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Forgot to add - and isn't both PETA and humane department the largest euthenizers of these cats/dogs in the US?

posted 3 years, 10 months ago
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That's why I agree with the lady from the horse farm.  She' advocating giving lots of different options.  Breeding controls are also a great way.  But it still doesn't address the problem of too many horses now - or what to do with feral horses (yes - also different issues)

posted 3 years, 10 months ago
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While I love horses - I have eaten horse - in Italy.  While on the farms in rural areas there - it was my impression that it is a relatively common practice when the horse reaches the end of its life.

I don't agree with your representative from the human department on a couple points - but mostly in his comparison of horses in the same category as pets.  Horses haven't been traditionally companion animals in the same way that a cat or dog have been.  Traditionally, they were companion *work* animals that helped us settle the US.  Growing up on a midwest farm, my memories are of horses was as work and transportation animals - as well as great animals.  But they were not the same exactly the same as a dog/cat - even traditionally.

Also, I don't agree with him that just because there isn't an adequate infrastructure now, or that cities like Kaufman ran into trouble because of poor waste practices, is an argument against allowing slaughter as an option.  Those horror stories are failure of individual regulatory and owners - not the practice.  I can always find ways in which any system has failed over time due to individual neglegence.

As for slaughter houses, I would argue it's far more likely an animal will get hurt being trucked thousands of miles than just a few hundred.  Also, he discounts the fact that we *can* create these kinds of humane systems.  Does he really believe it's not possible in our modern world for us to properly address the humane concerns and that we're somehow incapable of doing a study and implementing good practices?

Finally, there needs to be a method to handle unwanted animals - especially overpopulated horses or those roaming free/wild as our native Americans are pointing out. When many unwanted animals, or animals with no natural preditors begin to grown in population uncontrollably - then you can end up habitat distruction, disease becomes much more likely - and that spreads in those animals and to other animals (such as what's happening to the wild goat population in eastern oregon).  I was witness to this kind of overpopulation in the midwest with the deer population - and ultimately it was hunting that had to put that in check.

posted 3 years, 10 months ago
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