Permit Denied for NM Horse Slaughter Company

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Permit Denied for NM Horse Slaughter Company
By JERI CLAUSING Associated Press
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. July 23, 2013 (AP)

The New Mexico Environment Department on Monday dealt a new blow to a Roswell company's hard-fought attempts to begin slaughtering horses next month, declining a request to renew Valley Meat Co.'s wastewater discharge permit.

The denial came the same day that actor Robert Redford and former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson joined the divisive debate, announcing formation of an animal protection foundation to fight a return to domestic horse slaughter.

The NMED says it won't renew the permit without a public hearing, noting it has received more than 450 comments against letting the former cattle slaughterhouse open as a horse slaughter plant.

Valley Meat Co. attorney Blair Dunn cried foul, saying the agency was unfairly targeting a small family-owned business. He says the plant can still open, but would have to haul its waste.




Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/redford-richardson-fight-horse-slaughter-19752006

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(Short article, no more at link.)

[Judi Lynn]

1. Redford, Richardson Fight Against Horse Slaughter

Redford, Richardson Fight Against Horse Slaughter
By JERI CLAUSING Associated Press
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. July 23, 2013 (AP)

Robert Redford and former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson on Monday joined the divisive debate against a return to domestic horse slaughter, announcing the formation of an animal protection foundation to fight the opening of plants in New Mexico and Iowa.

The Foundation to Protect New Mexico Wildlife's first act was to join a federal lawsuit filed by The Humane Society of the United States and other groups to block the planned Aug. 5 opening of the first horse slaughterhouses in the U.S. to operate in more than six years.

On Friday, New Mexico Attorney General Gary King also filed a motion to intervene on behalf of horse slaughter opponents.

"Horse slaughter has no place in our culture," Redford said in a statement. "It is cruel, inhumane, and perpetuates abuse and neglect of these beloved animals."

More:
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/redford-richardson-fight-horse-slaughter-19752191

[hamsterjill]

2. Good for Sundance!

Glad to see Redford and Richardson getting involved.

[7962]

3. Good for them!

[BarbaRosa]

4. This story keeps popping up on the news,

it pisses me off and sickens me every time I hear it.

[Warpy]

5. Foregone conclusion

Redford and Ted Turner own a lot of this state, so anything either opposes vigorously is not going to be approved.

[bemildred]

6. Good. nt

[awoke_in_2003]

7. Cow slaughter good. Horse slaughter bad. nt

[Scout]

12. cow meat not tainted with bute

horse meat tainted with bute and other drugs that remain in the meat and make it not safe for human consumption.

have a nice bute burger!

[awoke_in_2003]

13. The people protesting this arent thinking about that...

they are protesting because of their hypocrisy which somehow makes horses more noble than cows. Now, if you are against horse slaughter because you are against the slaughter of any animal, then I can respect that.

[hamsterjill]

16. No, it's just drawing a line.

If slaughtering horses because we slaughter cows is really THE argument, then what's next? Puppies and kittens? Where do you draw the line?

Just because people in other countries consume horse meat, that doesn't mean that I want to.

Historically, in America we have NOT eaten horse meat. And whether or not that sentiment is or is NOT popular on this board, there are still SOME American values that are important to a few of us. For me, this is one of them.

Yes, I know...here come the flames.

[Scout]

17. that's just ONE reason to be against horse slaughter.

Last edited Thu Jul 25, 2013, 04:14 PM - Edit history (1)

you can't use the same tool to stun horses prior to slaughter that you use to stun cows ... horses heads are shaped differently and their brains are placed differently than those of cows, therefore the tool in many, many instances does not fully stun the horse, who then goes to slaughter conscious, where they are hung by their legs, which breaks their hips, before they are slaughtered while conscious.

watch the videos of horses being "shot" with the stun gun 5, 10, a dozen times and they are still conscious....

do some research on what happens in the towns with horse slaughter. the people do not want this for more reasons than emotional ones.

but yes, horses are more "noble" than cows. they are our working partners, our companions, and have an emotional life all their own (cows might too, i don't know). they provide our livelihood in many cases, and deserve better than to be sold to slaughter and the abuse that goes with it.

ETA: GRAPHIC video and facts about horse slaughter.

&oref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DD3YrZVKAcvc&has_verified=1

[Betsy Ross]

8. I'm a vegetarian for two reasons.

1. I don't think that meat eating, especially as done in the US, is sustainable on the planet.

2. I can't abide with the conditions animals are subjected to in most commercial operations.

That said, why are horses different than cows or goats? Why are cats and dogs any different when it comes to food sources? I have raised all of the above mentioned animals and most were loveable. Well, maybe not the billy goat. And yet I am some of them and a variety of wild critters. I just don't see how one can justify killing one animal while objecting to another.

[bread_and_roses]

11. If you research horse slaughter in US conducted in past

I think you will find that many of us opposed slaughter due to the inhumane conditions of transport and slaughter - not out of sentiment.

I will note, however, that the poultry, beef and pork we eat have not been bred as companion animals, have not been selected over thousands of years for traits that make them companion animals, and have not in their individual lifetimes been trained to be guided by humans and to trust - in the best cases - or at least abide them. That rather does - for most people - make for a different relationship, which I think is a valid consideration.

I also oppose the inhumane conditions of big agra, from birth to slaughter, though I do not think it unethical to eat animals - in and of itself. Inhumane treatment is unethical. And the environmental burden is another matter.

[newfie11]

9. So they will be shipped to Mexico

This just prolongs and increases the suffering.
Before I am banished I want to say I have horses. They are my family and I have had horses my entire life. I would put them down before sending to slaughter.

What people must remember hay is very expensive now $200-300. A ton if you can find it.

Sell them lol. The average family horse would be hard to sell. Eventing, cutting, roping, racing is a different story.

Now these horses will be trucked to Mexico. How many injured in that ride, no regs in MX, imagine their life in the pens waiting to go through the slaughter.

America needs to enforce humane slaughter and trucking laws for all livestock.

Btw I am a vegetarian.

[hopemountain]

10. horses are emotional

their suffering is immeasurable. no slaughter and no wholesale to meat processing plants either in the country or out of the country.
i would rather see laws requiring the humane treatment and maintenance of any animal outlawing cruelty, abuse and neglect in any form.

[newfie11]

15. I agree we need better laws

But in the meantime horses will still suffer greatly being trucked to and slaughtered in Mexico.

Some of the horse rescue places are full and looking for donations for hay.

Irresponsible horse owners need to be fined but as long as 1 bale is on the property nothing is done, even if the horses are malnourished.

Hay is one thing but add farrier, vet bills, worming, etc. With the economy like it is killer buyers are making a ( killing) in profit shipping animals to MX.

[Llewlladdwr]

14. That's too bad.

Horse is tasty.