Myth vs. Fact: Horse Slaughter

Recently Charleston Animal Society members posted the following:

Let’s carefully analyze and debunk each claim in this post.

Claim 1: “Don’t fall for the industry’s scare tactics.”

We do not employ the use of scare tactics. In fact, we have only ever responded with facts and evidence. You only need “tactics” when the truth and reality aren’t on your side.

Claim 2: “Myth: Charleston carriage horses and mules would go to slaughter if not for the carriage industry”

The carriage industry in Charleston has never stated that our animals would be sent to slaughter, even if the Charleston Animal Society succeeds in their continued efforts to ban carriage tours.

Here’s the truth:

Carriage tours, in Charleston and other cities, provide homes for working animals that have already completed their primary jobs.  As they age past their prime for logging, farming, and heavy work, they are replaced by younger horses in a fairly regular (and relatable!) cycle.  

Carriage tours provide an opportunity for these animals to remain healthy and be enjoyed as working companions.  Charleston’s carriage industry is the largest in the nation and provides more homes for these animals than anywhere else.

So what did we really say?

Without carriage tours, in general, and including those in Charleston, many working animals, year after year, would not have a secondary job market that would provide them care and a home.  The reality is that many of these animals would, unfortunately, end up exported as a result.  Sure, because it makes us uncomfortable we can all pretend that there isn’t an unwanted horse crisis in the United States and we can all pretend that horses don’t go to slaughter here, but the reality is that every year some 150,000 do.  And the reality is that anyone can research and find that truth and allow it and logic to triumph over propaganda.  Any animal fortunate enough to work in the carriage industry in Charleston has a home and people who love them and is not subject to the fates of the unwanted.

Claim 3: “Fact: The Charleston Animal Society pledged to source forever homes for any carriage animal in need.”

We have not heard that they made that pledge, but we could believe it - that’s like pledging unlimited salt water to residents of Folly Beach. They know, just like we know, that the carriage animals in Charleston receive exemplary care throughout their lives that is the model for the nation.  One thing these activist groups have in common is manufacturing needs that don’t exist, raising large sums of money to address those needs, and then eventually recognizing the initial state of “no needs” and claiming to be the causal savior.  Many of these groups raise hundreds of millions of dollars every year like this, and some, including the Charleston Animal Society, even get millions of taxpayer dollars in furtherance of their objectives.  You didn’t think it was a coincidence that the loudest voices against us belong to extremely wealthy people, did you? 

If the Charleston Animal Society truly did make that pledge, the carriage animals in Charleston don’t require their services, but over the next year, there will be over 400 horses every single day across the United States that will. Maybe the Charleston Animal Society can direct their attention to horses that actually need rescuing.

We and scores of horses look forward to them getting started.