[HairOfTheDog]

I detest and vehemently argue against slaughter of domesticated horses. I have argued here and elsewhere, and always will, that for pet horses who we have used up through work or age, it is a breach of a moral contract with them to send them to a terrifying and inhumane end. They deserve better from us. And that so many people would throw them away like garbage when they're old or broken is to our shame.

And I hate the idea that Mustangs rounded up to provide pasture on public lands for cattle, will now be slaughtered if they are unadaptable.

But we have to recognize that the BLM, and other powers that be, have created an enormous problem. They've been warehousing unadoptable mustangs in holding pens for years now. These horses are not companions, they are wild to semi-wild, and the problem has grown to 10s of thousands of horses, unadoptable, unwanted, and expensive to keep. Something needs to change about the future, but the fact that there is this enormous bubble of mustangs who all need some kind of humane end cannot be ignored. If I had a say, it would be to bring the slaughter to the horses. To haul these horses to distant facilities would be a further cruelty for them.

Or turn them loose.

Ping!

[muawiyah]

You make an interesting argument for humane slaughter, but only if performed by the owner.

I think we should have humane slaughter whether the abattoir personnel know the horse personally or not.

[colorcountry]

I agree with you about domestic horses and the trust we've asked them to give us...there must be an unspoken pact that says, "I won't eat you (or hurt you, for that matter).

It says something about our humanity that we recognize and value companion animals, as well as working animals. Food animals should probably be raised as food animals, but then you have PETA screaming about the inhumanity and cruel treatment of those too.

[Tunehead54]

I've flown a number of times over "Flyover country" and can attest to the fact that there's a lot of room out there. I vote to turn them loose. Let Mother Nature take care of things. I cannot recall reading of rabid horses so its not like they're a danger to society. Turn a few hundred buffalo loose while we're at it. ;-)

[Tunehead54]

Oh Oh. I just replied to your ping - and then glanced at the thread. Looks like a serious catfight out there among the pro-lifers, animal lovers and apparently the meateaters. ducking now! ;-)

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[elbucko]

I detest and vehemently argue against slaughter of domesticated horses.

To haul these horses to distant facilities would be a further cruelty for them.

I second this opinion