Horses Slaughtered for Their Meat
Sold Illegally on the Black Market
What if you discovered this meat came from your friend or neighbor’s horse?
Would you still want to eat it?
Eating horse meat sounds not only unappetizing, but downright weird to most Americans.
Yet, more and more, police in Miami-Dade and Broward counties in South Florida are stumbling upon horse carcasses, and say these strong, beautiful creatures are being slaughtered for their meat and sold illegally.
The Miami-Dade Police Department said at least 17 horse carcasses have been discovered in unincorporated parts of the county in the first half of 2009 alone.
Why Horses are Being Targeted
Laurie Waggoner of the South Florida Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said horses are an easy target. They’re taught to trust people; after all, they associate people with feeding time and care. That’s why amateur butchers can just walk up to the trusting animal, slit its throat, wait for it to bleed out and butcher it. These so-called butchers then turn around and sell the meat for up to twenty dollars per pound on the black market. Selling or eating meat from slaughtered horses, referred to as "street meat" is illegal.
Is Horse Meat Safe to Eat?
The SPCA also said pet horses are often given steroids and medicines that are not appropriate for human consumption. So not only does the thought of eating horse meat sound sick, it can actually make you sick if you eat it.
Who Exactly is Eating Horse Meat?
Waggoner said some people in Latin cultures believe horse meat has healing properties for people with low blood count or anemia.
Horses being slaughtered for their meat is upsetting for many people for many different reasons, but for horse owners who step outside in the morning to find their beloved horse chopped up dead, it’s horrific. And for the young horses trying to nurse off their dead mothers, it’s tragic.
What's Being Done
The good news is there may be some relief in sight. Police have arrested 18-year-old Luis Cordero, who admitted to killing a horse, in September. But police are still warning horse owners to be on guard.
Keeping Horses Safe
To keep your horses safe at night, police recommend locking gates, keeping horses confined in an area close to the house, installing motion-detector lights or floodlights around the barn area or even an alarm system.
And it may sound old-fashioned, but get to know your neighbors. The more watchdogs you have, you better.
Of course, if you have any information that could lead to an arrest, call police. You may be eligible for a cash reward.
Horses are being Slaughtered for Their Meat
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