it isn’t used much nowdays since the Microchip
http://www.igha.org/brn_link.html
I wasn’t sure exactly if you were giving in by the way you wrote. I see you were just thinking now.
Fines uh oh, Rockville had major fines but for $5000 they settled so fines are not the answer but can be applied but they have to make sure they PAY that fine in full in order for it to work.
We have to put our heads together, look to a anti slaughter person who is in the tracking business *hey maybe GPS I would love this for my horse, a lowjack kind of thing LOL and make sure it is checked at the plant period.
Sure they may make money in the first few months but slowly that fades away and since they don’t have a realistic market I would say they would be kaboom in no time and we as taxpayer have to make sure they don’t get assistance for it nor help should it wind up another Kaufman TX.
It isn’t just money they have it is political power, Wallis has done so many backdoor deals it is hard to find someone just as low down on our side.
The answer will show itself at some point we have to keep looking 🙂
Sounds to me like you’re both giving in. Why is slaughter ok for any horse? If I thought that, I would have no problem with my own going. That’s a typical PSA stance…`I would never slaughter my own but it’s ok for `others’. Are you really ok with the shipping, the standing around on a crowded lot for weeks and weeks and then the final result of getting shot in the face after they have slipped around on a bloody floor and maybe fallen a few times? That’s if they get lucky enough to go down on the first shot, which we all know they don’t usually. Seriously? You’re ok with that for any horse?
NO Shed, I am sure as hell NOT, I am trying to get people to think of a way we can mark our horses that we can ENFORCE the plants to look for. This has been as serious issue in the past plants SrC. I am almost panicked as to how to protect my horses from thieves and the hell houses.
I was also relating to them thinking this will be a big money maker for years to come. Please re-read it.
I saw where she was thinking basically out loud, trying to find the answers. But if she thinks that it is okay in any form she is dead wrong in my book.
I don’t write as well as you do, so don’t mistake what I write as turning towards the Pro side but as someone who has to bring up what has to be fixed to stop horses from being put in there should they get this going. This is something owners have to talk about. She had mentioned chipping and I explained what I have been told and read about it is all.
Don’t ever call me a Pro them’s fighting words LOL
Do you really think a microchip will protect horses? A brand that can be SEEN doesn’t work, and ignoring a microchip will be even easier. Believe me, it would not help. The horses they steal are already slaughtered before their owners ever even realize they are missing. The slaughter plants will NOT check a database to see if your horse is on the no-call list! They will take that chip out and toss it in the trash in five minutes. We’re not talking about law-abiding people here. Sure, the horses CAN be tracked, but that sure doesn’t mean they WILL be tracked.
I know from experience.
Not to mention those stolen horses are the first to be run through.
Like I said they would have to enforce it and as you said they don’t, fines are a huge joke to the plants and KB’s
Shedrow Anti is moral, Pro is money. Its moral over money. That doesnt make it any more OK. But they fact is Americans are driven by money not by donations. I am all for ending slaughter. But HOW? If Pro can show a profit what can the antis show? Other than donations.
that’s why we educate. the majority of the population find it distasteful and wrong. The ones that are swayed by money need to know where the money is going and it isn’t staying in this country.
My question is… where is all the money to lobby for these slaughter facilities coming from? Certainly not the yahoo pro-slaughter folks, most of which don’t have two nickels to rub together. And I can’t imagine the pork and beef industries are too keen about another competitor in the meat industry. There must be some PAC that is driving these legislators to support horse slaughter, despite the overwhelming majority of Americans being against it. I think we (anti-slaughter advocates) are missing a piece of the puzzle here. Shedrow, I am afraid you may be right — Sneaky Sue has somethig up her oversized sleeve.
I believe a lot of the money is coming from overseas. From the same interests that stand to profit the most from horse slaughter. IEBA is admittedly broke, that doesn’t mean that the companies that will buy that meat are. We already know that in the case of Rockville, Chevideco was willing to step in once they were up and running. They want turn key operations without the grief of red tape and set up. Probably not a bunch different here given how vague Keaton Walker was about his customers and financing. He indicate he went door to door for `some’ of the financing, which is a load of crap.
