Missouri lawmakers say yes to horse slaughterhouses but no to honoring Lewis and Clark's dog

It may be the Show-Me state but Missouri representatives apparently saw too much email from activist Brenda Shoss and the group Kinship Circle.

The animal activists were responsible for hundreds of emails, the Associated Press reports, that urged the lawmakers to vote against a bill that would pave the way for horse slaughterhouses to open in the state.

"The bill would seek to bypass the ban on using federal funds for horse meat inspection by allowing state officials to collect fees and pass them on to the U.S. Department of Agriculture," The St. Louis Post-Dispatch wrote. "There are no horse slaughter plants in the U.S., but the meat is considered a delicacy in some countries." Supporters of the bill claim that the meat would come from horses that were abused or neglected.

Because the activist emails were so plentiful and from all around the world it was hard for the representatives from either side of the aisle to determine how many were actually constituents. There was also the issue of weeding through the email, a process that took some reps hours, and made them feel vengeful toward the activists.

Some reps created rules in their email accounts that redirected any message with the word "horse" back at Shoss's email address. "It's so fun to piss you wackos off," Rep. Casey Guernsey (R-Bethany) wrote to an activist through a private email account. "You're lucky I even acknowledge your existence. It's so much fun to taunt people like you -- ha! Tell me, is it truly liberating to be so incredibly clueless?"

Shoss said that she got prank calls from people who made neighing sounds and she also received a phone call from someone who sang the theme song from the classic TV show, "Mr. Ed." To add insult to injury, the Mizzo House passed the slaughterhouse bill today.

Dogs didn't have much better luck with the Missouri legislature today. A bill was proposed to honor a Newfoundland dog named Seaman who traveled with Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. The idea was to make the Newfoundland the state dog, which would be the 27th official state symbol.

But because the Newfoundland originates in Canada and since Seaman may have never actually visited Missouri, the bill was shot down today 84-67.

-- Tony Pierce

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Photo: The DVD box cover of Season One of the "Mr. Ed" show. Credit: The Shout Factory

Comments

[Tina]

And also probably because the dog's name was... Seaman.

[Barb3000]

These politicians don't know what they are getting themselves into opening up a horse slaughter plant. The plants in the US that was closed down because of pollution, blood in the sewers overflowing in local homes in the bathrooms,
backing up in sewers all over town. Animal parts laying all over the roads. You could smell the rotten meat all over town. The environmental damage was bad.
Not to mention the cruelty that went on there. These animals are raised to trust humans and sending them to be killed in this way is a horrific way to pay them back for helping us to open up the United States, fighting our wars and dying along side our soldiers. These politicians need to be voted out. These are the kind of people running this state? This place is in some deep trouble if they are. This sounded like a bunch of sixth graders in a food fight. For shame.

[Barb3000]

Not to mention the fact that horse meat from the US is contaminated with Vet drugs that stays in the meat. It says on every bottle and tube of animal meds that is not to be used on animals that are slaughtered for food. We do not eat our horses in this country. And if these fools think they will force the public to eat horse meat, To me I might as well have my cat for dinner.

[L.A. Voter]

It's very enlightening to see what Missouri lawmakers use as their rationale for doing their jobs. Far be it from them to consider the fact that the entire nation has said that regardless of what other countries consider a "delicacy" we do not believe it's right to slaughter horses.

Nor do they care whether or not the means used to slaughter horses are cruel, not to mention the means of transportation or living conditions for horses destined for slaughter. No -- they only care if someone makes them do their job. They get mad if people who feel passionately do what they're supposed to do and contact lawmakers about issues they believe in. And did these activists bother these poor lawmakers in their offices? Did they stage a noisy rally? No, they committed the terrible sin of EMAILING legislators. Did they pause to consider that the sheer volume of email was a clear indicator of how strongly Americans feel about not slaughtering horses? Of course not, why would the feelings of voters have any influence on how an elected official does his or her job? Instead to show their pique Missouri lawmakers vent their vengefulness and hostility on -- horses.

You'd think they'd be embarrassed to be so publicly childish and without conscience. Not one of them would have the courage to watch one video of horse slaughter -- but hey, just so long as they stick it to the voters who had the temerity to voice their opinions. They should be very proud of themselves.

[Animal lover]

The most cruel thing that ever happened to horses was the ban of horse slaughter. A horse is NOT a pet. We cannot keep an old or injured horse in our bedroom for its final days or months. The weather in some areas is very hard on an already suffering animal.

An ill tempered or mean horse is a danger to both humans and other horses. How many of you have seen a horse attack another horse? Horses must be trained. Many buy that "dream horse" only to neglect it in a small lot or boarding facility until it is undersocialized beyond repair. Many find they cannot afford the feed or the vet care.

It takes at least ten acres to keep a horse properly and it will still need feed, vet care, hoof trimming at a bare minimum. If you cannot provide this, you need to face the facts and keep your mouth shut.

Once again, the answer lies in educating the public not in punishing the shelter, slaughter facility, etc. These poor animals must now ride on a truck to some destination outside the United States...the sick, old or injured right in the same truck with the mean ones. Now that's what I call abuse of a majestic animal. Who cares what happens to the body? Even humans decide on many forms of what happens to a body after life. What's happening right now is like a haulocost.....gathering, waiting and wasting away until a long trip to the death house. At least US facilities could have regulation of their practices. Wake up!

