July 23, 2003 Letter to the Editor, New York Times 

Racehorse's Sad Fate 

 

 

The story of how a great racehorse like Ferdinand ended his days in a slaughterhouse in Japan (Sports pages, July 23) is sad indeed. The description of how sweet his disposition was, how affectionate he was, how he came when he was called just breaks your heart.  

 

It is even sadder when you know about how slaughterhouses operate. The whole process is cruel and inhumane, and the horses often spend their last days in pain and terror.  

 

Last year, 42,000 American horses met this fate, and tens of thousands more were shipped live to Mexico, Canada and Japan to meet similar fates. (Seabiscuit would probably have been sent to a slaughterhouse if three men hadn't seen the magic in him.)  

 

There is a bill in Congress called the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. It is in the Agriculture Committee and will be passed to the House if enough people raise their hands and say this cruelty must stop. 

 
NINA DISESA
New York, July 23, 2003