As Pais had said when the ban movement successfully closed 2 of the 3 U.S. slaughterhouses, unintended consequences have resulted. This NYT piece lays out the truth about less humane deaths and arduous transport to Canada and Mexico for kill pen victims.
In addition, the summer drought which has driven grain and hay prices to all time highs, is rendering 'livestock' horses worthless as it costs more to feed them than they can fetch at auction. As I mentioned Tuesday on ATR, the hay situation is creating a scenario where stretched rescue organizations and well-intended pleasure horse owners cannot afford to feed the horses they have. Abandonment is already starting to get reported, and we still have 100 days of winter weather yet to come.
If not a crisis yet, it will be.. As Einhorn writes in her piece, the assorted Equine Breed Foundations/Associations cannot even agree on the viability of euthanasia, so no coherent policy in this country is going to emerge any time soon. One thing is certain however, and that is that we are overbreeding horses in this country.
Death Across the Border Awaits Horses Spared in the U.S.
By CATRIN EINHORN
http://www.nytimes.com:80/2008/01/11...=5070&emc=eta1
A must-read for those interested/concerned about the welfare of horses...