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[RC] Horse Slaughter S 1915 - Laura K Szeremi DVMWe love horses. Horses speak to a part of our soul in a way we could never explain to non-horse types. Though I love horses, S. 1915 soon to be voted on by the Senate banning the slaughter of horses for human consumption is idealistic and irresponsible. 100,000 horses per year end in this manner. These horses are UNWANTED. They're not be bred for slaughter, they are lame, agressive or the owner can no longer care for them. There is no plan to care for, euthanise or otherwise take care of these horses. 100,000 per year! Think how many that will mean in 2 or 3 years! These horses will still find ends, though they will likely be slower and less humane than the current system (shipping to Mexico for slaughter instead will add how many hours stress to the same ending?) Or abandonment, starvation, etc.. Every major Veterinary and Equine group is against this bill. AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association), AAEP (American Association of Equine Practitioners), AQHA (American Quarterhorse Association) to name a few big ones. They all have comprehensive articles on their websites outlining why this bill is bad for horses. (Their links are listed below.) Please take a couple minutes and email your Senators (go to govtrack.us and pick your State, it will take you to your Senators websites.) asking them to vote NO to S. 1915. This will be a disaster for the horse industry and a poor turn for the humane treatment of horses. There are worse things than death. Here is the letter I sent my Senators if you would like to modify it. "Please vote NO to S. 1915. As a veterinarian, a stable owner and a horse lover, it pains me to see the lack of foresight in the House passing HR 503 the amendment to the Horse Protection Act. Destroying a portion of a $40 billion part of our economy and stopping a humane ending to 100,000 unwanted horses per year will hurt the cause of compassionate treatment for horses much more than a humane end. Being offended by others eating horses is not a reason to close the slaughter houses. Though I hope one of my horses never finds their way to a slaughter plant, there are worse things than a humane death. PLEASE VOTE NO to S. 1915 Sincerely, Laura Szeremi DVM" ------------------------------------------------------------------- My response to a previous post - the post is in ****s. ***I never said close down all the slaughter houses. Read the entire post before respnding please! This act would only end slaughter that is meant for human consumption.**** The reality is, if the bill passes, they WILL shut down the slaughter houses. And why would you be FOR slaughtering horses as long as someone isn't going to eat them? If the same number of horses are slaughtered for leather is that OK with you? Why are we telling someone what they can and cannot eat? We Americans eat animals that offend huge parts of the world, cattle and pigs to name 2. ***Additionally, the transport of horses to slaughter houses is often extremely inhumane. Many horses are injured even before reaching the slaughter plant due to overcrowded conditions during transport. Some are shipped for more than 24 hours at a time without food, water, or rest.**** This is rhetoric I've heard since the 80's from groups like PETA, about transporting horses. The truth is, if the horses arrive sick or injured they are worth far less, and the people who transport horses to slaughter plants make their living by keeping them in the best shape possible. Typically they use large sectioned stock trailers where the horses are grouped by 2's or 3's. This is how I transported 12 horses from AL to TX (took 18 hours) and they did just fine. Nothing inhumane about it. Please visit a slaughter plant and watch the horses arriving before making these kinds of statements. They are not true. ****In addition, the methods used to slaughter these horses once they arrive at the plant can be exceptionally inhumane. The horses are often forced to endure repeated stuns or blows and often times remain conscious during their slaughter.***** I always cringe when I hear these stories from people who have never been in a slaughter house. As a veterinarian and with a Bachelors in Animal and Dairy Science I've visited them. The horses are handled with dignity and euthanised humanely. Please read the Testimony to Congress by the President of AAEP (The American Association of Equine Practitioners). He explains very well why this bill is bad for horses and why AAEP is against it. Here is a link to his testimony I placed on my webpage. http://www.sportpony.com/AAEP%20Statement.htm You can also find it on AAEP's website. Please find out all the facts before making decisions that will affect our entire industry and will have unintended consequences for horses for years. Laura Szeremi DVM =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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