Slaughter horses at Santa Teresa

ANIMAL ANGELS filed this report:

The Animals’ Angels inspectors observe the Santa Teresa border crossing between New Mexico and Mexico and meet with the responsible USDA veterinarian.

Inside the export pens are 50 “slaughter” horses all in shockingly poor condition.

We see severe emaciation, final stage strangles, extremely large open and infected wounds, severe laming, and one young, grey horse with a burned off ear. To the inspectors’ surprise the USDA veterinarian determines these horses all fit for transport.

His comment regarding our concern over the horses’ welfare is “They’re fine. I’ve seen worse”.

In addition, we are informed that if the USDA veterinarian deems the horses unfit for transport that they are not euthanized, but rather left untreated in the export pens on the US side of the border with no shelter from the sun until they die.

The inspectors’ also learned that these pens are owned by a private Mexican organization – the Chihuahua Cattlemen’s Association.

Animals’ Angels feels that the procedures at this border crossing and how these severely health-compromised horses are treated are unacceptable. We will continue to monitor the situation and will inform the appropriate authorities about the alarming current situation.

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For those who support horse slaughter, who say that slaughter is a way of disposing of sick and abused horses, let us point out that these horses have endured great hardships bringing them to their current condition.

This is the result of inhumane treatment during transport and in holding pens.

Please also not that horses are being “walked” across the border from several crossover points into Mexico, and therefore are not being recorded in horses exported for slaughter to Mexico. This means few or no inspections, and U.S. mustangs and burros may be slaughtered with no paper trail.

IFH

For more information, and to view full reports like the one excerpted here, please visit the Animal Angels investigations section of their website.