Who Wants a Horse Burger?

[Teatownclown]

Poll: Oklahoma Voters Strongly Oppose Horse Slaughter

http://soonerpoll.com/poll-oklahoma-voters-strongly-oppose-horse-slaughter/

Funny how that never seems to matter when someone can make money off of pending legislation.

You haven't noticed it does not matter what the majority want in Amerika anymore? This is no longer a democracy and that is not POTUS Obama's doing.

[Gaspar]

So focusing people's attention on where food comes from is about the only way to distract them from the real issue.
Otherwise, we would have to face the question "Do you really think slaughter is more humane than adoption?"

We're still talking about horses?  Right?

[patric]

We're still talking about horses?  Right?

I wasnt going to be the first one to make that connection (even though it might be interesting to see where the slaughter lobby stands).

If the bills pass, I can see the horse show promoters quietly fulfilling their contracts, then moving on to another state that isnt importing potentially infectious horses...   but Tulsa's tourism loss will be some armpit factory town's gain, I guess.

[Townsend]

If the bills pass, I can see the horse show promoters quietly fulfilling their contracts, then moving on to another state that isnt importing potentially infectious horses...   but Tulsa's tourism loss will be some armpit factory town's gain, I guess.

Guessing Bristow:

Oklahoma horse slaughter bill author denies financial motivation

Skye McNiel, R-Bristow, said she proposed House Bill 1999 to help the horse livestock economy and open up an outlet for people to dispose of their horses. Critics, however, call it a conflict of interest meant to boost finances at her grandparent's horse auction, the largest in the state.

http://newsok.com/oklahoma-horse-slaughter-bill-author-denies-financial-motivation/article/3766611

[Teatownclown]

Guessing Bristow:

Oklahoma horse slaughter bill author denies financial motivation



http://newsok.com/oklahoma-horse-slaughter-bill-author-denies-financial-motivation/article/3766611

I guess this makes her a political horse?

[patric]

I guess this makes her a political horse?

Or some part of a horse.

[Townsend]

On it's way to the Governor's desk.

Really representing the majority here in Oklahoma.

[patric]

On it's way to the Governor's desk.

Really representing the majority here in Oklahoma.

Since when has she been concerned about anything that would hurt Tulsa's economy?

[TeeDub]

"Do you really think slaughter is more humane than adoption?"

Obviously adoption would be the better option, but as PETA has learned, there is more surplus than there are people to adopt them.

In which case, might as well feed someone.

Despite PETA's anti-animal cruelty advocacy, the organization itself has killed nearly 90 percent of all the cats and dogs dropped off at its Virginia shelter in 2012.
http://rt.com/usa/peta-animals-shelter-euphanasia-621/

[patric]

Obviously adoption would be the better option, but as PETA has learned, there is more surplus than there are people to adopt them.

PETA wouldn't be my first choice for a horse rescue.

Try:

http://www.blazesequinerescue.com
http://horse.rescueme.org/Oklahoma
http://horse.rescueshelter.com/Oklahoma
http://www.horsefeathersequinerescue.org
http://waysranchhorserescue.org
and on...



Local horse rescue volunteers, Terry Way and Mendy Smallwood, have worked for years to save horses from going to slaughterhouses in Mexico and Canada.

Smallwood works with local non-profit horse rescue groups all over the country.
"If you have them and you can't feed them, or are neglecting them because you cannot afford to take care of them, find a place where they can get help; ask for help, find a place where those horses can go!"

Way and Smallwood believe the House Bill will encourage backyard breeding. They believe the slaughterhouses will only want the young and healthy horses because the meat will be exported from the U.S. to other countries for meat consumption.

"So why would slaughterhouses only want the sick and old horses?" questioned Terry Way. "They want the young and healthy because they don't need to be on medication and the meat is lean and tenderer."

"Currently, horses are being sold for cheap because people cannot afford to take care of them properly," said Smallwood.  But the slaughterhouses will pay for the bigger horses.  Some pay 78 cents a pound. That's a big profit for a bunch of big healthy horses."

Terry and Mendy have saved many horses from going to directly to slaughterhouses.
"If I can't take them from people who neglect them and then give up and need to send them to slaughter then I will take them to another rescue group either here or my friends in Arizona who have a rescue or to Terry's rescue to make sure these beautiful creatures are cared for.  They deserve to be cared for, they don't deserve this abuse," said Smallwood.

"The answer is education," said Way. "We need to get the state officials to do their research and education the public about how to care for horses and what to do when you can no longer care for them. We need to regulate backyard breeding. If the representatives are saying this bill is the answer to over population, then that is not true.  This bill will only encourage more breeding and make the problem worse."

Way also said more problems will arise from this issue like the USDA inspecting meat.
"Right now the USDA does not inspect horse meat, so that law will also have to be re-visited if this bill passes," said Way.  "I wish the public would have had a say in this bill and the other horse slaughtering Senate Bill 375.  It's not right that the public has not been involved."
http://www.fox23.com/news/local/story/Bill-to-allow-horse-slaughter-houses-OK-moves-to/Aen7nMJjkUWAm8-qk6TNkA.cspx

[patric]

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - A federal judge on Friday temporarily halted plans by companies in New Mexico and Iowa to start slaughtering horses next week.

U.S. District Judge Christina Armijo issued a restraining order in a lawsuit brought by The Humane Society of the United States and other groups in case that has sparked an emotional national debate about how best to deal with the tens of thousands of unwanted and abandoned horses across the country.

The move stops what would have been the resumption of horse slaughters for the first time in seven years in the U.S.

Plaintiffs' lawyer Bruce Wagman said his clients were overjoyed with the ruling and "were extremely distressed that horse slaughter was going to start up again in America."

The groups contend the Department of Agriculture failed to do the proper environmental studies before issuing permits that allowed companies in Iowa and New Mexico to open horse slaughterhouses. The companies had said they wanted to open as soon as Monday.

In Oklahoma, a bill to allow such slaughterhouses was approved by the Legislature and signed by the governor this year.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/article.aspx/Judge_blocks_planned_horse_slaughter_at_2_plants/20130803_13_A8_ABQEQE709152