Rocky Mountain Rider staff writer, Dorinda Troutman, reports on the plans and progress of a four-point management program to deal with unwanted horses in Wyoming.
September 2010 Issue
A new organization in Wyoming — United Organizations of the Horse (UOH) — has developed a four-part, unwanted horse management plan, which includes developing a humane horse slaughter plant. They will utilize a recent Wyoming state law legalizing the slaughter of abandoned, estray, feral or abused horses that come under the jurisdiction of the Wyoming Board of Livestock.
The law allows livestock, including horses, to be sent to slaughter as an alternative to taking animals to auction. The meat would to be inspected by Wyoming State meat inspectors, and sold in-state to institutions or nonprofit organizations for no more than cost; to for-profit entities at market rate; or for pet or zoo animal food.
Sue Wallis, a Wyoming legislator who was a sponsor of the bill that became that law, is also the executive director of UOH.
Wallis says the UOH has discussed plans for a holding yard; suggested possible sites, including one outside of Guernsey, in eastern Wyoming ; and contacted livestock industry consultant Dr. Temple Grandin for guidance with the project.
“We are looking at a holistic approach to the unwanted horse problem. We are looking at the whole industry,” explains Wallis.
“This project will cost millions of dollars, but there is quite a lot of government financial help available from rural development funds, plus money from wealthy private investors in the U.S. horse industry. The plant could be sustained with zoo and pet food meat buyers alone.
“We want to build a state-of-the-art facility — absolutely top-notch — to be used as a model for anyone. The need is so great, and the pent-up demand so huge, that we believe six facilities like this one are needed around the U.S. ”
The Wyoming plan, which has been named the “Unified System of the Horse” by UOH, includes four programs:
- Rescue, rejuvenation and slaughter — which would evaluate and retrain abandoned and donated horses or, for those animals that are unsound, dangerous or unfit, would provide a quick, painless death.
- Equine Assurance Program — ensures meat quality and equine well-being, with a meat health and humane certification program.
- Horses for Humanity — Owner can donate their horse to benefit the needy.
- National Do-Not-Slaughter Registry — allows horse owners to microchip and register horses they do not wish to go to slaughter.
FULL STORY ...
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There is no such thing as "humane slaughter", or a "quick, painless death" for slaughter animals. And how and who is going to decide which animals are able to be retrained and which are unfit? There is no way that a slaughter plant should be reopen in the US. There will be no equine well-being, just like there is no "well-being" for other animals that are being held for slaughter. We have all seen the photos and videos, and if you haven't, take a look on the internet....don't close your eyes and turn your back on this. It is ridiculous to think that animals that are being slaughtered are being treated humanely.
ReplyDeleteNot every detail of the Wyoming slaughter plant was presented here. The triage protocol for deciding which animals can be rehabbed will be put into place by the time the facility is completed. Staffing will be decided by then, as well. Of course, no doubt you've heard of Dr. Temple Grandin, the autistic PhD who is overseeing every aspect of this facility, whose mission is to design a place without the fear-inducing structure of the past, and who has already done this many times.
ReplyDeleteSo, if slaughter is not an option, are you planning to step up and take every horse that people who've lost jobs are turning loose in state parks and along highways to fend for themselves, and feed and care for them? You must believe that a horse left starving in a field that's too weak to get up and down, lying fully conscious as a wolf or coyote gnaws off its hindquarters, is a better scenario than a quick demise in a regulated facility. Is this your defininition of "humane?"
If you aren't able to posit a solution to the above, then I suggest you do some serious research and soul-searching before making statements such as, "It is ridiculous to think that animals that are being slaughtered are being treated humanely." If you aren't part of the solution, then you're part of the problem.
I don't think there is an easy answer for this. Mostly if the meat wasn't comsumed overseas, there would be no market (except pet food, zoo's etc). Not everyone can afford to feed a horse for it's entire life. But the people who can, should. Also a bullet in the head is more humane than what is currently happening to horses, shipped to Mexico or Canada on a ardurous hellish journey to end up being stabbed by a knife. That horse you rode at the guest ranch last summer, doesn't deserve this horrific end. Shoot them and donate the meat!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a emotional issue but if you take the emotion out of I IS ABSOUTLY NECESSARY. The only one's that have suffered from the no slaughter law is the ones that was suppose to benefit. Horses are really suffering because of the no slaugher. I am for slaughter because it is a necessary evil.
ReplyDeleteYou got to be kidding me. Humane Slaughter? No way slaughter can be humane for a horse who is a flight animal.
ReplyDeleteAre there too many horses than there is a demand. Absolutely. But there is a real humane way to kill a horse; you euthanize it.
And in anticipation of your arguement that some good should come out of the horse's death. Let's slaughter the horses and put horse meat full of bute and other drugs which have been determined unacceptable for horse meat meant for human consumption becaue they are carcinigens by the EU in the stomachs of prisoners and other wards of the state and in poor people. Then you can slowly reduce the number of dead people and prisoners.
Let's call this plan what it is, a way to reintroduce horse slaughter for human consumption in the United States so people can make money off the back of unfortunate horses.
Dr. Temple Grandin told Wallis she would not be a part of her business dealings and told the press that Wallis misrepresented her involvement. So the statement about Grandin being involved in every aspect is obviously a lie designed to manipulate caring people. Nice.
ReplyDelete