Friday, November 1, 2013

Temporary order against horse slaughter expires


Category: Food safety / animal rights

Level: National

This article concerns policies that affect individuals and families.

This article discusses the expiration of a temporary order against horse slaughter

My views:

I used to help a sick neighbor care for her horse when I was younger. I got to muck his stalls, feed him, and I learned to ride. His name was Benny and he was a sweet little horse with dear little brown spots. I loved him as only a twelve-year-old girl can love a horse and was devastated when he passed away.

I also used to have a pet rabbit named Scurry. He was a mean little sonuvagun who ate the fur off of my sister’s rabbit, Thumper. He was my little bunny and, even though he bit me every time I tried to snuggle him, I loved him as only a five-year-old girl can love a stinky, mean, one-eyed rabbit. Eventually, we moved across the country and had to send Thumper and Scurry to a rabbit farm. I am told they thrive here still.

My experiences with Benny and Scurry formed my idea of what horses and rabbits are (pets) and what they are good for (love and friendship).  I don’t want to eat horse or rabbit. I have several friends, however, who grew up in Europe where it is not common to have pet horses or rabbits. Their experiences shaped their ideas of what horses and rabbits are (meat) and what they are good for (Sunday supper).


The USDA is charged with ensuring that no unwholesome food is produced in our country or fed to our people. Horse meat is not unwholesome and it is commonly consumed in many parts of the world. Unless these slaughterhouses are kidnapping pet horsies, I don’t see why they shouldn’t be allowed to operate. There’s obviously a demand for horse meat and America seems to have an excess supply. Them's the breaks, kids.

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