March 19, 2010

- Billings, Montana

Horse Slaughter Facility

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By Nick Lough

Story Published: Feb 23, 2009 at 8:45 PM MDT

Story Updated: Feb 24, 2009 at 8:14 AM MDT

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BILLINGS - Animal rights and cattle groups are squaring off over a bill that would allow a horse slaughter facility in Montana.

House Bill 418 passed out of committee and should be heard on the house floor later this week. The bill calls for the creation of a horse slaughter facility, making it the only one of its kind in the United States.

"The slaughter plants in the United States closed for a reason. They weren't feasible in the state they were in, they had ecological problems, they had environmental problems, and they went the way they were supposed to go," said Montana Humane Society Dave Pauli.

"It doesn't mean you have to do it. It's that if you don't have the funds, and you don't have the feed, and don't have the place to keep them, and they are old, and they are no longer going to work for what you need them for, it's a place for them to go," said Billings Livestock and Horse Sale's Jenn Parker.

Texas and Illinois were the last two states to close horse slaughter facilities.

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View Oldest Comments First

Saturday, Jan 9 at 3:51 PM kim miller wrote ...

makes me sick to think that we need to kill the horses for horsemeat that we dont even allow in the usa. is this how we are paying back are debts to china. legalize pot to save our horses

Thursday, Dec 3 at 11:20 AM XXX wrote ...

Why would you want to slaugter her horse?? how would YOU like to be killed for meat!! Think how the horse feels! If you want to give a horse away then just simply give it to a horse rescue or something! I say NO to horse slaughter houses!!

Thursday, Sep 10 at 8:42 PM Mary Ann Lajoie-Sandroff wrote ...

If you own a hose there is a responsibility to see that it also has a humane death. No different than any animal that lives in your home or on your property.You put them to sleep by a vet. You don't send them off to a slaughter plant. Ban slaughter plants now.

Thursday, May 7 at 4:42 AM Linda wrote ...

And that's after they endure miserable conditions on the way there. It's reminiscent of Nazi concentration camps. There are plenty of unwanted horses being dumped at rescues (I work with one) or just abandoned to fend for themselves. They are not wild horses and are not capable of comfortably adapting to life in the wild. Dumping an old horse somewhere to fend for itself is like dumping Grandma there. Supervised, humane slaughter is a reasonable answer.

Thursday, May 7 at 4:39 AM Linda wrote ...

I am a 4H leader, horse owner and lover, and I support carefully supervised slaughter in the U.S. The idea is heartbreaking to me, but far less so than what is happening now. Horses are still being slaughtered, of course. They're just being sent to Mexico first. The facilities in Mexico are horrific--many of the horses are simply stabbed in the back repeatedly until they're paralyzed or too weak to fight, then cut up often while still alive.

Tuesday, May 5 at 5:07 PM Paul and Del Wertman wrote ...

We Have an Arabian mare and she is really ouir pet, like all the other animals, Would you slaughter your best friend? aughter your best freind

Sunday, Apr 5 at 2:16 PM friendshipfarms wrote ...

I agree that horses should not be eaten however the stopping of horse slaughter and the increase in the price of fuel and hay and grain has created a huge supply of unwanted horses. I have a private horse rescue and Ive taken in as many as I can Ive spent THOUSANDS of dollars of our own money to support these animals Everybody thinks Im crazy, but Id do it again . Ive been criticized because I rescue horses that need it, not horses that I can turn around and sell for a profit (not there is a

Sunday, Mar 22 at 12:53 PM annoymous Horse owner wrote ...

I have horses and love them to death. As a owner it is my responsiblity to keep tract of these animals if i were to have to sell them if i didn't want them to end up in slaughter.that means investigating owners and buy back. If worse case happened and they ended up in slaughter i rather of had them killed here in the u.s.a were we killed them humanely and quickly. They are like dairy cattle they have a job when they are no use we send them to slaughter. that is how i see horses.There not pets!

Thursday, Mar 19 at 2:45 PM red-blooded american wrote ...

