The Inhumane Killing of U.S. Horses: A Call for Action
Letter to the Editor by Nancy Perry, Denver Post
The horse slaughter industry is motivated by profit, not necessity, and clearly has no concern for compassion. This predatory industry does not exist to eliminate “unwanted” horses, as your article suggests, and the idea that only old, sick, or unwanted horses are slaughtered is a complete myth.
A U.S. Department of Agriculture survey found that 92 percent of all American horses sent to slaughter are in healthy condition. Many of them could have gone to good homes or rescues had they not fallen into the hands of “kill buyers” who outbid potential adopters.
Furthermore, horse meat is not safe for human consumption because U.S. horses are not raised as food animals. De-wormers, fly treatments, and painkillers full of chemicals banned for human consumption are given daily to domestic horses across the country. These substances could be extremely harmful to humans if ingested.
The ASPCA urges support of the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act, which would stop the inhumane killing of American horses for human consumption and ban their export abroad for that purpose.
Nancy V. Perry, Washington, D.C.
The writer is a senior vice president for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
This letter was published in the Dec. 7 edition.