Emotions Run High Over Horse Slaughter Debate

It was heartbreaking to learn about a herd of 41 abandoned horses that was sold recently to a Canadian slaughterhouse. The horses were rounded up on public land between Greybull and Lovell and turned over to the Wyoming Livestock Board.

Bovary Exports of Fort Macleod, Alberta, Canada, which slaughters horses for meat, was the highest bidder. This incident, nevertheless, has again stirred up the sensitive horse slaughter debate.

Those in favor call it a humane way to handle animals that would otherwise suffer a slow, agonizing death in the wild. Opponents argue slaughtering is inhumane, regardless, and other options are available.

We’re not condoning slaughter, but the thought of releasing a horse in the wild, where it will become skin and bones, and struggle for survival, is as cruel as it gets.

On the other hand, did the board have to sell the horses to a slaughterhouse? Accepting the “highest bid” makes good business sense, but that doesn’t make it right. Were any other options considered, such as adoption, or a horse rescue or sanctuary?

The board may have had good intentions by “rescuing” the horses from the wild, but it created a public relations nightmare when the horses went to slaughter.

The big question moving forward is what can be done to stop people from letting horses loose on public land? Unfortunately, evil exists, so it’s unrealistic to think the problem will go away entirely.

What needs to happen is more severe punishment and enforcement for abuse and neglect – longer jail sentences and higher fines.

Meanwhile, all of us – especially those in the know in the horse world – should be vigilant and report any suspicious behavior. There’s nothing political about protecting animals. It’s simply being humane.

Originally Posted By Cody Enterprise