I work extensively in the horse industry and horses are my heart and soul. We have one of the biggest "loose horse" sales in the country in Billings. Every month hundreds of horses are shipped to Canada AND MEXICO. I'd rather see them not have to endure a horrendous transport to a tortuous death. After a trip like that the horse probably can't wait to be put out of its misery. And, horse slaughter will continue there. Why not here? Aren't horses also used for dog food and glue??

Monday, Mar 16 at 1:27 PM Jan R wrote ...

Who supports this slaughter bill in Montana? I support 4H and the cattle industry, I buy my beef local and I can tell you what 4Her's have to go through knowing their steer is destined for the dinner plate. But NOBODY raises a horse thinking it's purpose is for slaughter. Over the years, I have had to euthanize several injured, incurably sick horses and it broke my heart. But to think of sending those to a deplorable end makes me ill. Breeders, ever wonder where all of your foals end up????

Thursday, Mar 12 at 10:11 PM don wrote ...

Id like to send some these fat jerk kill buyers at sugarcreek ohio about 30 minutes from me on there double deck trucks to a slaughter house with no food or watter for 4 days.Kicking and fighting each other.I have bought quite a few horses there and found homes for giving them away and all mine but 1 have came from there.And i have 5 now and adding to them.I have already found homes for 8 others that came from there.

Tuesday, Mar 10 at 6:53 PM jbl wrote ...

if you dont own a horse& its not part of your everyday life, keep your nose out of it! i love my horses & they wont be slaughtered when the time comes. but the owner shuld have the right to do so! they paid for them.you didnt

Friday, Mar 6 at 1:27 PM C kendall wrote ...

No true horseman likes slaughter but we recognize that these animals the reality of life. Horses are being turned lose and not receivingthe care they should. Slaughter is far more humane than what is going on today.

Tuesday, Mar 3 at 3:46 PM HorseLover wrote ...

Anyone with a horse's best interest at heart knows there is a need for the end. A regulated horse slaughter plant is a lot more humane than what is going on. A horse needs care and feed and room to run. That all costs money. When horses have no value, people don't spend the money needed to take care of them. People who live in cities with big city ideas should take the time to research exactly what is going on in this country. There is a NEED for regulated horse slaughter plants.

Monday, Mar 2 at 3:53 PM Jimmie Lou Hinkle wrote ...

I wish you city slickers would keep your noses inside the city limits and let us people that live and eal w/horses daily decide what is best for them. They are animals not pets they have a purpose and it is to be treated like a house pet. I have lived w/horses all my life and I love them and I get great pleasure from them but I also see daily what it has done to the horse business and the ranching industry. Yes it is a business!!! and business that should be left to the people that it effect

Saturday, Feb 28 at 1:20 PM michael wrote ...

Slaughterhouses should be well regulated. However, letting horses die naturally often means they slowly become too weak to eat and walk. In the wild they eventually starve, freeze, or are eaten by predators, bugs, and birds who don't mind eating them while they are still alive. Horses should be humanely euthanized.

Friday, Feb 27 at 7:49 PM John Gill wrote ...

laughter Resolutions Posted Feb 13, 2009 by lauraallen * Horse Slaughter Mayor and horseFormer Please read letter from Mayor Paula Bacon City of Kaufman,Kaufman, TX 75142 for the unemotional facts about the business and it's effects on a community. Link:http://www.animallawcoalition.com/horse-slaughter/article/686

Friday, Feb 27 at 7:25 PM Sarah Gill,Ph.D wrote ...

Butcher is an idiot. When the Horse slaughter plants were open in the USA 10% live vivisection of horses was acceptable "processing" standards. That means out of about 100,000 horses a year that were slaughtered, about 10,000 or more horses were hung up by a hind leg and CUT UP WHILE STILL ALIVE BY ELECTRIC CHAINSAW. No one can present slaughter as HUMANE, in any way, other than an idiot... these horses that have carried Montana backsides deserve better.

Friday, Feb 27 at 1:57 PM beewoman wrote ...

The purpose of this bill is to allow profiting for selling poison meat to unsuspecting foreigners. The meat has steriods, antibiotics, and cancer causign agents in it (from veterianrian treatmetns), so , the state of Montana can profit form selling the poison meat while getting rid of the unwanted pets and race horses. If it was about too many unwanted horses, the meat would be destroyed, not canned and exported. Profit above ethics!

