Save the horses from slaughter

Who are you, Gazette editorial (Aug. 11, “A humane option”)? You should be ashamed of yourself agreeing with horse slaughter. I know everyone has their own opinion.

Most horses that go to these Godforsaken places are not all sickly or diseased animals. Some are unwanted and some are sold for the almighty dollar. They are bought at auctions or taken from people who are neglecting their animals. The majority of these animals can be brought back to health with care and necessary veterinary help.

Let the government use our tax money for that instead of using it to pay for inspectors for inhumane slaughter plants. The government would do better to help the horse rescue operations save these horses, rehabilitate and adopt the ones they can, and keep forever the ones they can't. These beautiful animals do not have to go to Mexico or Canada for killing if we just try harder to keep them out of the hands of the “meat men.”

Throughout history the horse has been our country's mainstay. They have plowed our fields, delivered our mail, been our only transportation, fought and died in our wars and been a loyal friend to us. What does every child ask for Christmas and birthdays? How do we repay this wonderful animal? Oh, let's open a slaughter plant just for them.

All horses deserve to spend their time, not scared or screaming for their lives, but grazing and running through fields feeling safe. We should make sure of this.

Mary Baker-Lauderdale

Cedar Rapids