[Berlunz]

Originally Posted by mammamia

So you are telling me that people can't afford a .02 bullet? Is that $50.00 to $100.00 really going to make a difference? No I don't have a ranch full of horses by choice because I can't afford to. Not a business I would venture into. What happened to responsibility for what you produce? I am not anti-slaughter per say just curious why so many feel it's completely essential. I have seen the prices lately here and really it's not even worth the gas to get the horse to auction.

So you want them to buy a gun and bullets and shoot the horse? Sounds no better than slaughter if you ask me and probably not much less expensive than just paying to have it put down. Everyone in this world needs a job to survive. Just like there are people who pick up garbage there are cowboys. You can't say "Your irresponsible for not putting your horse down". Not everyone can pick and chose their lifestyle or how their life turns out. People need someone to do those jobs and people are doing them. the jobs don't pay enough for them to buy expensive horses or to have their horse put down and buried. Its a fact of life, and there is nothing we can do about it, its just life. The drop in prices has already caused lots of people financial trouble so I don't see how you saying the prices are bad will prove a point other than mine. I suppose your trying to say they won't get enough money by selling, but every penny counts to these people. They still need to make some money and by closing auction houses they are not making enough to keep going. Now I don't think its fair that it happens, don't get me wrong I hate for this stuff to happen but life isn't fair or pretty. If it was I wouldn't go to the auctions in Pheonix and see people brining 100+ horses packed together in small stock trailers that they shove off and sell for meat. But to them the horse is just like the cow, something they breed and raise for the cost of meat. I wish they would at least treat the horses a little better, I have seen some come in, with the saddest conditions you have ever seen.

[mammamia]

How is .02 more expensive? To send a horse to slaughter say from the US it has to travel all the way to Canada or Mexico, you shoot it on your property, it's over in a second. How is that not more humane? I understand the economics of it, I just personally choose not to take part in it. My horses are a hobby by choice. I know plenty of cowboys that don't take their horses to auction or send them for meat they retire on the range or they put them down, it's actually cheaper than driving them to acution for some, one farmer I know is near the feed lot in AB and will send the odd one there IF the horse can handle it. He doesn't use it as a dumping ground though. Is sending horses to slaughter a way to thank the animals we bred, used, worked? Thankfully ranchers I have worked with don't think so.

Life is FULL of choices, it's a matter of what choices one makes. There is always a way.

[equestsarah81]

This topic could be debated forever!!! I am not in favor of horse slaughter but I eat beef and I don't like to think of cattle being slaughtered either... I hate to think of a horse that raced so hard and won $$$ for their owner or a top show horse that won many points and awards for their owner and the way the owner repays their horse's love and devotion is to have them sent to auction and risk being bought by a meat buyer to have their horse slaughtered b/c they are no longer a use or wanted. That's what I think about when I think of horses going to be slaughtered. It saddens me GREATLY!!!! I just don't like to think about horse slaughter but I can see why it's needed. But I too hate slaughter but I am on a "see-saw" about it since I hate it and see the reason for it. As one put, it's an unfortunate necessary evil. But I would incourage anyone who may be faced with the decision to send there horse to auction or slaughter to try hard to find another way... I have a friend right now that wants a horse but can't afford to buy on but can afford to care for it. I have looked for a horse for her that is free or close to it that is for her level of riding and I'll keep looking b/c someday I'll find that horse for her and that will be one fortunate, loved and spoiled horse.

[moonpi11]

Kill buyers are profiteers and they serve a purpose in our economy... like it or not. However, please realize, they are not in the market to send every single one of their horses to slaughter. Most of them will look for prospects for resale and that to them is a better way to go because it is an investment in their own futures. If that horse goes to slaughter, that is the end of the line. If that horse is sold to a private party, then there is a chance that horse will be able to be purchased again in the future. NOT that I am condoning this financial planning... but it is a fact. I would rather there not be an issue of kill buyers mistreating their horses... or even starving them. But, they, like slaughter houses, are a necessary evil.

