Horsemeat

Press, Issue 33846, 19 May 1975, Page 14

Horsemeat

Abhorrence of inflicting cruelty on other creatures, juman or animal, is one of the distinguishing 'eatures of a civilised society; but misplaced concern 'or animal welfare m a world where man’s nhumanity to man cries out for attention is a form »f escapism or at least shallow thinking. The petition o ban the establishment of an abattoir for horses at Sromley surely falls into the category of misplaced joncem. There is no reason to suspect that horses tre subjected to any more pain or suffering in a slaughterhouse than sheep or cattle; why single >ut a horse abattoir for special attention? If the irganisers of the petition were successful in blocking he establishment of the abattoir the result would mrely be an increased demand for sheep or cattle neats for pet foods and the sacrifice of more of hese beasts to “ save ” the horses for a few more ’ears.

A strict interpretation of the phrase “ prevenion of .cruelty to animals”, might suggest that the luman owners of ageing horses should dispatch their tnimals to the abattoir to save them from the nfirmities and suffering of old age. Those who have igned the petition might give more thought to the ource of demand for horseflesh—household pets md their owners. Cats which are left to fend for hemselves when their owners go on holiday, or dogs vhjch are never exercised under supervision and are iften inadequately fed are surely more deserving of ympathy or a petition than are ageing horses onsigned to a supervised abattoir.