The
American tradition of loving and respecting horses existed long before there was
a United States. Americans counted on horses to build this nation; to
plow the fields and to carrying soldiers to battle. Horses are for many
people part of their family, and they are considered to be companion
animals, just as dogs and cats are. The cruelty of horse slaughter is not
limited to the act of killing the animals. Horses bound for slaughter
are shipped, frequently for long distances, and are not rested, fed, or watered
during travel. Economics, not humane considerations, dictate the
conditions, including crowding as many horses into trucks as
possible.
Often,
terrified horses and ponies are crammed together and transported to
slaughter in double-deck trucks designed for cattle and pigs. The truck
ceilings are so low that the horses are not able to hold their heads in
a normal, balanced position. Inappropriate floor surfaces lead to slips
and falls, and sometimes even trampling. Some horses arrive at the
slaughterhouse seriously injured or dead. Although transportation
accidents have largely escaped public scrutiny, several tragic ones
involving collapsed upper floors and overturned double-deckers have
caused human fatalities as well as suffering and death for the horses.
Unfortunately, not everyone in the United States is willing to give the horse
the respect it deserves. There are those who are willing to see horses
killed for profit. Horse slaughter proponents claim to care about
horses, but the facts and the video footage tell a very different story.
At the bottom of that
page is Humane Horse Euthanasia. Six clips that add up to a total of one minute, and show two horses being put to sleep. They were euthanized due to
failing health. They were put down together, as they knew each other
and were very close. Their final day was sunny and breezy, and it is
obvious that they are completely calm and at ease. They are given loving care from the beginning to the very end.
This footage
demonstrates how people who truly care about their horses can give them a peaceful, dignified end. The horses simply become groggy and fall asleep.
What a complete and utter difference from the horror of the
slaughterhouse!