[Louise]

I applaud the passing of this bill. It's time people wake up and realize there is nothing wrong with horse slaughter. It is a viable business to help the economy recover, not to mention boosting the equine industry. Stop the drama and do something for the horses that are suffering because of the closing of these plants.
I have been through DeKalb, Ill where the last processing plant was and I don't remember a stench, didn't see any animal body parts in the road. Blood in the stool? Get real.
Yes, I am in the horse business, had horses the past 40-45 yrs. I've never used them as a tax write-off and I've never raised them for slaughter. Know of several people just like me. We have them because we enjoy them. I don't think the whole nation voted to close the processing plants, I think it was mostly non-horse owning people that really don't know that much about horses.
And, yes, it should be done humanely. Not the way the "Humane Society" does the thousands of cats and dogs they butcher every yr. Putting them in a air tight box and suffocating them.

[Grace]

What's also disappointing is how, regardless of legislators' views about what Shoss and her organization did, they stooped to the same level. One expects more from politicians — but, then, on second thought, one is always disappointed in that regard and this incident is no different.

[Almost_Angeleno]

I find it appalling that Rep. Casey Guernsey (R-Bethany) resorted to immature, childish taunts and I can't believe politicians have stooped that low.

Then again, he's a Republican.

[L.A. Voter]

Animal Lover -- your favorite author must be George Orwell because your use of the English language is indisputably Orwellian. Your penchant for unfailingly signing the name "Animal Lover" to some of the most ridiculously anti-animal and uninformed posts beggars belief. USDA exercises virtually ZERO control over slaughterhouses, in fact according to a recent USA Today article USDA threatens its own inspectors for trying to enforce even the negligible humane slaughter laws that are on the books.

Your argument that the only humane solution for abused horses is to to slaughter them would be worthy of Jonathan Swift, but I don't think you're being satirical, I think you are merely (for some reason) grandstanding your shocking lack of caring. "Who cares what happens to the body?" Right -- let's see how you feel about that when it's your body.

The answer is that a lot of people care about what happens to horses' bodies. So much so that this country has effectively outlawed horse slaughter. But hey, if someone can make a buck killing an animal, ANY animal, what's that to a great "Animal Lover" like you?

[Reality]

It is time that the slaughter plants were reopened. As a resident of the state of MO and living in a rural area, we see first hand the abuse inflicted by " clueless, uneducated" owners who leave horses to fend for themselves or just turn them loose because they can no longer afford them. Where are all you " bleeding hearts" then?? Reality is that even though we love our horses like family, that isn't shared by a large percent of the horse owners and we have to have a place to go with all the excess of " livestock". In reality that is what horses are. The issue should be to make it humane in the way their life is ended, not where to stockpile them in rescues and retirement.

[L.A. Voter]

Right "Reality," God forbid we "stockpile" horses where they can eat, drink and live when we could make a buck by killing them.

In answer to your not-really-a-question about where animal lovers and activists are when uninformed people are buying horses, there are two answers. First, we were out working locally for homeless animals in Los Angeles. We were donating money to local shelters, caring for their cats, walking their dogs, and trying to find homes for them. There are a lot of homeless animals in Los Angeles and I have been working for them. What have you done for animals? If you were aware of the tragic situation for Missouri's horses what were you doing to help?

The other answer is that people on your pro-slaughter side of the fence are steadfast believers that all animals are ultimately property. The same people who have a libertarian temper tantrum whenever ANYONE proposes improving conditions for animals -- from giving chickens enough room to actually stretch their wings, to regulating puppy mills, to mandatory spay/neuter. But all of a sudden now you think it's humane activists' responsibility to decide who can and can't have a horse? If we even tried you'd have a screaming fit. Don't try to blame horse slaughter on us; we're the ones who called our Congresspeople to work to outlaw it. Unfortunately, we can't outlaw unscrupulous horse dealers who sell to clearly unqualified buyers.

Earlier Barb put it best when she said "These animals are raised to trust humans and sending them to be killed in this way is a horrific way to pay them back..." We bring them into the world and then kill them, with equipment not even designed to do the job even close to humanely, when they have the temerity to grow old, or stop running fast, or when their basic needs for food and water collide with our need to buy more stuff.

[Pro Horse]

They want the same mess they had to deal with in TX? Read from the former Mayor in Kaufmann, TX, took them years to clean up the town, not to speak of the high cost:
http://www.nashvillescene.com/pitw/archives/2010/04/09/former-mayor-horse-slaughterhouses-a-drain-on-taypayers-never-mind-the-ditches-of-blood

[Mari]

"Supporters of the bill claim that the meat would come from horses that were abused or neglected."

Because that's what abused or neglected horses deserve???

[Laura]

Not only is horse slaughter unhumane, it is also inhumane to real horse lovers to be subjected to these soulless people and their love of a horsemeat industry.

It is as if they do not even care that the majority of horse owners see this 'slaughter' of horses the same as if they were nailing kittens to a wall.

I don't care if you horse killers promise to wisper and sing horses 'gently' into the kill box! This end of life for horses, this discusting hidden industry- is morally wrong and will never be tolerated!

Rep. Casey Guernsey (R-Bethany) wrote to an activist -"You're lucky I even acknowledge your existence.

you can bet this will come up your next election.

[Rhonda Hatch]

After reading this article I WILL NOT be spending any of my money in Missouri for any reason. My horses are my family and when they are gone they will be buried here on my farm and not treated without respect. Enough said!!

[Charmaine]

So the litany here is because horses are abused or neglected, that's the cue to abuse them even more by sending them to their deaths?? Outrageous! All of you who advocate horse slaughter should have your own philosophy applied to yourselves when you get old and sick, are abused or simply lose your race! Good grief, you people are deluded. You will sell your very souls for a quick buck! It's disgusting!