Violent Video Depicts Cruelty - Knackery Will Not Be Charged

Live horse being dragged to the kill floor at Laverton Pet Supplies

A Melbourne knackery that was accused of cruelty and the sadistic slaughter of horses will escape prosecution as the RSPCA has decided that the covert footage caught by an undercover activist is not sufficient to lay charges.

The covert film (which can be viewed here, but is extremely graphic so viewer beware) was shot by an undercover agent from animal rights group the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses, has resulted in an official complaint to the Victorian meat regulators. This complaint instigated enquiries into Laverton Pet Meats’ business practices by the RSPCA and PrimeSafe (the Victorian meat safety and health authority).

In the footage, two horses are shot and dragged across the ground to the kill floor. One of which continued to breathe for four minutes, until it was gored in the chest by one of the meat workers, leaving it to hemorrhage and spasm before taking its last breath.

Ward Young, from the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses is disturbed by this lack of action. He said "I don't know whether the knackery has to drag half-dead horses to their doorstep before they prosecute…if something of this nature, which was so distressing, couldn't get a prosecution, what can?"

Up to 18,000 horses die in Australia per yet at the knackery

This abhorrent disregard for life has not gone unnoticed. As the name of ‘Laverton Pet Meats’ is splashed across the media with damning condemnation, Zoos Victoria has decided to take its business elsewhere, denouncing the inhumane slaughter of these racehorses. However, this is not an isolated incident as thousands of horses are slaughtered for pet meat every year in Australia. Ward Young tells us the number “is as high as 18,000 horses…as it stands, there is no solution for the thousands of racehorses who leave the industry each year because they are injured or not competitive. Most will end up at slaughter.”

This case has fuelled a current campaign run by the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses, which urges the racing industry to contribute 1% of betting turnover into forming a racehorse retirement program. 1% of revenue equates to about 143 million dollars per year, and the public agree that that sum is more than enough to take care of these graceful creatures once their racing career is over – over 24,000 people have signed a petition that says that they agree a retirement and welfare program should be put into place.

Racehorses often suffer from significant bone problems as they are generally started on the track before their bones have finished developing. Sometimes there are injuries before they have even had their first start – these horses end up at the knackery, as they are no longer profitable. Even winners – such as Natures Child in the video – end up at the knackery. It is widely accepted knowledge that in Australia, 300 of 1000 Thoroughbred foals that are born actually make it to the track [1],[2].

"The racing industry can't say they love these horses and then the next day when they can no longer earn money, send them to the knackery to get killed for dog meat… (their) actions speaks louder than their words.” Mr. Young has commented.

The RSPCA may state that the evidence provided to them was not sufficient enough to lay charges, but it was sufficient enough to bring this matter to the general public’s attention.  The unnecessary slaughter of thousands of horses has to stop, and the public agrees. The change.org petition set up by Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses needs 1,441 more signatures to reach its 25,000-signature goal before it will be forwarded to racing and sporting ministers across the country.  Sign the petition here, and speak up for someone who can’t.

References:

http://ymlp.com/zisPG5

http://www.horseracingkills.com/wastage/

http://www.change.org/petitions/australian-racing-industry-racehorses-aren-t-pet-food-create-an-owners-levy-to-fund-a-horse-welfare-plan

http://ymlp.com/zAXOH1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5quRrEsoYc&feature=youtu.be

http://www.smh.com.au/national/knackery-video-rspca-wont-press-charges-20130315-2g4tz.html

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/slaughter-of-horses-causes-outrage-20121212-2ba3l.html

[1]Bourke, J.M. (1995) Wastage in Thoroughbreds. In: Proceedings from Annual Seminar of Equine Branch, NZVA, Ed: G. Budge, Masey University, Auckland. pp 107-120.


[2] Bailey, C.J., Reid, S.W.J., Hodgson, D.R. and Rose, R.J. (1999) Factors associated with time until first race and career duration for Thoroughbred racehorses. American Journal of Veterinary Research60, 1196-12