TEXAS VET NEWS By Dr. Bob Judd, DVM and the Texas Farm Bureau Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network

An interesting article about abandoned horses was written by Pat Dawson and published May 28, 2008 in Time magazine online.  Mr. Dawson talks about the global food and fuel crisis contributing to a large number of horses being abandoned; many are turned loose in the deserts and plains out west to die cruel and lonesome deaths.  Although increasing grain and gas prices are a contributing factor, there have been large numbers of unwanted horses for several years.  Since all the slaughterhouses were closed in 2007, there is no other method of dealing with these unwanted animals.  For several years, the American Association of Equine Practitioners cautioned legislators that before they closed slaughter houses for horses, they needed to have a plan to take care of those horses.  The AAEP is not in favor of slaughtering horses but knew if slaughter plants were closed, things would get worse.  And they have. 

Now, many of the horses are being hauled into Mexico where they are still being slaughtered but inhumanely without regulations, or they are simply turned loose to starve to death.  And although all unwanted horses were certainly not slaughtered, the closing of these plants increased the number of unwanted horses that have to be dealt with.  There are many equine rescues around the country but they are small and there are simply too many horses.  So now is the time for all of the people that were so actively involved in supporting legislation closing the slaughter plants to start adopting horses.  Everyone, especially those that voted to ban slaughter, must start adopting horses to prevent them from suffering.

Hear the audio of this program at the Texas Farm Bureau Network.

Date Published: 2/23/2009 9:35:00 AM