[RC] slaughter - SpottedracerAs a member of the ASPCA and a former horse rescuer/rehabilitator... Though I don't agree with the philosophy of 'throw aways' - sadly, that's the american way these days.... Don't like your car - trade her in. Dog pissed you off - dump it!.. Cat's pregnant - drop it off at the ASPCA... Ain't your problem then..Unfortunantly, whereas there ARE free euthanasia clinics (dog pounds) for dogs/cats - there are none for horses... In TN the universities are full, Zoos are full, Parks/police are full, and MOST of the non-profits are running in the red - and cannot help you... MOST of the auction houses have also been closed (lack of sales/no profit).. When that $15 roll of hay - is currently $75-$100 (if you can find it)... Grass burned up and ponds/streams drying up... Cattle ranchers have the option of loading up dozens of animals - and selling them quickly at the numerous weekly auctions. (MOST of these early culls are going straight to slaughter).... Horse owners don't have that option anymore, Local vets run from $200-400 to put down a horse - depending on their farm call charge. Can't find many rendering companies for disposal - so it costs about $200-400 to pay a backhoe owner/opperator to come over to bury it... Many owners don't have that ($400-800 cash) - they've gone broke just TRYING to pay for what little poor-quality hay they can find! As the barefoot trimmer so eloquently put it: 'Lott've horses taking a one-way trip to the back fields these days..." - A $.50 bullet is far cheaper and faster than a vet - and perfectly legal in TN... Pretty sad.. - LP
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