"We Owe Them More"

 

 

        “$100, 200, 200, 200….. 300!! 300 Going once,twice......And three times!  Fifteen horses sold to the man in black.” Says the announcer. 

        “Where would you like them to be shipped?” 

        The buyer responds “Casa de México Masacre.”  

 

        That's a pretty chilling response, dont you think? Most people don't know that even though horse slaughter is illegal in our country, horses continue to get mistreated and sent away to Mexico, Canada and over seas to be killed. For many horses this is where there real journey begins. Fifteen innocent once loved horses being shipped to Mexico. Due to not enough money, not winning a race, or small simple injures. They are crammed into small double decker trailers. These are designed for animals such as cattle and pigs – shorter necked species than horses, who require more headroom than double-decker trailers afford. Horses often throw their heads to maintain balance, and injure easily. Going over twenty-four hours with out food or water, many horses don’t survive the trip. This is just one small example that happens too often around our country.

 

        Sometimes the travel alone is more dangerous than slaughter. In 2006, a double decker trailer hauling forty-one horses in Missouri crashed and resulted in the death of sixteen of the horses.  In 2008, a double decker trailer carrying fifty-nine horses in Illinois struck another vehicle after blowing through a stop sign.  It took five hours to rescue the horses from this mangled truck. Nine horses died at the scene, and an additional six died later due to injuries in the crash. These are a few ways the conditions of travel are horrible.

 

        It's important to note that no horse is safe from slaughter. From children’s ponies to champion race horses. Sometimes it's just simply families who can’t afford them and are forced to make decisions they wish they did not have to make. Slaughter is an easy way for a horse thief to make a quick $300-700 on a stolen horse and the evidence is destroyed. 90% of horses slaughtered for human consumption are young, healthy, sound horses who deserve a better life.

 

  After being beat out of the trailer, the fifteen horses are crammed in to small spaces by their buyer. Where fear and stress are shown in every which way. The white of their eyes is shown more than you can ever imagine. Many of the horses have serious injures from the ride. These horses have massive cuts on their faces. Missing chucks of flesh, almost everywhere. Some horses become blind, both of their eyes completely swollen out, unable to see what lies before them.

 

        Now the fifteen are put in to an assembly line. One after another they are able to sense the terror of the other horses. They are put into what is called the "kill box", shot repeatedly with a 22 caliber, by an unlicensed shooter, until they are “unconscious”. Those who do not die instantly will be, in the worst case, hung up side down until they do die.

 

        CNN reports a horrific site witnessed in Quebec, Canada. Witnesses saw horses left standing in the weighting pens and lined up in a solid single file kill chute, leading to the kill pens while workers went on lunch break. What shocked the witnesses even further was the sight of a horse left standing in the kill pen, shaking with terror. The horse was shaking so badly she was nearly falling down. Many other horses were shaking so badly that standing was difficult. There was a gray mare that they were able to examine. They were able to confirm her rear leg was broken. In fact all of the horses were in very bad condition. 

 

        Do you find reports like this disturbing? You should. It happens far too often. It's time for a change, for people to be aware and informed of this incredible situation. Horses are beautiful creatures who don't deserve this kind of torture. Laura Hillenbrand, author of Seabiscuit said it best - "Here are these exquisite, immensely powerful creatures, who willingly give us their labor in return for our stewardship. They have attended us throughout history, bearing us across frontiers and into battle, pulling our plows, thrilling us in sport, warming us with their beauty. We owe them more than we can ever repay. To send these trusting creatures to slaughter is beneath their dignity and ours.”

"We Owe Them More"

                        "We Owe Them More"

                                             

 

        “$100, 200, 200, 200….. 300!! 300 Going once,twice......And three times!  Fifteen horses sold to the man in black.” Says the announcer. 

        “Where would you like them to be shipped?” 

        The buyer responds “Casa de México Masacre.”  

 

        That's a pretty chilling response, dont you think? Most people don't know that even though horse slaughter is illegal in our country, horses continue to get mistreated and sent away to Mexico, Canada and over seas to be killed. For many horses this is where there real journey begins. Fifteen innocent once loved horses being shipped to Mexico. Due to not enough money, not winning a race, or small simple injures. They are crammed into small double decker trailers. These are designed for animals such as cattle and pigs – shorter necked species than horses, who require more headroom than double-decker trailers afford. Horses often throw their heads to maintain balance, and injure easily. Going over twenty-four hours with out food or water, many horses don’t survive the trip. This is just one small example that happens too often around our country.

 

        Sometimes the travel alone is more dangerous than slaughter. In 2006, a double decker trailer hauling forty-one horses in Missouri crashed and resulted in the death of sixteen of the horses.  In 2008, a double decker trailer carrying fifty-nine horses in Illinois struck another vehicle after blowing through a stop sign.  It took five hours to rescue the horses from this mangled truck. Nine horses died at the scene, and an additional six died later due to injuries in the crash. These are a few ways the conditions of travel are horrible.

 

        It's important to note that no horse is safe from slaughter. From children’s ponies to champion race horses. Sometimes it's just simply families who can’t afford them and are forced to make decisions they wish they did not have to make. Slaughter is an easy way for a horse thief to make a quick $300-700 on a stolen horse and the evidence is destroyed. 90% of horses slaughtered for human consumption are young, healthy, sound horses who deserve a better life.

 

        After being beat out of the trailer, the fifteen horses are crammed in to small spaces by their buyer. Where fear and stress are shown in every which way. The white of their eyes is shown more than you can ever imagine. Many of the horses have serious injures from the ride. These horses have massive cuts on their faces. Missing chucks of flesh, almost everywhere. Some horses become blind, both of their eyes completely swollen out, unable to see what lies before them.

 

        Now the fifteen are put in to an assembly line. One after another they are able to sense the terror of the other horses. They are put into what is called the "kill box", shot repeatedly with a 22 caliber, by an unlicensed shooter, until they are “unconscious”. Those who do not die instantly will be, in the worst case, hung up side down until they do die.

 

        CNN reports a horrific site witnessed in Quebec, Canada. Witnesses saw horses left standing in the weighting pens and lined up in a solid single file kill chute, leading to the kill pens while workers went on lunch break. What shocked the witnesses even further was the sight of a horse left standing in the kill pen, shaking with terror. The horse was shaking so badly she was nearly falling down. Many other horses were shaking so badly that standing was difficult. There was a gray mare that they were able to examine. They were able to confirm her rear leg was broken. In fact all of the horses were in very bad condition. 

 

        Do you find reports like this disturbing? You should. It happens far too often. It's time for a change, for people to be aware and informed of this incredible situation. Horses are beautiful creatures who don't deserve this kind of torture. Laura Hillenbrand, author of Seabiscuit said it best - "Here are these exquisite, immensely powerful creatures, who willingly give us their labor in return for our stewardship. They have attended us throughout history, bearing us across frontiers and into battle, pulling our plows, thrilling us in sport, warming us with their beauty. We owe them more than we can ever repay. To send these trusting creatures to slaughter is beneath their dignity and ours.”