Tuesday, July 1, 2008

I don't think this is sad. I think this is responsible.

Someone posted to the comments:

>>the blm is considering starting to euthanize some wild horses because they can't afford to feed them and adoptions are down. crap.<<

I do not think this is a bad thing. Sorry, but that needs to happen! There are not enough good, experienced homes for all of the mustangs in the world and who is supposed to feed them? Who is going to get them tame enough to even do their feet much less provide vet care if they get sick or hurt? If they can't find a home, they should get euthanized. This is the only way to deal with the situation at the current time given that there is no endless fountain of money. It sure beats sending them to slaughter which has happened before (and continues to happen - some of you seem to think a branded mustang can't go to slaughter. Happens ALL the time. Not to mention the get of those mustangs, produced willy-nilly by irresponsible owners.)

I've never thought there was a magic way to end slaughter but NOT have quite a bit of euthanasia take place. I am OK with euthanasia just as we do with cats and dogs. I suspect those oft-posted pictures of dead animals in barrels stacked up behind the shelter have gotten more than one person off their dead butt to take their pet in for spay/neuter. Perhaps we need to see a pile of dead horses before the BYB's get a clue and production declines. I only wish there was a way to track them and have an e-mail generated back to the person who produced the horse in the first place:

Dear Suzy Backyard Breeder:

This is to inform you that your 1995 registered AQHA mare, POCO HAMMERHEAD, was euthanized today as a result of being completely unsound of mind and body and totally unadoptable despite our best efforts. You were contacted on April 10th to see if you would take responsibility for the mare and responded "I ain't got no job, I can't take her."

Please remit $350 to the City of Bumfuck immediately to cover this service.

Yup. That's what I'd like to see.