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Is Horse Slaughter Humane?

Nancy Perry of the ASPCA says horses don't deserve to be "slaughtered and served at mealtime," in response to Josh Ozersky's article, "The Case for Eating Horse Meat"

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In his recent article, Josh Ozersky makes the ill-conceived argument that Americans should consider eating horse meat. He mistakenly suggests that horses can be slaughtered humanely, but horse slaughter is inherently cruel and inhumane. Horses’ instinctual flight response makes them ill-suited for stunning, so they often endure repeated blows and sometimes remain conscious during their dismemberment. U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors have, in the past, discovered violations and cruelty in horse slaughter plants.

Furthermore, horse meat is not safe for human consumption. Horses are not raised as food animals and aren’t monitored in the same way as animals that are raised for consumption. Horses are frequently administered drugs that are prohibited by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and would be extremely harmful to humans if ingested. Horses deserve a more dignified end than to be inhumanely slaughtered and served at mealtime.

Nancy Perry, Senior Vice President of Government Relations, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, NEW YORK CITY