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Re: [RC] ethics of slaughter - Diane Trefethen(long)The objections I have seen to slaughtering horses seem to fall into two categories. 1) It is bad to slaughter horses because the conditions of the transport and/or the methods used for the slaughter are so painful that they constitute torture (see prior comparisons between horses for slaughter and Nazi concentration camp residents) and 2) horses are special in a way cattle and other livestock aren't; they are more akin to pets like our dogs and cats. The current legislation contains wording that alludes to both these theses. Although I agree with #2, my feelings are not so strong that I am willing to impose those feelings on others. I can see clearly that a perfectly sane, reasonable person with a different background from me might easily see horses as no more than just livestock. In fact, even in the United States, most animal control laws treat horses as livestock, not pets. The fact that, comparatively, horses aren't as smart as pigs further emphasizes that the placing of the horse on a special pedestal, above being eaten while pigs are, is an emotional designation, not a substantive one. As to argument #1, it does not address the issue of KILLING a horse, just the circumstances surrounding that killing. If the issue is with the method employed, why prohibit the activity? Why not change the method? I suspect the reason for condemning slaughter on this basis is that some believe as I do, that horses are special but also that it is unreasonable to prohibit a behaviour based on one's own, personal feelings. Thus they grab at any straw to stop slaughter, even an illogical straw. One RC opponent of horse slaughter humorously, albeit unwittingly, pointed this out. After identifying a horse as "mean and dangerous", saying "... then maybe he needs to be put down, not sent to slaughter." In other words, it's okay to KILL a horse, just not in a place built exclusively for the purpose and where the result of that killing will be to put the dead horse to further use. I doubt the horse really cares whether we call it "put down" or "slaughter". He is just as dead. Side Notes: another RC poster complained, "The PROCESS is wrong - not the legislation" yet failed to demonstrate how the legislation addresses the process. In fact, the law is badly flawed, so badly that it *cannot* be used to stop the mass transport of horses for slaughter. Why? Because the slaughter in the law is limited specifically to "SLAUGHTER FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION". Therefore the transportation of horses bound for slaughter as pet food is not covered by this legislation. Now that's a loophole you can drive a stock truck through. Can you spell, "Hello, Mexico"? Worse, the HPA legislation is unconstitutional, almost in toto. The only reason it will probably not be challenged up to the Supreme Court is that the primary benefactors are non-American consumers who have neither a good understanding of our Constitution nor the financial incentive to mount the necessary judicial attack. Instead of the ineffectual HPA legislation we are now stuck with, if you really want to protect horses instead of just forcing your beliefs and opinions down others throats, why not support a two-pronged attack on this issue which will accomplish what you most desire - an improvement in the quality of death for the horses. First, other posters made a wonderfully sane suggestion: rescue groups could instigate the creation of a nationwide network or organization dedicated to the gentle euthanasia and dignified disposal of horses, one which would take ALL horses brought to them and charge a reasonable fee for their services. Clients could choose the method of death and disposal based on their personal beliefs and/or pocketbooks. Second, support legislation respecting the transport and slaughter of horses which would require that horses be treated humanely, right up to and including the coup de grace. No moral/religious underpinning, no distinction between horses as food for people vs animals. Just protection for the horses from inhumane treatment. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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