Holland offers horse owners more options
Posted by on Nov 4, 2008 in Campaigns, Welfare | 4 comments
Holland has just opened it doors on a new equine only crematorium, the largest of its kind in Holland.
Paardencrematorium Westerhout (site in English too) claim that they are dedicated to offering a dignified and peaceful ending to an equines life whilst offering support to the owner at this difficult time. Included in the huge estate is a ‘putting to sleep’ room and a mourning room, equine artwork is depicted around the estate including life size sand sculptures of horses.
Admittedly its not a cheap option, but at least Holland now has these options available since the cremating of horses was decontrolled in 2001. In France however, animals over 40kg are not permitted to be incinerated or buried according to article L226-2 of the code rural. Also, animals over 40kg are not permitted to be transported into another member state for cremation. The only options offered to owners of horses is to have the animal euthanased at home by a vet with the equarrissage service collecting the dead body, or to take the equine to an abattoir.
Take a look at these French sites Adieu and le cheval arc-en-ciel to read more about some French groups that are pressing for a change in French law, there is also a petition to sign for the right to be able to incinerate equines.
Another option we take for granted in the UK but which is absent here is the licensed knackerman or hunt service. They could be phoned and a time and date arranged, often coming out quickly if required. The method of dispatch used is a free bullet. This is reckoned to be the most efficient means of euthanasia. As an owner, you could spend the last minutes with your horse, letting him eat from a bucket of food and then walk away as the gun did the deed. Then leave the most distressing sight, the removal of the body, to someone else. The whole process is done in a matter of minutes, and there is no corpse at the end of the road for days as a painful reminder of the loss of a friend.
Some owners dislike the thought of a bullet, and feel that it is too violent a death. It is a frightening sight when the horse’s body continues moving, sometimes even cantering, on it’s side when the horse is dead. This is a moderately common reaction, often more apparent in thoroughbreds, and is not the horse ‘thrashing in pain’ as some people believe. It is solely the reaction of the nervous system. Unlike an injection, there is no awareness of what is happening.
We would be interested in hearing your comments on this subject and what you would choose for your horse given a choice. Although its not something we like to think about, part of being responsible animal owners is knowing the law and procedures in place for the country in which you live.
You are right, it is something we have to think about and is something we all dread. I have a horse who is 25 and and was retired 8 years ago due to his health. He is happy with his pal eating us out of house and home but I know it cant go on for ever. The thought of him going to the meat man just does not come into it. He has to be happy up to the last possible moment, but I have to say the thought of the vet doing the deed and possibly having to wait for days for the body to be collected and not in a sympathetic way fills me with horror. It also would be pretty upsetting for my other animals not to mention the neighbours children. There certainly should be another option albeit that it would be hard to find all that extra money.
It is something that sadly we are currently considering with our 18 year old TB. His back is so bad now that it he struggles to stand normally whilst grazing. We have done all the usual things and really there is only one option left.
There is no choice in France and so it is the vet and lethal injection. If we do make the decision then i will arrange the collection so that it will be the same day. Our neighbour waits upto 3 days for the dead stock lorry. That would be torture.
I have previously had a horse put down by a licenced knacker man, due to a major accident and fortunately he was down the road at a farm at the time. He quickly put my beloved friend out of his misery.
A licenced uk knackerman uses a captive bolt gun – it isnt the same as a normal gun. Immediately upon the trigger being squeased the pony fell straight down like a ton of bricks. I was shocked at how quick it was. There was no going to sleep. It was wonderful as the pony was very badly injured and obviously in deep shock.
I would love an crematorium as i can’t even begin to think about my horse being picked up by the grabs and dropped in with a load of dead cows and calves. But then i suppose at a time like that, nothing is going to be pleasant.
Here in Niger, the horse is a respected animal and the one one that requires a real burial. Whiles donkeys and goats that are killed in car accident are left to wildlife to take care, horses are buried. No animals are euthanize, as it is considered a barbaric procedure by the local inhabitants. In practice however, if you want to get rid of a dog, you give him to the dog catcher who will bring it to Nigeria, to the part of Nigeria where dogs are eaten. Horses live until they die. Well, that pretty much goes for most animals and humans in the least developed country in the world… As for my personal options, I am glad I have never had to euthanize before. I hope I don’t need to in the future either, but should that be the case, my should be the vet and lethal injection.
Just talking to my vet recently here in Scotland about this. More people use putting to sleep (injection) now because the gun (he uses a hand gun) makes an awful noise. You are allowed to bury your animal quietly on your land as equines are considered pets. The knackerman costs about £200. If one can afford to keep a horse, then surely one can afford a decent end if it comes to that. That is why I don’t like horse slaughter. Its not equine euthanasia but profit. I would be very surprised in France if some owners didn’t quietly bury their animals on their own land rather than having the carcase taken away. There is a website (American) http://www.vetsforequinewelfare.org which has a very good white paper on putting horses to sleep and a video of two dear old friends going together and another of a truly awful horse slaughter. Hopefully France will revise its rules to something more manageable – it is such a large country after all.