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All we have to
believe with is our senses,
the tools we use
to perceive the world:
our sight, our
touch, our memory.
If they lie to us,
then nothing can be trusted.
And even if we do
not believe,
then still we
cannot travel in any other way than the road our senses show us;
and we must walk
that road to the end.
~Neil
Gaiman
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URGENT ACTION
REQUESTED!
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A Representative Sample
of the Reality:
Dallas Crown Slaughter Inventory
August through October 2004
Statistics on Supplier and
Breeds
Breed categories:
Draft, Paint, Arab,
Appaloosa, Palamino, Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse, Pony, Other |
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2007 Year End Summary for Slaughter Statistics
| 2007 Totals
- All U.S. Horses for Slaughter - 111,771 + * |
2006-
All U.S. Horses for Slaughter - 135,288 + * |
|
U.S.
|
29,761 |
U.S.
|
105,835 |
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Exported to Mexico for
Slaughter |
45,609 |
Exported to
Mexico for Slaughter |
11,080 |
| *Exported to
Canada for Slaughter |
36,401 + |
*Exported to
Canada for Slaughter |
18,373 + |
|
*Canadian figures through
September 2007 - full figures will be posted upon
receipt |
*Canadian figures
through September 2006 - full figures will be posted
upon receipt |
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Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
"It is difficult to get a man to
understand something when his salary depends upon his not
understanding it."
~Upton Sinclair,
1878 - 1978, author of
The Jungle*
The Jungle provides an inside
look into the slaughter industry and is available for reading
online.
Please
look at the statistics below, particularly the export figures.
The ONLY way to
end this is through passage of the federal bills.
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2008 Slaughter
Statistics
Total U.S. Horses
slaughtered week ending 4/26/08
(includes U.S.,
exported to Mexico, exported to Canada)
As of 5/1/08
the statistics service will be
discontinued on this site. For
current statistics visit
Statistics from USDA |
|
2007 Horses exported to
Mexico from U.S.
for slaughter
Statistics from USDA
Note the
substantial increase over previous year
**NOTE: There were
ZERO horses exported to Mexico for slaughter
during the last week of 2007 |
2007 Horses exported to
Canada from U.S.
for immediate slaughter
Statistics from Canadian
government through end of 09/07
Note the
substantial increase over previous year |
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2007 Year End Statistics
45,609 |
2006 Year End Statistics
11,080 |
2007 Year to Date
(01/07 - end of 09/07)
36,401 |
2006 Year to Date
(01/06 - end of 09/06)
18,373
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For horses of all
ages, conditions, shapes, and sizes, what is the road to
the slaughterhouse?
-
Where do the
horses come from?
-
How are they
transported?
-
Where are the
slaughterhouses?
-
Who are the players?
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Contradictory Quote of the
Day
Secretary of
Agriculture Mike Johanns told the House Ag
Committee, “USDA is opposed to H.R. 503 and all
the amendments… In short, we believe that there
is a significant probability that
the enactment of this bill could result in a
reduction in the humane treatment of horses.”
(oh... that's right, I
forgot that slaughter is "humane...")
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The Road to the Slaughter House
Import health requirements of Canada for
horses exported from the U.S.
(.pdf file)
Slaughter horses only: Must have
required owner/shipper certificate, no test (Coggins
or ELISA for EIA with 6 months) required for nursing
foals up to 5 months of age exported with dam or for
horses exported for immediate slaughter, no known
reactors to a text for EIA shall be certified to
Canada for immediate slaughter (is this not in
conflict with previous requirement?).
Federal Meat Inspection Act -
Regulations that may or may not be adhered to. How
many violations can you find?
University of California 1999 study
of conditions during transport to slaughter and effect
upon horses. General findings explore length of
time in transport, effects of single, straight-deck
trailer as opposed to double deck livestock trailer, and
conditions of transport. It is reported that
horses are generally in transport for a longer period of
time than cattle. The study involved nine trailer
loads of horses originating from Pennsylvania,
California, Kentucky, and Texas. The destination
for all horses was Beltex, in Fort Worth, Texas.