That pisses me off, too. If these overseas fatasses want to eat horse, they need to raise their own and stay the fuck away from our country. People like $ue Walli$ & Douchebag no-dick, are not typical, right thinking, Americans. They are the type of Americans that most of us would like for them to LEAVE and take up citizenship in some country that doesn’t give a shit about the welfare of animals. Here’s the other thing. I live in the south and PSA’s like to spread the lie that southerners support horse slaughter. Well, I’m finding more and more southern farmers who are HIGHLY opposed to it. Why? They don’t want beef supplies compromised for one thing; for another, I keep hearing “horses are too smart to slaughter.” This comes from farmers. Good farmers who are not in the pockets of big ag and who think Jack Kingston and Steven King are “money hounds” pushing an agenda simply because it lines their pockets with blood money. Now I’m double pissed.
I can attest that the dirty south is definitely not pro… 😉
Ditto!
A lot of money comes from Big Ag, especially the cattle producers and their orgs.
The Sheep, cattle and pork industries have all donated significant amounts of $ to Jack Kingston to be their butt buddy. He’s their bitch.
Strange move considering how much horse slaughter will hurt their own bottom lines.
I’m not giving up, nor have I ever even entertained the idea of giving up. I know we are going to win. I don’t know how I know, I just know. It’s going to be a long hard battle (it already has been) but I’m not so tired that I need to stop. Fight and advocate I will, for as long as it takes.
I’m just waiting to see if the EU holds to their new rules. If so game over! If they follow their new rules then the market for American horses will be very small and will not survive. Despite what one of the slaughterhouse guys says I do not believe that zoos or pet food makers will ever use horse meat again unless the horses are proven to be organic. Not likely to happen in the near future.
I had a brief conversation with my farrier on this slaughter subject. Her comment like so many others was good! They won’t have to haul so far. I was shocked at her response considering the fact that she also is involved in dog and cat rescue. After asking her if she had seen video on on this subject and my description of the horrors of the proceedure she agreed. 1 down, many to go. I post some things on facebook concerning this subject and there are alot of my horsefriends on that site too. Sadly, I don’t get any response. I think they all want to look at cute pictures of puppies,kittens and babies. One friend who I ride on trail regularly with won’t look at any articles,or pictures on the subject. It seems not too many want to acknowledge this activity. I will keep posting, talking, and hoping for a positive outcome.
I experience this same “head in the sand” attitude Michelle. People SAY they care…but yet, won’t act on that “care”. What’s up with that?
I would call that a really good start at educating people. No response isn’t always the worst thing as the die-hard PSAs love to argue and fight about it until you just give up to shut them up. As for your farrier, that’s a job well done. I want to tear my hair out every time I hear that `shorter trip’ excuse. Like I said, the distance they travel is the least of their suffering when it has to do with the slaughter process.
If they look at what happened at the horses hauled to the US plants then they would see it don’t matter period they still suffer in hauling, holding and kill box.
I gave a 16 yo kid a lesson he won’t soon forget and no he doesn’t come with my farrier anymore I think my farrier knew I would knock him a good one next time.
I’m pretty quick to dismiss any `Pro’ type that comes to do any horse relate work for me as well. Not rude about it, just choose to work with people that feel the same way I do. Easier to stay on the same page that way.
I pray and fervently hope that truth will prevail. SURELY, it will overcome all the lies the pro slaughter mongers want to spin. I for one, will NEVER believe to butcher them is better for them. HOW could it be??? Just can’t adopt that attitude. No matter what the outcome.
So true.
And, what about the BUTE? US Horses are too toxic to eat, everybody knows that. We know BUTE’s metabolites are tricky; toxic or lethal doses for humans are all over the place.
Even if a person is so soulless as to be able to look into the eye of a horse and slap a USDA sticker on them, boggles the mind to use the food supply as a disposal service.
The old ways are dying off. With clean air, clean water people (for the most part) are changing their ways about using the rivers and skies to dump industrial waste. In some cases, because public outcry led to legislation that held polluters feet to the fire.
