Humane Society Uncovers Downer Cows! Where was the USDA?

I tip my hat to the Humane Society for bringing the downer cows issue to the attention of the authorities.   The USDA has to be and should be embarrassed.   I was particularly intrigued with the quote in the newspaper “USDA inspectors are there at slaughterhouses continuously.”  OK, where were they when this was going on?

It is sad that the Humane Society had to bring this issue to light.  The checks and balances in the process are obviously broken.  The workers, the supervisors and the plant manager should be called on the carpet and those directly responsible should be dealt with through the legal system.  Where were the co-workers?  Where was the USDA inspector? 

This is the problem through out our great nation.  Too many have turned aside too often.  We don’t think we should make it our business.   We turn a deaf ear and blind eye to the atrocious going on all around us.   We don’t want to get involved.

The video of this was shown on newscasts and the internet up to 2 weeks ahead of the USDA’s announcement.  Does this mean the USDA is severly understaffed or not willing to do anything until it becomes a national uproar?  I don’t know that answer and I’m not going to assume I know their situation but it makes one ponder what IS going on.

We could be force feed a vegetarian life style if we don’t get this worked out quickly.   The horse slaughterhouses were shut down instead of fixed – don’t take any of this too lightly.    Don’t pass it off, don’t think it’s an isolated incident, don’t assume someone else will step up and demand changes because those changes may not be what you expect.

Again, I tip my hat to the Humane Society.  I’m ashamed it was left up to you to do the “dirty” work.     

Horse Slaughter campaign targets Children

A chat about the Horse Slaughter Bill brought up the story that a youngster who had received an information packet from the Doris Day Animal League. 

A 9 year old had been pictured on the front page of the local paper after winning her class during the state horse show competition.  Her father assumes this is where the mailing information came from.

I know there are rotten apples in almost every barrel.  With the media attention this subject has gotten why would anyone need to target a 9 year old?  How would you feel if your child or grandchild received graphic detailed information through the mail on any subject? 

I will chalk this one up to that “one bad apple in the barrel” and expect both pro and con horse slaughter groups to present their information in an appropriate adult manner.

Farm Animal Welfare

Get off your duff America!   We are on a downward spiral!  Farm Animal Welfare is an issue that is at our doorstop now.

We have got to clean up the farm animal industry or it will be done for us.  The Horse Slaughter bill is just a stepping stone.  Once the slaughter houses were closed here, the next target was stopping the slaughter industry income completely.  The US can not stop another country from eating horse-meat, but legislation proposed can stop our ability to participate in that economy.  

If you think it will stop with horses you are living in the dark.  Check the on-line videos and you will see where farm animal welfare is all headed next.   Ignore the issue and you will wake up with no livelihood. 

Yes, there are problems in the farm animal husbandry and slaughter industry.  That’s where we need solutions not an eradication of the industry.

I challenge you to comment and/or email with solution. -  realistic, workable and humane!

Horse Slaughter Supporters

It only take a few nasty people to leave a certain bad taste in your mouth.    Being new to bogging, I did not know comments by others would not automatically post.   THANK GOODNESS!

I have not retaliated, I have not posted comments on any of the Pro Horse Slaughter blogs because even if I don’t agree, they are entitled to their opinion.  I am going to delete the nasty emails I have received.  I am not going to bash ALL pro slaughter supporters because a small handful were rude.  

Being raised in the country and  learning about life and death on the farm probably caused me to have a different perspective than some.  As a child, I came to the understanding that animals sometimes decomposed in the field, others were buried to decompose and enrich the soil, and sometimes they were picked up by a rendering service.  I thought it was the natural progression for those animals to be part of the cycle of life and when comments about glue factories were made, I thought it was an honor for them to be the same glue that allowed me to create something new in art class.

As I got older I realized other people actually ate horse-meat.  Horsemeat didn’t appeal to me, but those who did weren’t trying to cram it down my throat that I couldn’t have beef or pork or chicken or anything else.   

When all the attention got focused on the horse slaughter plants, I truly thought it was a good thing.  If inspections weren’t being done,  that needed to be handled.   If procedures were not followed in the kill room — get them fixed.  If the trucking end of things needed attention,  get it taken care of. 

Instead – it snowballed into a big ugly entity of it’s own that has caused division and strife across America. 

Why do ALL of us find it is easier to make noise, throw time and money at debating and force feeding our opinion on an issue instead of finding a solution.

With all the money spent on this issue both Pro and Con,  wouldn’t a workable solution have been significantly cheaper? I had an employer years ago who said –  If you don’t have a solution to the problem, you’re just whining.   

Folks we’re not accomplishing anything —–we’re all just whining.

Humane Welfare of Unwanted Horses

It appears as written the bills proposed have made no provision for the humane welfare of unwanted horses.   These are huge animals that require room to move, consume lots of feed and require specialized care. 

I applaud those who are financially able to send their horse to a “retirement home.”   What about the rest of the horses? 

What are the options for truly dangerous horses?   The ones that have been taught a dangerous habit.   I know a mare that was “taught” to rear over backwards.  She is beautiful in color, confirmation and has fantastic bloodlines.  Her introduction to saddling caused a situation where she was overwhelmed, reared, broke a lead rope and went over backwards.  This was repeated several times by the then current owners.  Today, her first reaction at being saddled is to get scared and then rear over backwards.  What are the options for her?

Would a “retirement” home be an option?  Not financially for the folks who have her now.  Taking the mare to a sale barn is out of the question,  she would not get any bids.  The 6 year old little girl this mare was purchased for is heart broken.   They can’t get rid of this mare and they can’t purchase another horse without getting rid of the first one.  

Confusion on the Highways

I scaled the truck and trailer with two yearling fillies one morning.   The DOT officer asked to see my paperwork.   The Dot officer then proceeded to explain that if I put one more horse on I would be overloaded and illegal. 

One week later I scaled the same truck and trail and horses at the same DOT station.  I pulled on and they waved me through.    I pulled around back and went inside to ask for the “top dog”.   That morning the “top dog” in the office happened to be the Captain.

After asking for an explanation of the regulations and explaining the situation the prior week,  his answer to me was ——–   “That officer didn’t understand the law.”

Now, if the folks who uphold the law don’t understand it —- how can we feel secure in having additional laws and rules put on the books?