Food and water was not available during transport which
extended from 5 hours 45 minutes to 30 hours.
New Holland Sales Stable Convicted of Animal Cruelty
- At long last, the notorious Pennsylvania auction
house, well known for its killer buyers, has been
convicted on just one in a chain of incidents that has
gone on for far too long. From dragging injured
horses to discarding live animals in dumpsters, New
Holland is a proud
member of the Better Business Bureau of Metro Washington
DC & Eastern Pennsylvania. According to the
website, the BBB "has processed no customer complaints
on this company in its three-year reporting period."
New Holland Sales Stables, Inc.
P. O. Box 96
101 W. Fulton St.
New Holland, PA 17557
Lancaster County
President - David Kolb
Secretary/Treasurer - Donald Welk
Map of 101 W Fulton St
New Holland, PA 17557-1629, US
Survey of Trucking Practices & Injury to Slaughter
Horses
(statistics compiled in 1998/opinions are
those of the author)
Auction houses that depend upon the sale
of horses for slaughter:
Kalona Sales Barn - Kalona, Iowa
*owner/operator Devin Mullet,
Livestock Marketing Association member
Who ends
up there and who brings them?
A
2003 list from
United States Equine Sanctuary & Rescue is just an
example of horses that were transported to Beltex.
The International League for the
Protection of Horses has released the
2006 Transportation Report Update
on the number of live horses for
slaughter and horsemeat moving into and between European
Union Member states. Focus: Italy (the largest
consuming country of horsemeat in the EU).
|
From
South Dakota State University:
"Slaughter of horses is
usually preceded by stunning with a captive bolt device or
electricity. If the procedure is done properly, the horse will be
unconscious. Conditions during transport of horses to the
slaughter house may be inhumane; crowding and injury can occur when
too many horses are loaded on cattle-type trucks with a ceiling that
is too low.
The American Veterinary
Medical Association forbids the use of paralytic agents such as
succinylcholine for euthanasia (12). Only if a horse is a danger to
itself and its handlers can succinylcholine be used to immobilize
the horse, but an anesthetic such as sodium pentobarbital must be
administered immediately to euthanize the horse. If a paralytic
agent alone is used, the horse will suffocate, but be fully
conscious -- an inhumane death."
Apparently, they are
saying that as long as the horse is believed to be unconscious
(although not dead from the captive bolt, as they would like you to
believe), it is humane to bleed them out while they are strung up
and dismembered in the slaughterhouse? |
Olivier Kemseke,
member of the family who owns Chevideco, parent
company of Dallas Crown, has a particular
taste for Quarter Horses.
From NBC5.com WMAQ TV Chicago, "Out To Pasture" |
Where are the
U. S. & Canadian Slaughterhouses?
|
Beltex Corporation -
Fort Worth, TX
CLOSED
dba Frontier
Meats
3801
North Grove St.
Fort Worth, TX 76106
Map of 3801 N Grove St
Fort Worth, TX 76106-3720, US
(817) 624-1136
Toll
Free (888) 431-1581
Fax
(817) 624-4594
info@frontiermeats.com
President - Eric Nauwelaers -
ericn@onramp.net
Vice
President - Dick Koehler
Controller - Dennis O'Brien
Brand
Inspector - Ronnie Ober -
ober53@hotmail.com
Attorney: John
Linebarger
Lobbyist: Jim Bradshaw
Company profile from Yahoo Finance
2006
Program Code: 5652K16 - Beltex - Ante-Mortem Horse Insp-T
Eligible Plants List - EU Fresh
Meat
Establishment # 07041 E
(Slaughter/ Cutting - Equine - 15, 18, T*)
*15. Livers and kidneys
excluded.
18. Bison included.
T = This establishment is
authorized, within the meaning of Article 4 of Directive
77/96 EEC, to perform the examination for detection of
trichinae provided for in Article 2 of the
aforementioned Directive.
