[richard burch]

Originally Posted by LARHAGE

I agree with this somewhat, though I personally would rather take my horse behind the barn and have someone who is experienced shoot the horse in the head, I unfortunately have had the opportunity to witness the kill pen at a slaughter house, and it took virtually every ounce of self-control I had to not break down and cry in front of the class I was in, the reason is, unlike cattle that did not appear to have any emotion about the atmosphere, the horses were TERRIFIED, they were nickering and calling out in absolute fear, they could see, hear, and smell the death of the prior horses and were just getting worked up with fear as they stood in line, as someone who has had horses for 30 years and knows them inside and out, that was harder to watch than the actual killing, which was bad in and of itself.

I once took the cowards way out and had the stable manager of a stable I was boarding at handle my horse, to be euthanized, I left a check for my Vet and told him I couldn't be there for obvious reasons, later the Vet called me at work and asked why I changed my mind, he told me the stable manager called and cancelled the appt for me. I went down there as quick as I could and as I was getting out of my car, the manager walked up and said he took care of my horse for me with his Vet, he handed me my check. I immediately became suspicious and asked for the Vet's number to verify, at which he began coming up with bullshit excuses, I than went off and demanded to know the whereabouts of my horse, I even called the police, who informed me the horse was at the auction awaiting shipment to slaughter, I recovered my horse and did what I should have in the first place, been there with him to insure a humane death. There are all kinds of money grubbing a-holes involved in the horse industry who will take every opportunity to bilk every dime they can get out of them, even if it's not their horse.

that is a very sad and disturbing story. what the **** is wrong with people?