Summit of the Horse – National Do Not Slaughter Registry
01.10.11
Las Vegas was the place to be January 3-6 for the Summit of the Horse (SOH). People from all walks for life and all backgrounds joined together to work on solutions for the battered horse industry.
We all have heard the saying “If you can talk the talk, then walk the walk?” Now that the SOH has ended the work has really just begun. I unfortunately was not able to attend, but have been anxiously waiting what program(s) foundation(s) would derive from SOH.
I know in my wide world of horse people there are those that will say, “My horse(s) will never go to slaughter.” But what we have to remember is that in this day and age a job loss, medical problems, etc. can turn a person’s world upside down, and the horses have to go. After time it is very easy to loose track of a horse either through it being resold or loosing track of the person that bought the horse. There fore, the Do Not Slaughter Registry would give an owner a way to safe guard against their horse going to slaughter. (Here is the link for you to view it in context http://www.united-horsemen.org/unified-equine-programs/national-do-not-slaughter-registry/)
The Do Not Slaughter Registry in simplicity is a complied listing of horses that are not to go to slaughter. At some point and time an owner put this horse in the Do Not Slaughter Registry, there fore when it is scanned at a slaughter house the owner listed for the horse would be contacted, and then be able to buy the horse back for the costs that had been incurred.
Of course for me I always go, “This sounds great, but how much is it going to cost, is their going to a one-time fee, will the auction house have to pay a fee and how will that be structured, etc”. I know this program is still in its infancy stage, but those costs are what will either make or break this whole program. If the costs are too high there is no way for it to come to life.
But even with those “questions” this is a step in the right direction to meet in the middle on this highly heated subject. Once again I look forward to reading your views.
I think this a great alternative but do not agree with having to buy your horse back if it was stolen. That is extortion and should never be acceptable.The owner and the animal/animals have already gone through enough stress and heartache. Especially if the horse comes from say Florida and gets shipped to Montana! The owner should be allowed to pick up their horse at their cost and if they cant’t should legally relinquish ownership to processing plant with no legal action. If the owner does want their horse back the processing plant can charge board for this animal with hay and water and any medical attention it needs until owner picks it up within a reasonable amount of time. That to me is fair,the processing plants are going to have to come up with accomodations for these horses who are to be saved and possible send a picture to the owner to confirm indentity. People who are bringing these animals in should be registered with a picture Id license and social security card for identification purposes in case there are legal charges to be brought. If they can’t provide these documents they should not be allowed to bring horses in. The legal aspect of this is going to have to follow through with the maximum penalties to squell this possibility of selling stolen horses.
How is this going to work through microchipping? That would be the best way.