In February, the Alberta SPCA seized 58 horses from a Canadian farm:
“In addition to suffering from long-term neglect, these horses were not used to being handled,” says Roland Lines, Communications Manager for the Alberta SPCA. “Only four geldings showed evidence of having been ridden, and a large number of the horses were extremely difficult and dangerous to contain and control during the initial seizure.”
Neglected horses were difficult to control when strangers came to put them in trailers and take them away from their home? Gee, whodathunkit? The SPCA killed 19 of the stallions after the 10 day holding period for “public safety” and another 5 for “medical reasons”. Roland Lines, spokesman for the Alberta SPCA, “confirmed the animals were euthanized [in March] by drug, which he said was more humane than being shot.” Five horses were “rehomed”. And then there were 29:
The numbers include 8 geldings, 8 mares (6 of which are pregnant) and 13 young stock.
Twenty-five of those horses were sold at public auction last week. Although the SPCA had intended to send all 29 to auction, the group decided to hold 4 back to “get them healthy”. A licensed livestock dealer bought 16 of the horses and killed 3 to sell for meat because they were “too crippled”. I was unable to find any details on the other 9 horses bought at the auction. Local horse lovers were not pleased:
“I think it’s horrendous that this is happening today, that we haven’t had an emergency adopt-a-thon of these horses,” complains horse enthusiast Keely Dobbyn. “I know lots of people that would go out and try and rescue these animals, and instead this is the easy way out.”
The Alberta SPCA posted a media release on its website in response to the public outrage. In it, the organization blames the former owner (under whose care the horses were at least alive and there was hope for true rescue) and defends horse auctions as transparent.
“Yay transparency!” – No Dead Horse, ever.
I am including the end of the SPCA’s media release and would remind you as you read it that the the group’s spokesman said injection is a more humane method of killing than gunshot. Horses who are sold for their meat can not be killed by injection. If you want to read the gory details, try Google or check out the Wiki page on horse slaughter. I would also remind you the SPCA killed 24 of the horses after their holding period expired and that 6 of the mares from the remaining 29 were pregnant.
The actions of the Alberta SPCA have improved the welfare of these horses. Their new owners, whatever their reasons for buying the horses, are required to protect them from distress and see to their needs for food, water, shelter and veterinary care.
How much food and water does a dead horse need?
Thanks for the horse care tips and best practices information, Alberta SPCA.
(Thank you Brandi for alerting me to this story.)