How to help save horses from slaughter

Dianne Engleke, a Millerton artist and political cartoonist for The Millerton News, has always loved animals. But she developed a special appreciation for horses — not just for their beauty, but for all they do — when she lived in eastern Arizona’s ranch country during the early 1980s. “Before that I hadn’t really seen working horses,” Engleke said. “In those three years I realized how complex people’s relationship and attachment with horses is. I saw them as working partners.”Although she would have loved to accept offers to take ownership of some of the horses she met in Arizona, Engleke knew she would be returning east and had nowhere to keep the majestic animals. It was not until years later, for her 50th birthday, that she would come to own a horse. She now has two. Before that, however, Engleke started sponsoring horses, something she still does today.“I guess I am committed from keeping any horses I possibly can from going to slaughter,” she said, adding she sponsors a horse from Equine Advocates in Chatham, one from Godspeed Horse Hostel in Amenia, one in Missouri and one in Arizona. “When horses are sick, old or lame, people send them to be slaughtered. How can anyone put a sick, old or lame horse on a truck for three days without food or water and call that humane?”In this country most horses are sent to Canada or Mexico to be slaughtered; horsemeat is then sent to Asia, as European countries do not want horsemeat with as many hormones, antibiotics and other chemicals as that which comes from America. And it’s not just horses who are sent to slaughter; ponies, donkeys and mules are also slaughtered. The slaughtered animals are from all walks of life: They may be race horses, thoroughbreds, carriage horses, farm animals or pets. Mares who are a byproduct of the Canadian Premarin industry (a hormone replacement drug made from pregnant horses’ urine) are also among those destined for the slaughter house.“A lot of these horses have been abused, and having contact with people and having a kind touch and someone to groom them and spend time with them is very important for a lot of these animals who have had a very rough beginning,” said Equine Advocates President Susan Wagner. “A lot of them never had any kind of affection and it’s amazing how they love it when they do get attention from people. Some of these horses know their sponsors — they knicker to them when they show up. It’s really adorable. And we’re told by people how fulfilling it is.”The Equine Advocates sanctuary in Chatham offers sponsorships begining at $50 a month. “It’s all over the map to sponsor a horse,” Engleke said, adding no amount is too small to make a difference. “Rescues are pleased to have anything. It doesn’t have to be expensive and anyone can get started. Slaughterhouse horses are cheap. There is a world where thoroughbreds go for six figures, but some of those horses go for slaughter, too. Basically they are sold by the pound. It’s uncomfortably real.”Wagner said that all sorts of horses end up at Equine Advocates.“Horses are in their own category and they do so many things in their lifetime and they very often get discarded when they can’t do their tasks anymore,” Wagner said. “The horses that are here need help. These horses were seized in cruelty cases or rescued from slaughter or were being auctioned off as carriage horses or taken from kill pens.“Our mission is to rescue, protect and prevent the abuse of equines through education, investigation and rescue operations and the dissemination of information to the public,” she added. “Horses have a very special place in the hearts of all Americans, because we wouldn’t have a country without horses.” Equine Advocates will hold its Horse Sponsorship Drive 2011 on Sunday, April 2, from 4 to 7 p.m. at TK Home and Garden, located at 441 Warren St. in Hudson. There will be cocktails and music, along with a photo exhibit of the animals up for sponsorship. RSVPs are requested by March 25 to 518-392-0175 or equineadvocates.org.