Slaughter Horses to Europe Review

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Daffodil

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Please could you all take 10 minutes out of your afternoon and email your MEP (list attached to the article on the News page of H&H and WHW) asking them to add their names to the request for a review of the rules governing the transport of horses for slaughter to Europe and for the existing rules to be more closely monitored and adhered to, which they are currently not.

I have emailed all ten MEPs covering my area, and got a positive response from Peter Skinner, of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats who has already signed.
 
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How about ... instead of fiddling round the edges why not go for a ban on the human consumption of horse meat in europe??? we dont eat dogs or cats why horses ??? it would reduce transport and countless welfare issues it might upset a few people in italy and france but so what, or maybe at least we could make it as socialy unaceptable as veal or foi gra and the other welfare nastys...
 
perfect11s

Why would you want to do that? I understand that you may find the concept of eating horses distasteful, but if they are well kept, travelling is minimal and their final end is humane it is no more cruel that any other livestock going into the food chain.

The problems arise, perhaps, when more and more people decide it is distasteful (as in the US for example) and as a consequence horses are then driven hundreds or thousands of miles in grim conditions to their final end.
 
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How about ... instead of fiddling round the edges why not go for a ban on the human consumption of horse meat in europe??? we dont eat dogs or cats why horses ??? it would reduce transport and countless welfare issues it might upset a few people in italy and france but so what, or maybe at least we could make it as socialy unaceptable as veal or foi gra and the other welfare nastys...

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And end up with the terrible situation that the US has?

I don't think so.
In fact, MORE abattoirs are required, not less.
 
According to WHW one slaughter route passes 180 registered slaughterhouses - they are NOT asking for a ban on slaughter - they are asking for these existing slaughterhouses to be used so the horses don't have to suffer these awful journeys!
 
Hoppin_Robin, I get that - my reply was to the person who seemed to think all slaughter of horses for consumption should be banned. I agree, there should be more use made of local slaughter houses
 
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martha

great minds....
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I think you will find its a slightly different but no less horendous problem in the states the american one is of what to do with unwanted horses and stupid bunny huggers causeing a huge problem by getting most of the slaughter houses shut down with some daft idea that all unwanted horses can be rehomed or will just disapear into thin air, instead they are trucked 1000s of miles over into mexico for slaughter by the most barbaric method...
The european problem is party because italians etc want horse meat so countrys like rumania FARM them its not getting rid of unwanted ones its breeding them and hence transport and welfare issues...
 
And it really isn't good enough that a country the size of the UK has only 2 LICENCED Abattoirs.


OK, yes there are plenty of Knackermen up and down the country, but it's not the same service thats offered.
 
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How about ... instead of fiddling round the edges why not go for a ban on the human consumption of horse meat in europe??? we dont eat dogs or cats why horses ??? it would reduce transport and countless welfare issues it might upset a few people in italy and france but so what, or maybe at least we could make it as socialy unaceptable as veal or foi gra and the other welfare nastys...

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Becasue horses really are the same as sheep, cows etc - just becasue we dont like pan fried cheval, why should we stop the French?

The main problem is do gooders buying horses to 'rescue' them from slaughter...but we are not allowed to talk about that.
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Yes but the point is that they should not be transported for days at a time, without rest, without food, without water, in tiny spaces and that goes for any animal, not just horses! Have a look at some of the WHW videos and then say that it's ok. These journeys need to STOP - end of story. Whether or not a dead horse is eaten or not is of no concern to me, but I am very bothered about what happens to them while they are still alive.

The fact is that it is not slaughter that causes trouble - it's these journeys which are cruel and a disgrace in modern Europe
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That's why this matters so much.
 
Couldnt agree more. If we (as a society) are going to eat them (animals) then they should be treated as humanely as possible, in life as far as possible and in death.
 
QR
Eating horse meat is a personal choice, as is eating any meat, if you ban one type of meat then surely you should ban them all?
As a meat eater (and yes I have eaten horse) I am much more concerned that the meat on my plate is farmed, transported and slaughtered in the best possible condition for the animal concerned. That is why I believe we should support the 'on the hook not on the hoof' campaign, for all meat animals.
 
Why on earth would you want to ban the consumption of horse meat? It is perfectly normal in Europe to eat horse meat and they are to them as cattle are to us in the UK. I understand that you might not like it but that doesn't mean a blanket ban would be right.

What would you do with all of the horses who currently go for slaughter? Would you rehome all of them? That isn't possible - surely you can see that? The horse meat industry in Europe must be massive and if you got your way, you would close down an entire industry resulting not only in (I imagine) a lot more horse welfare problems when the animals can't be slaughtered for meat, but the loss of revenue, jobs, not to mention the associated industries. It would be the same as saying to our farmers they can no longer breed and slaughter cows for meat.

And I'm sorry to tell you but neither foie gras nor veal is socially unacceptable in Europe. Foie gras is a delicacy in France and every restaurant I have eaten at in every European country I have visited has veal on the menu.
 
Perfect11s - why is there a problem with farming horses for meat? These aren't domesticated pets, they are cattle in Europe and are bred for the purpose of being slaughtered for human consumption. They haven't been stolen from a livery yard, deprived of the comforts they've known and tormented. They are bred for that job. The real world is not like Black Beauty and horses don't think like that. Those animals will likely have known no other life.

There really should be no issue with animals being farmed for slaughter provided they are reared, transported and slaughtered in humane conditions and with respect.
 
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martha

great minds....
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I think you will find its a slightly different but no less horendous problem in the states the american one is of what to do with unwanted horses and stupid bunny huggers causeing a huge problem by getting most of the slaughter houses shut down with some daft idea that all unwanted horses can be rehomed or will just disapear into thin air, instead they are trucked 1000s of miles over into mexico for slaughter by the most barbaric method...
The european problem is party because italians etc want horse meat so countrys like rumania FARM them its not getting rid of unwanted ones its breeding them and hence transport and welfare issues...

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I cannot understand your logic at all (unless you are a vegetarian, in that case I would respect your opinion but not agree) , as has been said before farming horses for meat is no less ethical that farming cattle, pigs or sheep - the welfare issues arise from the lack of abattoirs licensed to kill horses, poor travelling conditions and those well meaning nutters that are shipping sick horses all over the place to 'save' them. How is your idea any less daft than what the Americans have done?
 
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How about ... instead of fiddling round the edges why not go for a ban on the human consumption of horse meat in europe??? we dont eat dogs or cats why horses ??? it would reduce transport and countless welfare issues it might upset a few people in italy and france but so what, or maybe at least we could make it as socialy unaceptable as veal or foi gra and the other welfare nastys...

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NO........That would be a seriously bad idea,I know horses are seen primarily as pets in the UK but we already have enormous welfare problems relating to overbreeding/irresponsible of second rate stock.
What we should be campaining for is a ban on all LIVE exports and for MORE humane slaughter houses to deal with the overflow of unwanted equines to be opened in the UK.
Unfortunatley it's the rose tinted bunny huggers that have caused a serious welfare problem in the first place - Look at the USA where now horses are forced to travel hundreds if not thousands of miles to mexico where they meet a horrendus end, just because the bunny huggers got the U.S slaughter houses closed down FECKING IDIOTS....
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