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Dallas Crown, Inc. - Kaufman, TX
CLOSED
2000 West Fair
Kaufman, TX 75142
Map of 2000 W Fair St
Kaufman, TX 75142-1868, US
(972) 932-3436
Fax (972) 932-3062
sales@dallascrown.com
President -
Michael de Beukelaar
Attorney -
Mark Calbria,
John Linebarger
Lobbyist: Jim
Bradshaw
Company profile from Zoom Info
Parent company:
Chevideco - Rekkem, Belgium
2006 Program Code: 5652k26 -
Dallas Crown - Ante-Mortem Horse Insp-T
USDA Food
Safety and Inspection Service Eligible
Plants List - EU Fresh Meat
Establishment
# 02018 E (Slaughter/ Cutting - Equine- 15,
T*)
*15. Livers and kidneys
excluded.
T = This establishment is
authorized, within the meaning of Article 4 of Directive
77/96 EEC, to perform the examination for detection of
trichinae provided for in Article 2 of the
aforementioned Directive.
For more extensive
information on Dallas Crown, visit
MaryNash.org
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The Dallas Crown Video Library |
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From CBS11 - Dallas/Fort Worth
Local coverage regarding 7/25/06
with both area supporters for and against slaughter.
See what the neighbors of the slaughter houses are
saying. Click on the film cell. |
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From 2004: A broad overview of
the slaughter issue, focusing on Texas. Mary
Nash, Kaufman mayor Paula Bacon, and slaughter house
attorney John Linebarger (dot-com owner of
Common Horse Sense) present their views. |
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Cavel International -
DeKalb, IL
CLOSED
Van
Damme Holding Co
108 Harvestore Dr
De Kalb, IL 60115
Map of 108 Harvestore Dr
Dekalb, IL 60115-8604, US
(815) 756-8051S
General Manager - James
Tucker
Parent company:
Velda - Zele, Belgium
2006 Program Code: 5722K16 -
Cavel International - Ante-Mortem Horse Insp-T
Eligible
Plants List - EU Fresh Meat
Establishment
# 15849 E (Slaughter/ Cutting - Equine - 15,
T*)
*15. Livers and kidneys
excluded.
T = This establishment is
authorized, within the meaning of Article 4 of Directive
77/96 EEC, to perform the examination for detection of
trichinae provided for in Article 2 of the
aforementioned Directive.
Cavel International supplies
Distriva, who proclaims to be one of the leading
importers and distributors of horsemeat in Europe.
Distriva SA
Zone Industrielle Nord BP 48
F-80190 NESLE
France TEL: 0 800 90 66 70
FAX: +33 3 22 78 32 96
distriva@distriva.com
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MOST RECENT
UPDATES from DeKalb Sanitary District (March/April,
2007)
UPCOMING BOARD
MEETING 5 p.m. CST, May 15, 2007 to discuss Cavel status.
From
midweeknews.com, Cavel's multiple and repeated
violations (including 17 in the past 3 months) for
violating regulations of DeKalb Sanitary District since
their reopening in 2004.
(Cavel's continuing violation with
sanitary district discussed. Administrative order
to be issued.)
(Cavel's continued noncompliance of
permit discharge limits discussed, as well as the 34
violations in 2006 as of meeting date.)
DeKalb Sanitary District Board Meeting Minutes
- September 20, 2006
(Cavel's continuing noncompliance and
board's attempts to motivate them discussed.
Cavel proposed a plan which would provide them
exemption for an additional year. Board
rejected it and voted to withdraw their permit if
not in compliance by May 31, 2007).
(fines adjusted, ordered to comply by
May 31, 2007 or cease discharge to DeKalb Sanitary
District)
DeKalb Sanitary District Board Meeting Minutes -
November 15, 2006
(Cavel has not paid the fines for
2006 violations. Attorneys have spoken.
It will remain on the agenda.)
DeKalb Sanitary District Board Meeting Minutes -
December 20, 2006
(Cavel has not paid the fines under
Administrative order. Will be told to comply
or close.)
DeKalb Sanitary District Board Meeting Minutes -
January 17, 2007
(Cavel has started making
improvements and is requesting that their fines
be held in escrow, that further fines not be
issued until their work is completed.
