How is horse slaughter different from other animal slaughter?
I don’t believe it is really any different–the major differences are in our minds. Horses are not a higher level of animal than cows or pigs (which plenty of people keep as pets and which are extremely intelligent). People ate horses long before they were domesticated, and even when they were domesticated, it was as a food source. Riding and pack uses came later.
LOL they old debate, animal or animal if you see killing rats or mouses as bad you should see killing horses as bad. The thing with humans is because the animal doesnt tastes great ( not talking out of exp) or has cute eyes or maybe a great personality and looks pretty calm we think he is higher up morality wise.
Okay, I WASN’T going to answer this, BUT… Zeph, they are NO LONGER slaughtering horses here in the US. You can haul your own horse to a tallow plant (They still do this in San Luis Obispo County, CA.) and either shoot it, or have a vet put it down there. BUT that’s the only way a horse gets rendered alive anymore. Because of the new law, NO horse can actively be hauled to a slaughterhouse in the US and destroyed by their employees. There is ONE slaughter plant, which slaughters horses only for zoos, but NOT for human consumption. IF we had cleaned up the slaughterhouses here in the US, what’s happening now would NOT be as big as an issue as it is. See Western Horseman’s article from last year, sorry I don’t remember the date. When we had local rendering plants here in the US, the old, infirmed and generally unwanted hroses were destroyed nowadays, it’s still happening, BUT they are buying sound, plump, healthy and broke horses some with papers even and hauling them to the boarder of
The reason that sticks out the most in my mind is that horses are not raised for consumption like cows and pigs are. Cows and pigs (and chickens, and what have you) are bred specifically for the purpose of being killed for food and other products. Horses are bred to be companions and partners to humans. For that reason, our mindsets about horses and their place in society are completely different than the way we think about cows or pigs. EDIT: FiFi, lots of people eat horsemeat – in Europe and otherwise. And horses’ body parts (even their hides and hair) are used for MANY different things, not just glue and gelatin. After all, the demand for dead horses is coming from SOMEwhere!
The difference between a cow and a horse is how we percieve them. I had a pet steer who was given to me because he was physically disabled. I loved him as much as any dog or cat I’ve had and wouldn’t think to put him to slaughter! People don’t like to think of killing horses because of the love they have, they are pets. :~) They are in many cases doted on, cared for, and pampered. Many horses are a part of the family as was my calf Quasimodo. I do not like to take the stance of whether or not the actually killing of horses, cows, or any animal is wrong, however, I do believe it is wrong to do it in a harmful or torterous manner. Like I said before, horses are usually a member of the family like a dog or cat which is why it is hard for people to see them slaughtered.
