Racehorse killings: Animal activists hold vigil to demand government action on abattoir cruelty

Animal activists have gathered at a Queensland abattoir to hold a vigil for the lives of the former racehorses killed at the site.

AT LEAST 40 animal activists have gathered at the Meramist Abattoir this afternoon to hold a vigil for the lives of the horses and other animals killed at the site.

Animal Liberation Queensland (ALQ) spokesman Chay Neal said the group had been asking for government action for years over animal cruelty at abattoirs.

The vigil comes after industry and community outrage over the treatment of former racehorses, highlighted on ABC’s 7.30 program.

Activists hold a vigil for slaughtered former racehorses outside Meramist Abattoir this afternoon. Picture: Animal Liberation Queensland

It showed horses being slaughtered at Meramist Abattoir.

Mr Neal said two important issues were raised by the report.

“One is the mistreatment of the horses at this abattoir but we believe if you went to any abattoir you would see similar things — so we want to see government increase transparency and prosecutions for this type of cruelty because as far as we are aware there are very few prosecutions for animal cruelty in the animal agriculture sector.

“The second is why these race horses have ended up here in the first place.”

Some of the horses filmed by Animal Liberation Queensland at the Meramist Abattoir in Caboolture on Monday. About 40 activists from Brisbane Animal Save are holding a vigil outside the facility this afternoon. Picture: Animal Liberation Queensland

Mr Neal said it was disappointing to see the government say it was shocked by the footage when “this (horse racing) is the business of over-breeding to try and pick the winners and the rest end up at the abattoir”.

Responding to questions about ‘vegan militants’ attacking jockey Laura Cheshire, Mr Neal said ALQ certainly didn’t support anyone attacking (on social media) anyone in the racing industry.

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“There’s no single person or trainer or single abattoir, but really it’s about anyone who has involvement in the racing industry asking if this is an industry they want to be part of,” Mr Neal said.

The vigil for the dead horses is being held currently until 5pm today at the Caboolture-based abattoir on Old Gympie Rd.

“We’re here to bear witness to the animals,” Mr Neal said.

“We’ll be laying some flowers today for all the victims, the victims slaughtered today and that are regularly slaughtered.”

Horses at the Meramist Abattoir in Caboolture. Picture: Animal Liberation Queensland

He claimed about 100 horses were slaughtered this morning.

“Several brands indicating that many of these horses are racehorses were clearly visible from the fencelines,” Mr Neal said.

“Of course, horses aren’t the only animals killed here, there are camels and cows.

“As shocking as the scenes on ABC’s 7.30 report last week were, we don’t believe they are that different from most other abattoirs around the country.

“These scenes come as no surprise to us when you have animals valued only as property, poorly paid workers, and a complete lack of oversight and enforcement by the government.”

“For the Minister and Premier to claim to be shocked by this is insulting really, when we bring cases of serious animal cruelty to the Minister and his Department’s attention on a regular basis but we aren’t aware of a single prosecution.

“Regular meeting requests with the Premier and Minister to discuss animal cruelty issues have all been denied or ignored.”

Mr Neal called for greater transparency in the agricultural and horse racing industries, greater policing and the prosecution of animal cruelty.
He said he welcomed the Government’s decision to meet this afternoon with industry to discuss greater protections for racehorses and any inquiry which resulted in greater transparency.
A woman who answered the phone at Meramist Abattoir this afternoon declined to comment.