Letter to the Editor by Lynne O’Toole as published in the News-Leader.com
“If pro-horse-slaughter folks were serious about their stated concern for unwanted horses they would look for permanent solutions.”
Rains Natural Meats has amended its previous application for a permit to slaughter horses, a permit application that was denied, and rightfully so, by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
Horse slaughter is a dangerous endeavor — not just for horses. In the United States, we do not keep permanent records of drugs given to horses. Those drugs, some banned by the FDA for use in animals intended for food, will end up in our water supply if we allow horse slaughter on our soil. The DNR should continue to deny permits to any plant hoping to slaughter horses in Missouri.
There is no real domestic market for horse meat. The European market is not as large as slaughter proponents claim and, more importantly, they are completely uninterested in adulterated horse meat from the United States.
If pro-horse-slaughter folks were serious about their stated concern for unwanted horses they would look for permanent solutions. Instead, they claim slaughter is the answer, but their argument is full of fallacies. Sick, starving cows and pigs don’t go to slaughter in this country. Neither will horses.
Horse slaughter is an economic drain on rural communities, provides few low-paying, dangerous jobs and is a serious threat to our environment and health. Missourians shouldn’t be subjected to the aftermath caused by horse slaughter just so a few greedy people can line their pockets.Most of the people trying to force horse slaughter on us are not from Missouri. Our health and welfare and the economic and environmental impact are not on their radar…(CONTINUED)
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Categories: Horse News
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
Thanks RT. Shared.
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Reblogged this on Wonder and Whimsy, Beauty and Soul and commented:
Amen!!
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Reblogged this on Paula Todd King.
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thank you Lynn O”Toole and thank everyone here for supporting Missouri in the struggle in Missouri. They are pulling out all the stops here to intimidate Missouri DNR
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I agree Horse slaughter permits should all be denied! Horse are not raised or regulated as food and should never enter the food chain. The public has already spoken NO to horse slaughter what part of that is not understood.
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Oklahoma demanded other states butte out, well Wallis, Duqutte, Susan Humphries are Not Missourians so they Butte out, as well for New Mexico.
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Very well stated. Legislators from states that had to tolerate it until they were closed know what it was like. I am from Illinois and was a part of the movement to rid horse slaughter in Illinois. It was costly to fight and left the environment damaged. Violations and fines were never paid. However, we mu must look for solutions to our equine populations because equine slaughter is not likely to ever take place in this country again. The fact still remains that equines are still leavinleaving our country to be slaughtered else where even though the EU regulations are in place. The breed associations need to look to solutions other than slaughter. Most of the breeds are guilty of supporting slaughter. You casn’t love your breed if don’t care if they live or die in such a cruel way. They all need to take responsibility for the over population. Equines are living breathing and should not be treated like a retail commodity. Let other Europeans kill there own horses and other equines. The “safe act” needs to be passed immediately, but all of us need to be ready with an alternate solution because the time is coming.
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It is difficult to understand those who are pro-slaughter. If I were a psychologist it might help. RT makes all the points, but the pros don’t seem to fit? I think of them as “Horse Haters”.
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I agree Elaine they are horse haters saying they love horses.
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Something not being mentioned much is that American tourists eat when they travel in Europe… so this tainted meat being sold there is still a health threat to Americans. Anyone traveling should boycott meat products entirely until the SAFE Act is passed, since nobody can be sure any of the meat they eat will not contain horsemeat and thus contaminants.
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Good point, IcySpots.
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Reblogged this on "OUR WORLD".
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