[Stormyheart6160]

Originally Posted by Beeks

I like your thinking, but the average horse loving but non horse owning American likes to back anti-slaughter, so they can feel good about themselves until it hits their pocketbooks.

Personally, the money we have wasted bailing out corporate numbskulls would have been much better spent on the rising horse population epidemic.

Perhaps if GMC looked into "one horse power", both problems could have been solved.

Beeks.....I absolutely agree with your second and third paragraphs. BUT, the first one.....makes me go "hmmmmm". Why do the pro side ALWAYS resort to that old adage "feel good", as a reason to back anti slaughter? The absolute SAME can be said for the pro side....doesn't it make you FEEL GOOD to know starving people (not really) are not starving because they get to eat horsemeat? Does it make you FEEL GOOD to know horses that were NOT previously starving, and came from responsible owners are being slaughtered....just so in case they happen to fall into the hands of someone who would starve them? What exactly is it about slaughtering perfectly healthy horses makes the pro side FEEL SO GOOD that they would promote such a thing?

[dacowgirl]

Originally Posted by theloneappy

We DO slaughter pigs, chickens, cows for food. Why can't horses be? Slaughter is ONLY cruelty/abuse if it is prolonged and done in an inhumane way.

This is exactly what many against slaughter miss. Just because it's slaughter DOESN'T mean it is prolonged and inhumane. YES, there are slaughter houses that operate in this way, but the ones who operate wrongly, are the ones with the spotlight shined on them.

You must DIG DEEPER, there's various slaughter houses who DO NOT run their slaughter houses in the same fashion.

[Purpledomino]

Originally Posted by dacowgirl

This is exactly what many against slaughter miss. Just because it's slaughter DOESN'T mean it is prolonged and inhumane. YES, there are slaughter houses that operate in this way, but the ones who operate wrongly, are the ones with the spotlight shined on them.

You must DIG DEEPER, there's various slaughter houses who DO NOT run their slaughter houses in the same fashion.

I don't think the anti-slaughter advocates have missed a thing. The exact reason behind me being against slaughtering horses is because there is nothing humane about their demise, or the path that horses take to get there. Have you watched the killing process of equines? The very nature of the horse makes the slaughter process risky and a quick death is highly unlikely. Even the "best" houses cannot possibly be ending the lives of horses in any humane fashion.

[Beeks]

Helloooo Stormyheart.

I respect your anti-slaughter stance, because you have earned the right through knowledge to have an educated opinion. I will respect the opinion of anybody involved in the horse industry. But the horse tugs on the heartstrings of non-horse knowlegable people, in the way a cow, pig or chicken, does not. I think, in order to have a vote in the matter of what to do, you have to be a card carrying horse owner or be directly involved in the horse industry somehow, but that will never happen.

Knowing the tragedy of slaughter and death by neglect, there is nothing about the horse overpopulation epidemic right now that makes me "feel good". Thus the reason I stated what you have challenged, is because only people who do not own horses, could feel good about voting against slaughter, or for it, if they have no idea what the problem really is.

[spinandslide]

Originally Posted by Purpledomino

I don't think the anti-slaughter advocates have missed a thing. The exact reason behind me being against slaughtering horses is because there is nothing humane about their demise, or the path that horses take to get there. Have you watched the killing process of equines? The very nature of the horse makes the slaughter process risky and a quick death is highly unlikely. Even the "best" houses cannot possibly be ending the lives of horses in any humane fashion.

Then why not, as Ive stated before, REFORM the process and transportation of equines for slaughter??? Why was no effort put into that(or should I say, the same amount of effort that was put into banning the slaughter of horses?)

[Purpledomino]

Originally Posted by Rider23663

At the same time, there has to be a solution other than the chopping block...... and blaming breeders isn't a solution either.





John

Breeders are exactly the problem. Overbreeding in an already saturated market, putting more babies on the ground when viable horses are being slaughtered at the other end is taking homes away from those needing them. You just have to look at all of the interest on the "horse breeding" threads, then compare it to the "rescue/adoptions" where I believe I noticed at last a 39/5 difference in views.

If there were more horse-people interested in rescue instead of breeding we would begin to see improvement in this dire situation. It really is simple math, and at the very least a good start for the horses.

[Purpledomino]

Originally Posted by spinandslide

Then why not, as Ive stated before, REFORM the process and transportation of equines for slaughter??? Why was no effort put into that(or should I say, the same amount of effort that was put into banning the slaughter of horses?)

Because I don't believe that any reform could work for horses. I do not think there is any way to humanely slaughter a horse in a commercial environment. Of course I personally classify horses as companion animals, and I guess this is different for others who prefer to put them in the livestock category.

[spinandslide]

Originally Posted by Purpledomino

Because I don't believe that any reform could work for horses. I do not think there is any way to humanely slaughter a horse in a commercial environment. Of course I personally classify horses as companion animals, and I guess this is different for others who prefer to put them in the livestock category.

There it is..the problem is NOT the process(as many people claim)..it is the fact people just "dont" want horses slaughtered because they view them as "pets", not livestock, HENCE the reason no effort was put into reform, which could have EASILY worked had the effort been put into it....

And your preference on what you choose to label your horses is fine, but the goverment says they are livestock..thats not a preference, its what our goverment classifies them as.

[spinandslide]

Originally Posted by Purpledomino

Breeders are exactly the problem. Overbreeding in an already saturated market, putting more babies on the ground when viable horses are being slaughtered at the other end is taking homes away from those needing them. You just have to look at all of the interest on the "horse breeding" threads, then compare it to the "rescue/adoptions" where I believe I noticed at last a 39/5 difference in views.

If there were more horse-people interested in rescue instead of breeding we would begin to see improvement in this dire situation. It really is simple math, and at the very least a good start for the horses.

So, because we have shelters full of dogs needing homes, all dog breeders should stop breeding? I am 100% for adoption, but I respect someone's opinion to buy from a REPUTABLE breeder as well..

Breeding should be done by professionals to BETTER the breed..if all breeders quit breeding, we'd be out of horses in a lifetime.

[dacowgirl]

Originally Posted by Purpledomino

I don't think the anti-slaughter advocates have missed a thing. The exact reason behind me being against slaughtering horses is because there is nothing humane about their demise, or the path that horses take to get there. Have you watched the killing process of equines? The very nature of the horse makes the slaughter process risky and a quick death is highly unlikely. Even the "best" houses cannot possibly be ending the lives of horses in any humane fashion.

I think what it comes down to, is those who are ant-slaughter, do like it no matter what. It doesn't matter what a slaughter house were to do, and how they were to conduct slaughter, those against it will never give them a break.

You have to get realistic. It's going to happen, you might as well support those that do it right, and quit putting the spotlight on those who don't.

It's not in the horses' best interest or even a possibility for slaughter to be eliminated.