Wild for Life Foundation releases
a Case Study conducted on the number
of Thoroughbreds that die at slaughter annually. The findings represent a detailed portrait of the U.S. Thoroughbreds
slaughtered in the years 2002 through 2010, as compared to annual Thoroughbred
foal crop.
The case
study is based on data published by the U.S. government and the Jockey Club.
According to the study, an
amount equal to 70% of the annual Thoroughbred foal crop, on average,
die at slaughter each year.
"The
polls have shown that the vast majority of those in racing want an end to the
transport of their horses to any slaughterhouse," said Jo Anne Normile,
founder of Saving Baby Equine Charity and CANTER, the first organization
to take Thoroughbreds right from the track to safe havens. "But for every Secretariat, for every
Seabiscuit, there are tens of thousands of racehorses whose experiences on the
back lots of the country’s tracks tell a different story."
"As more race tracks scramble to implement programs to
protect thoroughbreds at the end of their careers, it is important to remember
that this same horrible fate is imposed on many that never have a racing
career." – Shelley Abrams, Racehorse
Owner, Co Founder Americans Against Horse Slaughter.
"Without federal protection, aftercare programs cannot
safeguard our horses from the harm of horse slaughter," adds Katia
Louise, President Wild for Life Foundation. "It’s evident that more must be
done by the industry, including a united stance supporting a federal ban on
slaughter of horses for human consumption."
Wild for Life Foundation extends an open invitation to the
leaders of the Thoroughbred industry to join the Saving
America’s Horses Initiative for the protection of all horses from
slaughter. Leaders in the Thoroughbred industry can help champion the way by
reinstating an anti-slaughter position and supporting the legislative bills
that protect all America’s horses from slaughter.
As part of the initiative, "Saving
America’s Horses" is spotlighting the issue through the world’s most powerful
visual resource, cinema. SAVING AMERICA’S HORSES, the movie
is a brilliant and hard hitting expose` that sends a life-changing and
lingering message to the public about the need to protect our horses.
"SAVING AMERICA’S HORSES is a
sobering wake up call to the need for all horsemen and horsewomen to do more to
ensure that our beloved horses are protected. I urge the leaders in the
Thoroughbred industry to set an example for the rest of the industry to actively
get behind this film and support the American Horse Slaughter Prevention
Act." – Bing Bush Jr., equine
attorney
"SAVING AMERICA’S HORSES is so important to shed light
on the reality of what is happening to our horses everyday in this country. My
hope is that every horse lover will come away with a whole new understanding of
why we have to protect these magnificent animals after seeing the
film" says Nick Zito, Hall
of Fame Thoroughbred racehorse trainer.
Americans Against
Horse Slaughter and Animal Law
Coalition join Wild for Life
Foundation in its Saving America’s
Horses initiative in calling for an auditable aftercare program for
rehabilitation, retraining and adoption for horses whose racing careers have
ended must be put into action in all racing jurisdictions and the industry must
generate the funds to assist in the transition of horses from racing into
second careers. These organizations further
recommend that the leaders in the equine industry resolve
to a vigorous showing of support for the American Horse Slaughter Prevention
Act and put an end to the travesty and tragedy of horse slaughter for human
consumption.
Link to PDF of Case
Study:
http://www.wildforlifefoundation.org/Case_Study_U.S._Thoroughbreds_Slaughtered_2002-2010-WFLF.pdf
Link to this PDF of
this press release:
http://www.wildforlifefoundation.org/Press_release_WFLF_Case_Study030112.pdf