Slaughterhouses: Where Racehorses Go to Retire? June 5, 2009

Posted by Rachel-O at June 5, 2009 4:16 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 9 ) | TrackBack

Horse-racing is a dirty industry. Horses are routinely beaten, drugged and sometimes even euthanized right on the track after crippling and deadly injuries—what makes it worse is that so many so called horse lovers continue to pay for this industry to continue.

Each year in Japan, more than 20,000 horses, including many horses once used for racing, are slaughtered for dog and human food. Our footage taken inside a Japanese slaughterhouse shows exactly what happens to these sensitive animals as they are prepared for slaughter. As stated in the New York Times, "The video is disturbing. It shows in graphic terms what happens to the unfortunate thoroughbreds who become spare parts in a contracting industry."

Inside Japan's largest horse slaughterhouse
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You can blame the U.S. horse-racing industry for the carnage. It routinely breeds tens of thousands of "surplus" thoroughbreds every year, then sells thousands of them to breeding facilities in Japan. More than 2,000 U.S. thoroughbred horses and breeding mares have been shipped to Japan since 2002.

Right now, Two more horses, Charismatic and War Emblem—Kentucky Derby champs from 1999 and 2002 respectively—may also face slaughter as their usefulness to breeders comes to an end. Both of them are currently in Japan at breeding farms—and War Emblem, who was sold for $17 million dollars and shipped off to Japan, has refused to breed with most mares, despite the use of hormones and steroids.

Just a few years ago, horse-racing fans cheered as Charismatic and War Emblem ran away with top prizes at the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. Now, PETA's most recent undercover investigation shows what could be in store for these once-celebrated stallions and thousands of other horses sold into the Japanese thoroughbred industry.

Last year, Americans watched in horror as racing filly Eight Belles suffered fractures to both her front ankles and was euthanized just moments after running the Kentucky Derby. How can anyone not be disgusted by the shuffling of thousands of horses off to Japan and into slaughterhouses?

Join us in defending former Derby and Preakness champs Charismatic and War Emblem—and thousands of other thoroughbreds. Demand limits on breeding and a ban on the export of horses to Japan.

peta2 in Japan! October 17, 2007

Posted by Ryan at October 17, 2007 1:03 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 7 ) | TrackBack

One of the things I've learned over my 2 years of working at peta2 is that when you are given a certain amount of vacation days each year, SAVE THEM! That way, you can enjoy an amazing trip, and eat lots of good food.

So this year, I decided to take off a whole week, and fly to Japan. Being the home of Nintendo, sumo wrestling, and green tea, I knew this was someplace I had to go.

So pull out your favorite bamboo floormat and vegan sushi, because we're going on a journey to Far East!

First up, was a restaurant called the "Vegan Healing Cafe". But as I was walking up to the front entrance, I saw what could possibly be the coolest car ever parked out front!

We are truly everywhere.

Of course, even when I'm on vacation, I'm still not a douche (although Pulin may disagree, since he had to cover for me while I was gone). That's why I didn't eat at some crappy restaurant that tortures animals like...oh I don't know...



On the plus side though, I visited a series of Buddhist temples and shrines, many of which had free-roaming deer in the towns! According to their beliefs, the deer are considered the "guardians" of the temples, so nobody is allowed to harm them!

Needless to say, since nobody hurts them, they were very friendly back. Here we are strutting down the street in style.



All in all it was a great trip. Should you ever find yourself with 9 days and nothing to do, I would highly recommend hopping a plane and floating on over to Japan (legally speaking, you should probably check with your parents first).

If you go, stop on by the Vegan Healing Cafe, and tell them Ryan sent you. They'll likely smile politely and respond with "wonayazo hadachi Ryan de-aruga?" (that means "Who the hell is Ryan?" in Japanese).

- Ryan