It is time to end horse slaughter

Horse slaughter is not a solution for owners who cannot afford to care for their horses, as a recent letter implied (“Horse owners need to have options,” Aug. 22 by Clarence and Jean Rouse).

Becoming a horse owner is a choice and that choice comes with responsibilities. When an owner is no longer able to adequately care for their horse, there are many options available, such as selling, leasing or donating the horse. There are programs all over the country that accept horses for use in programs that benefit horses and provide substantial benefits to the community as well. For horses that are too sick or old, or have no other options, those horses should be humanely euthanized, not brutally slaughtered.

Horse slaughter only causes more problems. Since domestic plants closed in 2007, breeders and owners have continued to send their horses to auctions for slaughter across our borders and this has encouraged over breeding and neglect by paying horse owners and breeders by the pound for their irresponsible decisions.

It is time to end horse slaughter by passing the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act, H.R. 1094/S. 541. Please ask senators and representatives to co-sponsor this important legislation.

John Braumann

Marion