Please read my newest post, and yes, I have been in horse rescue for over twently years. I have scraped maggots, held horse's heads as they died, and paid good money just to bring a horse home to euthanize it. I, like everyone else, have experienced times of financial hardship and have cleaned other's stalls, homes and toillets just to earn enough money for hay. Why are people ADVOCATING slaughter as an answer to abuse? Why are we not fighting to prosecute the people who put these horses in these situations? EVERY state has laws regulating some form of animal control (not non-profit rescue) who is mandated to sieze and/or accept owner submission. My heart goes out to ANYONE who cares about an animal but can no longer care for it, but I will not support inhumane slaughter just to give abusers and money makers a way to get rid of their evidence. I was wrong to blast everyone when I did not realize the conditions of auctions in other states, and have posted an appology. I still believe, however, that slaughter is not the answer, prevention and education are.
In Virginia, you are not allowed to even brring a cow into a sale unless it is able to walk into the auction on its own power, and shows no sign of neglect. Owners who attempt to are prosecuted. Does that mean there is no abuse in Virginia, of course not, we fight it every day, but have you been personnaly present through the entire slaughter process? Watched them fall, scream, fight because the scent of blood terrifies them and clings to you for days? Once for me, and no more. I still feel unclean. I agree that the conditions she talked about in the auctions there are HORRIble, but why is NO ONE talking about changing THAT???? Why is the answer to make it easier to kill them? Does re-opening the slaughterhouses stop the abuse, or make it easier and more profitable?