Thursday, Feb 26 at 2:21 PM Heidi wrote ...

Why not open a horse refuge I think that would be better than murdering a poor animal just b/c you don't want it anymore. Why not let things die naturally?

Thursday, Feb 26 at 1:35 PM WOLVES158 wrote ...

THE PLAN IS TO SEND THE MEAT TO CANADA WHERE IT IS STILL CONSUMED

Wednesday, Feb 25 at 3:14 PM NO KILL SHELTERS wrote ...

they have them for dogs, cats, pet monkeys and other animals. In this day and age, horses should be allowed their dignity as well, when they can no longer perform their functions.

Wednesday, Feb 25 at 1:53 PM Big Jim wrote ...

What do these morons plan to do with the horses they murder? Horse meat cannot by federal law, be sold for human consumption, so what is the plan? I have never heard something so ludicrous when there are critical things that need to be addressed. I am sure this is one of those "pet projects" where some legislator is only trying to line his pockets with some more $$$. Don't be sold a bridge in the desert!

Wednesday, Feb 25 at 11:05 AM Jerry wrote ...

Humane treatment,not slaughter! Plain simple and responsible

Tuesday, Feb 24 at 1:19 PM skippy wrote ...

What in the world will Montana do with a equine slaughter house? It's against the law to slaughter horses for human consumption. And thats the only use for killed horses in the United States.

Tuesday, Feb 24 at 11:53 AM GOOBER wrote ...

LET THE HORSES RUN FREE WITH OPEN GRAZING

Tuesday, Feb 24 at 10:02 AM Terrygean wrote ...

Time to put on board recorders in livestock trucks. The slaughter horse trucks I have followed & researched do not take their 11 hour required break & endanger the public on the highway. Ask the Cattle Association to support on board recorders (the black box). Contact your reps & Parents against tired truck drivers to voice your concerns.

Tuesday, Feb 24 at 9:54 AM anonymus wrote ...

if horse slaughtering is not in todays world where will all the horses that are slowly dieing go to why would you make them suffer with a broken leg then bury it. why not put the animal to good use instead of just letting all that meat just rot under the earths skin.if the slaughter plant was to open then mabey there would be a market for horses in Montana once again.

Tuesday, Feb 24 at 7:52 AM Karla Moore wrote ...

The new argument for against slaughter houses seems to be leaning towards the "irresponsible breeders" argument. That is not only innacurate but ignorant. We breed horses because that is our livelihood, that is our living, and we are skilled at what we do. Does it make sense to say there are too many cows and pigs in this world because the breeders are irresponsible??!! That is just silly. That is not what this is about at all, they are missing the point completely, which is sad.

Tuesday, Feb 24 at 7:09 AM Lin wrote ...

http://www.kaufmanzoning.net.watch this video.... http://www.kaufmanzoning.net/foiaphotos.html What gives these people the right to over breed horses and call them unwanted. Horse slaughter is a disgusting, brutal business that needs to end. Horses are not raised or used as food animals in the United States. Don't let the few that are breeding horses for slaughter and are getting paid by the Belgiums, get away with this atrocity. This is an American Disgrace

Tuesday, Feb 24 at 6:08 AM Patricia Bewley, Vice President the RACE Fund wrote ...

Too bad the Montana legislators don't have more to do than open a equine slaughter house and pander to the Belgians. the few jobs it will create for people who don't speak English and the untold cruelty it brings will not be worth it. The equine slaughter business brings out the night crawlers, the low lifes who don't work, just buy horses and cram them into double deckers trailers for their final ride to death. Horses don't walk calmly to be killed.

Monday, Feb 23 at 9:51 PM Thomas Lee Trevino wrote ...

The truth is the Auctioneers that sold to killers are losing money on sales. The economy has played a part not to mention sales of cars and trucks too but there not wanting to open a horse slaughter plant. History as proven that its not humane in any form. These are foreigners that paid no Gross Income Tax nor taxes on there exports. For years they ignored Tx Laws and support undocumented Imigrants jobs. We must not reward irresponsible breeders more profits.

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