If you’re unfamiliar with a kill lot, you’re not alone.  Before April, I was under the impression that slaughter in the US was non-existent, and was blissfully unaware that up to 1,800 horses every week are shipped from a single “kill Lot” in the United States.

This rude awakening began with that sweet woman  I met at the Clinton Anderson clinic who shared the Facebook page with me.  That same day I saw a precious face listed as “URGENT – ON KILL LOT!”  It was a beautiful little pinto pony named “Indy.”  When I saw this, I thought that someone was taking him that same day to Mexico to slaughter.  That’s not exactly how it works.

From what I’ve been told, there are “kill buyers” all over the United States that seek out horses.  Horses of all shapes and sizes from every source:  Craigs list, horse auctions, individuals, production sales, etc.  They disguise themselves as any normal “interested buyer” and will outbid many good homes to get these horses.  They send them all to “kill lots” to be held until their trucks arrive to haul them across the borders.  There are slaughter houses in Canada and Mexico that are incredibly inhumane in their “processing” of our precious companion animals.  The meat is packaged, and then shipped internationally for human consumption.

This is a very lucrative market, and just recently I read and article where a single kill buyer made 1.3 million in one quarter from shipping horses.

I purchased my four rescues from a Facebook page that was started by a group of very benevolent women that made it their main mission in life to save horses.  Most of them have full time jobs, and do this before and after work because they care.  They have made a deal with the kill buyers, that if they can get them a little more than what the buyers purchased them for, they are able to sell the horses.  Not all of them, but the ones that they think that can be re-homed.  The buyers ship several truck loads of horses every week to slaughter, so it’s always time sensitive!

I have seen hundreds of registered, really nice looking horses go through there in the past few months.  Hundreds of gorgeous mares with foals on their side.  Hundreds of beautiful grade horses that would be an incredible companion for someone wanting a horse.  Hundreds of branded ranch horses that gave someone their youth.  It’s absolutely devastating!

If you are interested in purchasing a horse, I strongly recommend that you check out these sites before buying or breeding your own.  You could save a life.