Horse owners, clubs urge governor to support horse slaughterhouse in New Mexico

A group of horse owners and clubs is urging the governor to support a proposed horse slaughterhouse in Roswell, saying the closing of domestic facilities five years ago has caused “needless suffering under the cruelest of conditions.” The New Mexico Horse Council, which represents more than 200 horse owners and 30 horse clubs, sent the governor a letter, saying an informal survey of its members showed 94 percent favor humane slaughter. “Horses deserve better than to be abandoned, starved, or transported long distances in overcrowded trucks to slaughter in foreign countries,” the letter from council President Rusty Cook said, noting rescue facilities are unable to care for all the unwanted horses. Martinez spokesman Scott Darnell said the governor received the letter, but her opposition to the facility has not changed. Meantime, Valley Meat Co. owner Rick de los Santos said he has hired an attorney and is working with Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., and Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., to push for action from the USDA on his application to convert his former cattle slaughterhouse into a horse slaughter plant that would package meat for sale overseas. Cook estimates some 1,000 horses are shipped through New Mexico to Mexico every month for slaughter south of the border. She said the proposed slaughterhouse in Roswell should be supported. “Not only would it help to solve the current overpopulation of horses, but it would provide considerable economic benefits to our state in the form of jobs and production of usable products such as meat, dog food, and glue for sale in both domestic and foreign markets,” she wrote to the governor...more

Finally, some sanity on this issue.