Although all fines have yet to be levied, Cavel
may request a review of those fines and take the
matter up again in March, 2007)
2/8/07
Cavel Status Memo
issued by DeKalb Sanitary District Manager
Michael Zima. Synopsis of the statement by
Mr. Zima, "As per a disposition meeting with
Cavel and the respective attorneys, Cavel
committed to having their pretreatment
improvements operational and capable of
producing an effluent, within the designated
parameters, on or before March 31, 2007. Also,
Cavel was willing to pay the $25,500 fine if
there was a possibility that the District would
review the matter after Cavel achieved
compliance (perhaps to reduce or return the
funds), hence the “escrow” proposal. The
provision was determined to be acceptable but I
stated that, in my opinion, any refund was not
going to happen. The District agreed to
temporarily halt any additional enforcement
activities pending the March 31, 2007 milestone
and performance of Cavel’s upgraded pretreatment
facilities. The escrow arrangement caused the
subject funds to be paid and come under District
control."
From Daily Chronicle Online,
DeKalb, February 19, 2007
Ooze at Cavel not a
worry, says manager
(apparently everyone in DeKalb is
continuing to tap dance while "frozen foam" and
"dirty blobs" overflow from the water holding
tank at Cavel International)
DeKalb Sanitary District Board Meeting Minutes -
February 21, 2007
(Citizens against Cavel were
present at the meeting. Update from Jim
Tucker of Cavel on implementation of new system
and effort to comply, not yet achieved.
Public speakers address dissatisfaction with the
way in which DeKalb Sanitary District continues
to allow Cavel operation although not in
compliance.)
NorthStar Online: 2/22/07
Cavel Concerns Citizens
(article discusses concerns by
citizens of DeKalb expressed at February
meeting regarding drugs in horsemeat equating to
chemical residue being released into the Kishwaukee
River -- more info
on drugs in horsemeat)
3/8/07
Letter to the Editor of DeKalb Daily Chronicle from DeKalb Sanitary
District Manager Michael Zima
DeKalb Sanitary District Board Meeting Minutes -
March 21, 2007
Memorandum of citizen's request to
revoke Cavel's Industrial User Permit read.
Trustees said they would review and take under
consideration. Zima reported on Cavel's
discharge limits which remain non compliant.
Cavel issues again on April
agenda. Minutes to be approved and published
at May meeting.
The
May meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 15, 5
p.m. Cavel's reopening, escalating
fines (currently $55K), and non compliance to be
addressed (keep in mind there is a May 30 deadline
for compliance or they will face closure per DeKalb
Sanitary District). OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
Directions.
Horse slaughter ban passes state legislature
relays further information regarding the current
status of Cavel and their fines.
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Pertinent Information
The Process of
Slaughter
The
information provided in this section is not
presented as an opinion piece either for or
against the practice of slaughter. It is,
instead, intended to provide accurate specifics
on the process. It may trigger questions
as to the interpretation of some of those
specifics. What, exactly, does the
term "rendered insensible" mean? Does that
mean dead or does it mean that the animal is in
an unconscious state and unlikely to feel pain?
Some of the following information is as relates
to cattle, sheep, or pigs. Where it is
included as a specific under horse research, it
is so noted.
Temple Grandin, Ph.D.,
Department of Animal Science at Colorado State
University, treatise on
Livestock Behaviour, Design of Facilities
and Humane Slaughter.
(As an aside the the above,
and in light of the February 2010 debut of HBO's
movie about Temple Grandin, also see her paper
on
Handling Mustangs at BLM facilities
(1/30/10
Mustang deaths up to 26 in wild horse roundup,
from the Nevada Appeal), as well
as
other research articles as related to the horse.
The meat industry has been
promoting the dramatic work.)
-
Thinking the Way Animals Do
(from
Research Articles on Horses) - an
insightful look into the visual thinking
process of animals.
-
Consciousness in Animals and
People with Autism
(from
Research Articles on Horses) - examining
consciousness in relation to senses and
emotions.
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Euthanasia and Slaughter of
Livestock - the
principles involved in assuring that animals
are rendered insensible.
