HAHS Against Slaughter

from the Chicago News Sun
submitted by Linda F. Gray, DVM
06-17-2004

Unnecessary Evil

I would like to respond to the misinformation about horse slaughter in Ruth Krota's letter published June 5.

First, she has convinced herself that slaughtering is OK because humane societies "watch over the process to ensure it is done humanely." According to the state Department of Agriculture, slaughter plants are off-limits to humane investigators. And the United States Department of Agriculture veterinarian is not always watching.

The last time I visited the DeKalb slaughterplant a horse was laying on its side in the aisle between the holding pen and the kill box, struggling to get up and getting stepped on by every single horse as each was forced from the holding pen into the kill box. This down horse was the last one killed.

Second, she has convinced herself that reopening the DeKalb slaughterplant will end the horror of transporting horses to slaughter. However, only 10 percent of the horses killed in the DeKalb slaughterplant came from Illinois. The majority of the 25,000 horses to be killed will come from all over the country.

So reopening this plant doesn't save horses from double-decker trailers, more than one full day without food, water or rest, and injury from aggressive stallions.

Horse slaughter is an unnecessary evil that occurs in this country because of greed and irresponsibility. Please don't rationalize it or deny the horrors associated with it.

Lydia F. Gray, DVM
Executive Director
Hooved Animal Humane Society

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