Soon we'll be slaughtering dogs to send to China......

[Team Sergeant]

Decision ends two-year battle by Valley Meat and other firms to open in New Mexico, Iowa.

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (AP) — A federal judge on Friday cleared the way for horse slaughterhouses to resume operating in the U.S. as early as next week.

U.S. District Judge Christina Armijo in Albuquerque threw out a lawsuit by The Humane Society of the United States and other animal protection groups that alleged the Department of Agriculture failed to conduct proper environmental studies when it issued permits to Valley Meat Co. in Roswell, New Mexico, and an Iowa company to slaughter horses for human consumption.

The decision ends, for now, a two-year battle by Valley Meat to open the slaughterhouse.

The issue of horse slaughter has divided horse rescue and animal welfare groups, ranchers, politicians and Indian tribes about what is the most humane way to deal with the country's horse overpopulation and what rescue groups have said are a rising number of neglected and starving horses as the West deals with persistent drought.

The plants would become the first horse slaughterhouse to operate in the U.S. since Congress banned the practice by eliminating funding for inspections at the plants in 2006. It restored that funding in 2011, but the Department of Agriculture did not approve the first permits for horse slaughter plants until this summer.

The companies want to ship horse meat to countries where it is consumed by humans or used as animal feed.

The Iowa company converted to cattle because of the court fight. But attorneys say Valley and Rains Natural Meats of Gallatin, Missouri, are poised to open as early as Monday.

A temporary order blocking a return to domestic equine slaughter had expired Thursday night. Attorneys for the groups that sued the Agriculture Department over its permitting procedures then filed a motion Friday seeking an extension of the restraining order.

Blair Dunn, who represents Valley Meat and Rains Natural Meats, said he would fight any further attempts to keep the plants closed. He said he had calls into the Department of Justice, which represents the Department of Agriculture, to get inspectors dispatched to the plants.

"Rains Natural Meat in Missouri will be ready to go on Monday," he said.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/...ghter/3360471/

[Pete]

It's a tough situation.

Horses are not native to the west and they are overpopulating in some areas. Add in "pets" that are turned out due to costs and there are many, many that need to be culled.

So what's the solution? Let them destroy habitat? Starve?

Nobody is going to cull their numbers for free and the government doing it would cost far too much.

Most folks in India don't eat cows - we do......

[craigepo]

We just dealt with this issue here. I understand what the horse-lovers are saying, horses are pretty, we love horses, slaughtering is cruel, etc. The problem arises when we realize that, as humans, we sorta need to be stewards of the land, which includes the things living thereon. As Pete said, there are just too many horses, and not enough grass and land. It's a damnable problem, but our responsibility necessitates making tough choices.

[Trapper John]

Originally Posted by craigepo

We just dealt with this issue here. I understand what the horse-lovers are saying, horses are pretty, we love horses, slaughtering is cruel, etc. The problem arises when we realize that, as humans, we sorta need to be stewards of the land, which includes the things living thereon. As Pete said, there are just too many horses, and not enough grass and land. It's a damnable problem, but our responsibility necessitates making tough choices.

Well said, Bro. Eating the fruit from the tree of knowledge carries with it the burden of responsibility.

[GratefulCitizen]

Contentious issue in the Navajo Nation.
Feral horses (and some donkeys) are everywhere in the northern part.

They look healthy and don't seem to cause many problems.
The vegetation in this area has increased along with the horse population over the last decade or two.

[ddoering]

Horse is pretty tasty too.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by ddoering

Horse is pretty tasty too.

I'd give it a go... As for the women?

One weekend all the females were headed out to the beach so I thought I'd grill me up something Friday night. Food Lion had a great deal on some lamb chops so I picked up some.

I was fixing them up getting them ready for the grill when Short Round came by the counter on the way to the car. She asked "What's that?". When I replied lamb chops - with a look of horror she exclaimed "What's next? Puppies?"

I thought it best not to answer that...

[PSM]

Originally Posted by Pete

I'd give it a go... "What's that?". When I replied lamb chops - with a look of horror she exclaimed "What's next? Puppies?"

Say what?!

[mark46th]

I've done a lot of hunting up in Central and Northern Nevada. It is a big issue there between the ranchers and the horse people. The horses are beautiful but they are not native to this country, continent or hemisphere. In areas where it takes 100 acres to feed one head of cattle and water is in short supply, there will be conflict. The horse lovers argue that the cattle aren't native, either. There is no love lost between the two groups.

[Golf1echo]

My daughter would disown me if I commented on the horses. I will point out that many parts of the country have been drastically changed because of cattle overgrazing in the past. Arizona is a great example. Hard to imagine the majority of the soldiers stationed at old Ft Lowell in Tucson were afflicted with malaria at one point or another. The terrain and echo systems have been drastically changed from what they once were. All those washes are largely the result of over grazing or poor farming practice, often large hay production ie. Avra Valley... I'm rusty on some of my agriculture lessons but not all animals graze the same, some aren't as destructive as others.
Link to forage practices http://forages.oregonstate.edu/nfgc/...zing/livestock

[Team Sergeant]

I understand over population problems, but I find it difficult to believe there's enough horses to run a few slaughter houses in the US. I'm sure they will be raising hoses to slaughter just like cattle.

I love all animals, some I know are for food and have no problem killing them. I would not kill a horse for any reason other than health issues.
I'm sure the people that do slaughter horses enjoy their work, real Americans in my opinion........ I've no doubts that given the opportunity to slaughter dogs for China they would jump on it..........

[Trapper John]

Originally Posted by Team Sergeant

I've no doubts that given the opportunity to slaughter dogs for China they would jump on it..........

Word here in Phillie is that Michael Vick may be looking for a job.

[Team Sergeant]

Originally Posted by Trapper John

Word here in Phillie is that Michael Vick may be looking for a job.

Great example..... I find it amazing that the people of Philly took him back with open arms. Had I caught him fighting dogs I would have placed a bullet between his eyes and let the dogs have their way with his remains. A real bottom feeding scumbag if you ask me.

[Trapper John]

Originally Posted by Team Sergeant

Great example..... I find it amazing that the people of Philly took him back with open arms. Had I caught him fighting dogs I would have placed a bullet between his eyes and let the dogs have their way with his remains. A real bottom feeding scumbag if you ask me.

Could not agree more, TS!!!!! I read a remark in the Inquirer that Vick was 'broken down'. IIRC, Vick's justification for electrocuting the dogs was that they were 'broken down'. Hmmmm.....

Interesting side note, within a week or two of the announcement that the 'dog killer' was coming to the Eagles, Chase Utley and his wife started putting up ads advocating adoption of Rescue Dogs. BTW, Chase and his wife are avid dog protection advocates.

I will never, ever support the Eagles for that one.

[Team Sergeant]

Originally Posted by Trapper John

I will never, ever support the Eagles for that one.

I don't watch football, baseball or basketball, too many convicted felons, high school drop outs, IQ challenged idiots etc getting paid way too much to move a little ball around.