For many years, the slaughtering of horses was banned from the United States due to the controversy it brought among the American people. Obama signed a law that lifted the ban on funding for horse meat inspections.
Currently, there are no slaughter houses in the United States for human consumption, but at anytime one could be up and running within a month. However, the USDA would conduct a full inspection to make sure there are no federal laws being broken and that the plants would meet all expectations. Possible sights for the plants include Wyoming, North Dakota, Nebraska, and Missouri.
According to The Associated Press, prop-slaughter activists say there could be unintended consequences such as an increase in neglect and abandonment of horses. They estimated that over 200,000 horses could be slaughtered for human consumption in a year. The meet would also be supplied overseas to countries in Europe and Asia, including France and Japan.
In 2010, about 138,000 horses were transported to Mexico and Canada also according to the Associated Press. The United States has about 9 million horses and out of those 9 million, the same number of horses were killed before the ban took effect.
Many horse lovers, like sophomore Becca Schroeder, are disgusted by horse slaughter and people lost their mentality of what horses really are.
“Horses are pets and eating pets is like eating family.” Schroeder stated, “I can see why we are trying to help other nations by giving them meat but it’s taking away something majestic and beautiful and eating it.”
According to washingtontimes.com many times the authority had no way of disposing horses that were reported to be neglected or abused. Many of the shelters and horse rescue facilities were full and couldn’t take in any more horses. With the slaughter houses, at least the horses will have somewhere to go. Many argue that selling the horses to slaughter plants is a more humane way to go than horses being left to starve to death by owners that can’t afford them anymore.
Senior Abbey Senczyszyn can see both sides of the predicament. Although she understands why Obama signed this law, she over all believes that eating horse meat is awful and they should not be allowed to be slaughter.
“People are just becoming so careless about animals.” Senczyszyn stated, “Horses are soon going to be like the cows and their only purpose in life is going to be bred and raised for their meat.”
In the United States, horses have more of a sentimental value and are loved pets as if they were a family member.
“We should not be killing off the beauty of America.” Becca Schroeder commented, “We should be saving it.”