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The Relationship Between Good Handling /
Stunning and Meat Quality
- study specific to
beef, pork,
and lamb explains the relationship between
stress induced factors contributing to
decreased quality of meat.
-
Captive bolt stunning techniques - study
conducted on cattle states that the
"stunning gun kills the animal and reduces
it instantly unconscious without causing
pain." To achieve this correctly with
a single shot, "placement of the shot must
become more and more precise to achieve
instantaneous insensibility."
Care must be take that brain tissue
does not contaminate the body or plant
equipment.
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Restraint of Livestock (from
Research Articles on Horses) - as
related to slaughter processing environment.
It is important to note the comparison that
the temperament of excitable cattle more
resembles that of the horse.
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Survey of Trucking Practices & Injury to Slaughter
Horses - statistics compiled in 1998
-
Animal Welfare - explores various
aspects of distress in animals and welfare
in slaughter plants.
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Political Wrangling
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From 2006: Horse Slaughter in the U.S. to continue, despite Congressional efforts.
How
can this be???
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In a separate ruling, Dallas Crown slaughterhouse
ordered to close by September 30, 2006.
-
3/15/06 Federal Court
denies injunction to suspend operations at slaughterhouses.
Video from CBS11 News Dallas/Fort Worth . Completely oblivious
to the will of the Senate and Congress, the killers move forward with the
help of the good old boys at USDA. Whatever happened to the voice of
the people of the U.S.????
-
Horse Flesh, by Josh Harkinson, from the Houston
Press. This is a rather lengthy article, but well worth the
time. Harkinson details the Dallas Crown slaughterhouse situation and
presents the many facts in a powerfully informative manner. This
article is a "must read."
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Who are
the Players?
*Important and Worth Noting: Do not be led to
believe that organizations with names including the words Welfare,
Responsible, etc. automatically have the anti-slaughter point of view that
may be implied at first glance. Not all of them do. Dig deep
into the layers of the organization before becoming affiliated with, or
donating to, something which is not as it appears. Ask if they
oppose or support horse slaughter.
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The Meat and Packing Industry
We are all aware, by now, that the
principle reason and players behind the opposition
to end horse slaughter in the U.S. is the meat
industry (for reference, CommonHorseSense will
gladly provide you with
the list that they refer to as The Horse Welfare
Coalition, and is anything but). Many of the
workers are there, not because this is their
avocation of choice, but because they need to earn a
living, however poor it may be. Many of the
workers have come to this country from other lands,
immigration status uncertain. Conditions in
these plants can be so poor that, in this instance,
Minnesota lawmakers are considering introducing a
bill of rights for meat packing workers in the
state.
"The bill would require
packing plants to provide employees restrooms and
time to use them, adequate rooms for breaks and
meals and locker facilities. Also, employers would
have to provide an explanation of a worker’s rights
in that person’s native language."
By the shear necessity of the
legislation, it really says something about the lack
of concern for the workers on behalf of the meat
packing industry, doesn't it? |
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The Food Chain of the Pro
Slaughter Side is remarkably transparent. If
you are deceived by the implied name
www.commonhorsesense.com, and sometimes see it
appear as part of a related article (or as the source of
the article) regarding the merits of continuing horse
slaughter, you may wonder who is behind this
organization.
commonhorsesense.com = aka Horse Welfare
Coalition = slaughterhouses
- Commonhorsesense is the official
web site of the Horse Welfare Coalition.
Although the name implies otherwise, this
organization's priority is not the welfare of
horses, but the slaughter of horses for financial
gain. Horse Welfare Coalition equals the
slaughterhouses.
- Domain name of the
slaughterhouses' website is registered to John
Linebarger, slaughterhouse attorney.
Linebarger appears in some of the video clips from
CBS11 Dallas/Fort Worth, which are at the top of
this page. The practice is not uncommon for
something such as this to be registered in the name
of a corporation's attorney.
- Source of the article is
PRNewswire. This information can be found at
the beginning of the opening paragraph of the
article ("WASHINGTON, July 27 /PRNewswire/ ").