Why should children’s lunch programs and frozen dinners be anything different?
Sometimes, in all reality this issue isn’t about right, wrong, dirty meat, cruelty….it’s about THEM! They care about the people that are like them and cloak themselves in stubbornness, ignorance, stupidity, greed, prehistoric thinking and essentially, protecting themselves. The “circle the wagons” mentality.
Anyone that doesn’t think like them, look like them, fuck like them and the phoney salute the flag regardless rhetoric is the enemy.
I personally take great joy in annoying $uey, Douche, Cantor, Goodlatte, (pick your idiot or lieing/denying piece of bought political shit).
These turds hate it when you show up, pick up the phone, send an email, etc.
Great post!
Never give up!!! Unite and we can make a difference 🙂
Oh, hell no, I’m not giving up. Isn’t there a hearing on August 2nd? Prior to the August 5th “opening” of the horse butchery plant? What about water treatment and waste? Has the environmental protection agency had their say? They should. An incredible amount of precious water is WASTED in slaughter plants. I do know that I will no longer eat beef if this should come to pass. We should all stop. I believe a lot of people on the verge of going vegan will get the push they need if horses are slaughtered on American soil for human consumption. Anyone who says “I’m anti but I see no other way.” Is not really anti. If you see no other way, you are a pro who acts like they kind of care. “At least they won’t have to travel so far.” Tell this to the horse you’re slapping on the slaughter truck….”Hey, buddy, it’s only a five hour trailer drive, at least, before you get to the slaughter house, where you can wait in the kill pen, smelling death and knowing you’re next.” That “It’s not so long of a trailer ride” bullshit, is JUST bullshit. In fact, maybe on a longer trailer ride, the horse would have time to die of an embolism, or a heart attack and not have to go through slaughter at all. If we’re going to be ridiculous, let’s just be ridiculous all the way around. What about the Moran Amendment & the 2014 budget that defunds horse meat inspections? Over? Awww, hell naw. I’m calling Washington AGAIN tomorrow & my rep. Also, in my state, I hope that people start campaigning against Jack the ass Kingston who wants to run for the Georgia senate.
I believe it is only New Mexico that has to go through the public hearing about water/waste etc. I’m not sure of the status of Iowa and their permits, but it would seem they feel they are ready to roll should they be successful on the 2nd. It gets confusing as the lawsuits about environmental hazards were all consolidated to New Mexico courts from what I can gather from this mess. I do know that if you are anti and need to sell a horse, I wouldn’t be doing it next week within a few hundred miles of any of these plants as they’ll be looking to gather a bunch right away aside from what they already likely have stockpiled on feedlots. It’s horrible to comprehend, but it’s not over.
I am tired, ain’t gonna lie. I don’t see suggestions on how to stop this, just words of emotional content against it. What is needed is organization. I have not seen that since I started in 2010. I see good folks that want to help and are willing to give their voices to help, donate time and money, sign a million petitions, do whatever is needed to get this stopped. Everything I have read here and in comments is constantly argued, agreed upon, argued again, agreed upon, etc. by the same people, not different voices. Why not come up with ideas to get this out to to the general public that still have no clue about this horrible issue of animal abuse? I for one, think that a FB and/or G+ page (demos are ages 18 to 30), listing investigative reporters email addresses, in every State, then every county would be helpful, along with those resources and some accountability of advocates stating who was contacted, when, and what was said, who was alerted I feel would be a great start. Send a general message to everyone that joins (ask them to put on their notifications for that group, page, etc.) Follow up is also crucial. So target one investigative report and hammer them until they do a story. Get 100 people emailing, calling that one reporter, you put the heat on until we are heard and a story is forthcoming. Start this action in the States that are willing to open up to slaughter, and work outwards. Next closest State, etc. You have just seen our govt. move our Wild One’s to OK, and some of you are at least smart enough to know the outcome of that move right? Domestic and Wild Horses/Burros are both at risk for slaughter and it should be a combined concern. Sorry, just have to vent.
