Killing race horses

Commonly known, the horseracing industry is far less glamorous than it is dangerous. Specifically the horses who are forced to train for hours on end who eventually get injured, and then euthanized. 

All twelve horses at Churchill Downs suddenly died after their race. This raised suspicion for horse experts because of the high mortality rate of the horses following the race. Unsurprisingly, people pointed fingers at the race track itself.

The track itself was not the problem.

The problem was revealed to be the trainers overworking and abusing their horses. Most of the horses sustained injuries during training or racing, and instead of properly treating their injuries, the trainers euthanized them because they were no longer of use. 

From 2009 to 2021, more than 7,200 horses died or were euthanized nationwide because of racing-related illnesses and injuries. Numerous people argue that because a horse with leg or limb injuries cannot walk or run for six to twelve months, they should be put down because they can no longer do their job.

As always, there are flaws with this argument. The horse can be put into a rehabilitation facility and get proper treatment. which allows them to restore their health and can eventually be back on their feet. 

Especially for the later stages of recovery, the horse can go through physical therapy and begin to heal again. 

Sophomore Eva Josie argued that this process might have a negative effect., “It would be even more inhumane to keep a horse in chronic pain without being able to move.” 

While there is truth to what she said, a few months of healing would be better than killing the horse when they experience pain.

Killing imperfect pets

Since humans domesticated dogs and cats many years ago, some say they are merely “semi-domesticated.”. Their roles have evolved from hunting and guarding to companionship. 

Many people fail to realize that many rescue pets are only semi-domesticated. Dogs, in particular, are most likely to be taken away because of behavioral issues. 

Many of these animal returns are because some people expect animals to be docile and reliant on their human owner, but animals are still animals. Many animals suffer from mental health issues due to previous trauma left untreated, which may not be the fault of the owner,

Many owners will overlook symptoms of a mental health disorder until it’s too late. “I was so happy when I got my dog that I would overlook the biting,” expressed junior Kiley Leonard. Her dog, like many, would get nervous around unfamiliar people and would sometimes bite. 

Many dogs with mental health issues will eventually get put down because they can be dangerous to people. However, it usually isn’t their intent to hurt people.

Many times, people will look for an animal to train into a specific use. Whether that be a race horse, or the taming of a dog, if they fail to meet the expectation set upon them, they will be put down by human hands.