Public Relations specialist
SciWords, LLC's David Sheon is the PR contact
for commonhorsesense. The firm is employed to
release articles which are little more than paid
political advertisements. These firms
subscribe to major in-house electronic news
distribution services which send the manufactured
articles on to newspapers nationwide.
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Correction
It was erroneously reported
that SciWords, LLC was the representative of
the USDA. Although they
are a representative firm of the
slaughterhouses, SciWords does not, and
never has, represented the USDA. Thank
you to Mr.
David L. Durkin of OLSSON, FRANK AND
WEEDA, P.C. , Washington, D.C. for this
information. OLSSON, FRANK AND WEEDA,
P.C. ,
represents both Beltex and Dallas Crown,
Inc. Former Texas Representative
Charles Stenholm, one of the front
runners in the fight to keep the
slaughterhouses operating in the U.S., is
employed as the Senior Policy Advisor.
FlyingFilly apologizes and
regrets the error. |
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See what goes on in the
minds of $laughter
$upporters
(aka it's all about
the dollar) |
|
Common Horse Sense - website of the
slaughterhouses, registered to
John Linebarger,
attorney for the Texas slaughterhouses.
This organization also calls itself
The Horse Welfare Coalition. It is
decidedly not about the welfare of
horses.
MORE ON THEIR FOOD CHAIN
above
Is this the end of horse slaughter?
by Tom Rafferty - a
revealing look on how money is the driver of
irresponsibility
Quote of the
century:
"If you can eat Bo
Peep, Bugs Bunny and Bambi, why can't you
eat Mr. Ed?" ~Representative Charles Morrow
III , slaughter supporter (D-Illinois) |
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Profiles |
| Robert
Goodlatte - Representative, VA
American Veterinary
Medical Association Ranked #4 on
Goodlatte's Top Contributor list for the
2--5 - 2006 campaign cycle by
donating $10,000. (from the
Center for Responsive Politics.
. |
General Awareness
(things that might catch
you off guard)
AVMA - The
American Veterinary Association's stand on
animal welfare issues (note the
contribution of $5000 to the pro slaughter
organization, the Horse Welfare Coalition/aka
commonhorsesense/aka slaughterhouses.
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The Marketing of Horsemeat
Viande Richelieu Meat, Inc. in Quebec claims to slaughter
horses that they have raised, assuring the knowledge of drugs,
or lack thereof, in the meat. The site does, however, also
state that "a large quantity of horses slaughtered by Viande
Richelieu come from auctions conducted in the northeastern
section of North America."
Livestock Marketing Association June 2006
letter to U.S. House citing economic reasons benefiting
their membership to continue horse slaughter.
Audio of their 2007 plans to continue horse slaughter.
LMA Auction Directory or
Member Links.
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The
Slaughter House Employees
Who are they?
Many of the
people employed in slaughter
facilities consider it only a
job. I don't think that
any child has ever grown up
wanting to work in a slaughter
house. They may have families
to support, jobs elsewhere may
be hard to find, they may be of
legal or illegal alien status.
It is reported that many are
illegals, and some of the
validity of that was evidenced
by the
raid on Swift in 2006.
More information
regarding the income,
conditions, etc. for meatpackers
can be found in the
PBS/NOW investigation.
I believe that
they divorce themselves from the
job much the same way that we
walk past a meat counter in a
grocery store. Somehow it is
there and the connection as to
how it got there isn't made.
Repetition and the numbing
effect.
A better
understanding inside the mind of
a meat packing employee can be
gained by reading Upton
Sinclair's The Jungle. Although
it was written in 1906 and
concerns the Chicago stockyard
area, it is still very
relevant. It can be
read online through the
Berkeley Digital Library SunSITE.
Apparently, some
of the conditions haven't
changed much. In 2007
S.F. No. 879 was introduced
into the Minnesota legislation
attempting to mandate that meat
packing facilities must provide
restrooms for the employees,
among other things. It
must be pretty bad when they
need to make that a law. |
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Comments,
questions, corrections
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Content & images © 2007
FlyingFilly.com |
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