WHOA: Wild Horses at Risk for Slaughter

PLACITAS, N.M. (KRQE) - Horse advocates fear New Mexico's wild horses could end up in New Mexico's new horse slaughterhouse. The Valley Meat Company near Roswellpassed an inspection by the USDAin April, it is still awaiting its permit in order to start operations at what would be the country's only horse slaughterhouse.

Concerns Over Horse Slaughter

"When you have a horse slaughter facility come to your area horse theft goes right up," said Patience O'Dowd, President of Wild Horse Observers Association, or WHOA. O'Dowd is not alone in her concerns. In an interview with KRQE News 13, O'Dowd said a majority of people who live in Placitas, where wild horses graze on their property, are worried about them too.

"They talk so much about, about taking them away and having them put in the slaughterhouse which we are just totally against," said Placitas Resident Delilah Pohl-Anthony.

According to O'Dowd, New Mexico's wild horses have been targeted for slaughter in the past. "Some did go to slaughter in Mexico and Texas," O'Dowd said. The going rate for a horse to be sold at auction for slaughter is between $200 and $300, according to O'Dowd.

Current Wild Horse Population

Right now, O'Dowd estimates there are about 100 wild horses roaming between Placitas, San Felipe Pueblo, andBLMLand nearby, including some foals. "We just had births that we shouldn't have had, the same as last spring," said O'Dowd.

Some believe slaughter is a way to help manage the over-population of horses. O'Dowd says there is a better alternative for New Mexico's wild horses.

Advocating for Birth Control

"We have to use birth control to manage these horses," she said. WHOA is pushing to be able to usePZP, a non-toxic immuno-contraceptive, on the wild horses here. In the meantime, though, they have petitioned the Governor and the President to reinstate the horse slaughter ban, which would keep Valley Meats from opening.

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