Re: [RC] horse slaughter vs vegitarianism - Barbara McCrary
Spoken like a true rancher!
We breed cattle, and it is certain that the ultimate
goal for any calf that is born on our ranch is just what Heidi says...either it
will eventually be eaten or it will become a parent of other calves that will
eventually be eaten.
When one is born and raised on a ranch, one becomes
used to necessary disposal of animals...weak, sick, whatever...so killing an
animal is not quite as emotional to us as to folks who have never had to deal
with these necessities. This does not mean that we don't love animals as
much as those who oppose horse slaughter. It simply means we are more
practical. To see an animal of any sort abused, discarded, abandoned
without care is much more emotional to me than a quick kill.
I agree that anti-slaughter legislation is diabolical,
and I truly believe it was perpetrated by folks who did not think about the
outcome of such a ban. Lots of folks do not have to deal with the
realities of animals who have lived past their prime or
usefulness. Also, most people think of horses as pets, rather than
livestock, and feel it is unconscionable to have horses (or
dogs) slaughtered.
Is it kinder to have an impaired or unwanted
animal killed by a mountain lion than by a human? If it's done quickly and
humanely, I don't think death by human hands is any worse. Think of horse
slaughter as "re-cycling" to high degree.
Subject: RE: [RC] horse slaughter vs
vegitarianism
Do you consider the slaughter of cattle or pigs to be due to
"uncontrolled breeding?" Those animals are BRED to be slaughtered and
eaten! I drive through 20+ miles of cattle country on my way to work
every day, and I can GUARANTEE you that the fate of each and every new calf
born is to be either slaughtered and eaten while still young or to be used to
raise more calves to be slaughtered and eaten. Virtually every
individual out there will eventually be slaughtered and eaten, unless first
killed by predators or by disease or accident--outcomes which the ranchers
work fervently to prevent, so as to ensure that the individuals will instead
be slaughtered and eaten.
As for irresponsible ownership, thanks to Angie for posting the article
that she did. That is the realistic consequence of the anti-slaughter
movement--more and more suffering on the part of the horses. The
anti-slaughter legislation is downright diabolical.
