To: Charlie McConalogue Minister for Agriculture
Horse Slaughter in Ireland; The state needs to take responsibility
Open at least 1 but preferably 2 to 3 state run world class horse slaughtering facilities.
Where there is proper oversight & the buck stops somewhere. Where there are world class considerations for welfare, hygiene & public health.
Where there is proper oversight & the buck stops somewhere. Where there are world class considerations for welfare, hygiene & public health.
Why is this important?
After the RTE investigates documentary on horse slaughter in Ireland & other issues related the country has seen how bad conditions were prior to the closure of Shannonside
The problem, however, does not end with Shannonside as now with no horse slaughter facility in Ireland the other issues highlighted by the documentary will be all the more pertinent; The issues of improperly regulated live export, and lack of cohesion between European bodies.
We can see with the US as an example the serious & glaring issues of having no slaughter facilities onshore & the subsequent problems of neglect, abandonment, & shipping conditions having to ship animals that often need to be slaughtered due to having an ailment that is a long term quality of life issue, & the cruelty of sending them long distances over multiple days.
It is my opinion that the department of agriculture needs to open at least 1 but preferably 2-3 state run horse slaughter facilities, run to a world class standard of hygiene & welfare, where the buck actually stops with someone & there is proper oversight. Otherwise we are going to face a crisis of neglected & abandoned horses, another brewing live export scandal & the buck being passed to already overstretched horse rescues.
The problem, however, does not end with Shannonside as now with no horse slaughter facility in Ireland the other issues highlighted by the documentary will be all the more pertinent; The issues of improperly regulated live export, and lack of cohesion between European bodies.
We can see with the US as an example the serious & glaring issues of having no slaughter facilities onshore & the subsequent problems of neglect, abandonment, & shipping conditions having to ship animals that often need to be slaughtered due to having an ailment that is a long term quality of life issue, & the cruelty of sending them long distances over multiple days.
It is my opinion that the department of agriculture needs to open at least 1 but preferably 2-3 state run horse slaughter facilities, run to a world class standard of hygiene & welfare, where the buck actually stops with someone & there is proper oversight. Otherwise we are going to face a crisis of neglected & abandoned horses, another brewing live export scandal & the buck being passed to already overstretched horse rescues.