I understand what you are saying, but there ARE organized efforts going on all the time. They can’t always tip their hands and let the general public know exactly where they are at as that would be like showing their hand to the PSAs, but they are there and they are working hard. As for the calls and letters, what holds more weight? One call or letter saying that 1000 people are against this or flooding that phone line with individual calls of protest? What will stand out in the mind of that rep more? It’s a case of the squeaky wheel as annoying at that may be. If voices aren’t enough, you have to hit them with the horror of it and SHOW them how it was and how it will be. You have to let them know about horses like Backstreet Bully who entered the food change despite every effort to get him out of it and the slaughter-house in question KNOWING he was full of banned substances. Then you have to show them horses like Clever Allemont and countless others who were pulled from slaughter at the last minute that not only had no business being there,due to their med status, they were WANTED. This is not about old and sick horses. They want your young, healthy, using horses because that’s what they eat. If all those things don’t help them see the light, then maybe the environmental concerns will. You have to hit them where they live. The problem is, it’s really hard for most of us to wrap our minds around what matters to a PSA aside from money.
It’s like a dyke, when you plug one hole, another leak pops up, then you get that one stopped, then another, and another. Over time, like the water leaks, it does wear on the soul. I agree with what you are saying and of course and as an anti against horse racing for the sole reasoning of how these poor animals are bred repeatedly, used up, drugged, abused and then when they cannot get another pound of salt out them, push them into trucks, to be tortured and maimed and then, add insult to injuries, into a even deeper hell hole. For what? A ribbon, a modicom of recognition among their wealthy friends, money they don’t need? It is absolutely unfathomable to me that people will actually go to a racetrack, spend their money to support this cruelty. You may argue that there are responsible owners, yes, and they are few and far between. If it comes to using their wealth as a means of supporting one horse up to 30 years, (and they keep breeding to get that “great” one, how many do you think they can produce in time?) Yeah, it ain’t gonna happen. If race horse owners’ bottom line is affected by a used up horse, trust me they ain’t gonna use their wealth on animals that aren’t giving them respectability (see you can buy that on a racetrack) a steady stream of income, etc.they are more than happy to send them on down the road. There is no honor in this. And there is no honor in supporting it either.
I agree that some in racing may be like that, but they are in the minority. My family has been in racing all my life and are very anti-slaughter. Most are and I can also assure you that most racehorses are better cared for than the backyard ones. Every breed has their assholes that seem to get all the attention, but the ones that quietly work to make things better don’t seem to get much notice. The thoroughbred industry as a whole is anti-slaughter. Many of us are ashamed of our counterparts that make it tough on the rest of us. BTW, my saddle horse has had more drugs and surgery than some of our horses that have been racehorses. We’ve bought horses back and we have some that are pensioned right here. I think you may be a bit harsh on the entire industry when it is the minority that are making it rough on the rest. No other breed association has more regulations and transparency than TBs. No other has more dedicated rescues and rehab programs. Is it perfect? Nope, not by a long shot, but it’s better than it was and it will continue to get better. If the AQHA did half of what the Jockey Club did, we would have a serious reduction in these mythical unwanted horses.
I wonder, out of the 160,000 shipped to slaughter, how many were racehorses? It would be interesting to know.
I’m sure that stat is available. Sadly, due to their tattoos racehorses are quite easy to identify. Backyard bred horses aren’t quite so easy to gather the stats on as they carry no tattoo or other identifying mark as to their origins.
EponaSpirit:
Does it really matter what the percentage sent to horrific death, poisoning humans is? One is too many, no matter breed or service; and be careful about the term “racehorse”….there are other breeds that fuel the “racehorse” categories. (Appendix, Arabians) and there are breeding horses that are JC registered that never raced a day in their life and ship to slaughter.
But to answer your questions….call the USDA; they finger fuck the guesses as to breed, etc for their CRAP data collection reporting requirement. Other people extrapolate birth and census data by Fed and state agencies…not that I really think you want the answer.
And no, it would not be interesting to know because estimates by breed already exist and any equine’s slaughter death is just as relevant and just as disgusting, regardless of breed.
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