(There is a kill buyer not far from me that goes through his herds all the time, looking for any that have "potential" and he would rather sell his horses "to the country" as he puts it than send them to slaughter)

Great article Beanie... it made some very valid points!

[HorseCrazyKelly]

Good article.

[Hunter-Eq Rider]

I found this Quote, Saying, On Dark side Ranch (Rescue). I think this tells it all...


"If we can afford to breed horses, we can afford to humanely euthanize them. If we can afford to race horses, we can afford to humanely euthanize them. If we can afford to show horses, we can afford to humanely euthanize them. In fact, if we can afford to own horses, we can afford to humanely euthanize them!!!!"- Dark side ranch (Rescue)

[Hunter-Eq Rider]

I agree to this too...

"Yes, it is easy. Yes, it's affordable. Yes it's a simple way to dispose of old, crippled or unwanted horses. You even make a quick buck.
And yes, it does set the minimum selling price for horses. And this is a bad thing because: All of those people who would gladly give their unwanted horse away free to a good home, cannot. How would we know our beloved, cherished pet that we may just not be able to afford any more is not going to be resold to slaughter?
But it is Not humane. And, in point of fact: A majority of those horses are not old, crippled or un-wanted.
They are young, healthy, and some are even STOLEN! Horse slaughter is a top reason why people steal horses."
-Dark Side Ranch (Rescue)

[Stormyheart6160]

Originally Posted by Hunter/Eq Rider

I agree to this too...

"Yes, it is easy. Yes, it's affordable. Yes it's a simple way to dispose of old, crippled or unwanted horses. You even make a quick buck.
And yes, it does set the minimum selling price for horses. And this is a bad thing because: All of those people who would gladly give their unwanted horse away free to a good home, cannot. How would we know our beloved, cherished pet that we may just not be able to afford any more is not going to be resold to slaughter?
But it is Not humane. And, in point of fact: A majority of those horses are not old, crippled or un-wanted.
They are young, healthy, and some are even STOLEN! Horse slaughter is a top reason why people steal horses."
-Dark Side Ranch (Rescue)

Breeders don't want restrictions or added fees to control the amount of horses being produced in this country, because it cuts into their profits. There must be a profit to make in breeding, since so many seem to keep doing it in a market that is already flooded with horses.

As I've stated before, NO horse is exempt from the possibility of ending up at a slaughter facility. Some very well bred, sound, and healthy horses end up at them too, so to say the breeders don't contribute to the problem is wrong. ANYONE breeding right now, even if you plan on keeping the foal, is contributing to the problem. Most times, to adopt a well bred foal already on the ground can and does accomplish 2 things. One, it saves a life, and Two, it probably cost that person less money to adopt a foal than it did to produce one. For every foal someone produces, they are condemning another healthy and sound horse to death.

The bills need to be passed ASAP, and strict restrictions put on breeders or anyone chosing to breed. Horses are just another victim of human greed.

[Top Dun]

So Then WHY do people CONTINUE to throw fits about people actually Euthanizing or considering euthanizing their horses??

Originally Posted by Hunter/Eq Rider

"If we can afford to breed horses, we can afford to humanely euthanize them. If we can afford to race horses, we can afford to humanely euthanize them. If we can afford to show horses, we can afford to humanely euthanize them. In fact, if we can afford to own horses, we can afford to humanely euthanize them!!!!"- Dark side ranch (Rescue)

[Top Dun]

The same thing could be said for you considering that you have an issue with a health horse being euthanized instead of given away to a new home.

Failing to allow people to euthanize their horses if they want is AS MUCH aiding in contributing to the over population of horses as any one else. If we put STRICT restrictions on breeders I ALSO want to put STRICT restrictions on all rescues. Any horse that fails to be adopted X number of times gets put down also.

Originally Posted by stormyheart6160

The bills need to be passed ASAP, and strict restrictions put on breeders or anyone chosing to breed. Horses are just another victim of human greed.