Unwanted Horses

 Sheriffs across the state have an issue on their hands: Abandoned Horses. Just outside of Emmett two weeks ago a passerby found 15 dead horses in a rotting heap, their brands cut from the hide. Lee Kliman of the BLM told the Idaho Statesman that he's seen an increase in the number of horses abandoned on public land. In California the situation is far worse and authorities there are forced to deal with tens of thousand unwanted horses.

 Dr. Bill Barton, Administrator and Chief Veterinarian for the State of Idaho. “70% of the complaints that we look into regarding animal care issues involve horses. There are very few marketability options right now for people needing to decrease the number of horses that they have in their care. Marketing options are limited because other people are not looking to buy horses, prices are way down and I think the closing of the slaughter plants in the U.S. for the humane slaughter of horses has certainly affected that.”

 But the Montana House of Representatives strongly endorsed a bill to start construction of a horse slaughterhouse in Montana and wants to bring the industry back to the United States, knowing that so many horse owners have been struggling. They say it’s too difficult now to dispose of unwanted animals. A grim look at the reality of horse slaughter tomorrow.