[ 56 horseillustrated.com | october 2019 ]
that threaten their lives. That’s because elderly
or unwell horses are more likely to be ostracized
from a new herd and denied access to water, food
or the social interaction that horses require.
Horses that are placed in new homes at this
stage don’t always finish their lives peacefully.
“Of course you can try to rehome them, but
you have to be prepared for what you don’t
know,” says Nicole Maubert Walukewicz,
founder of the Palmetto Equine Awareness &
Rescue League (PEARL). “The new owner could
be a kill buyer who knows that the horse is
worth $200 on the meat market, and your horse
could end up on a truck to Canada or Mexico.”the Kindest option
Because of this, euthanasia performed by a
licensed veterinarian is the most humane
option. For those who do choose euthanasia,
support is key. According to Weiss, owners who
have a long-standing relationship with their
veterinarian should count on them to carry out
the euthanasia procedure in a humane way,
often at reduced cost.
If you still feel the cost is out of reach, pro-
grams such as the ASPCA’s Vet Direct Safety
Net helps veterinarians offer reduced-cost
services to owners.“The [program] subsidizes veterinarians to
do the good work that they want to do in their
communities,” says Weiss. “That sometimes
means lower-cost euthanasia services.”
Veterinarians can also provide owners with
information about carcass removal, including
state and county regulations about disposal,
and help owners get in touch with local farm-
ers or ranchers who are willing to have the
horse buried on their property.
In addition, some rescue organizations host
low-cost or no-cost euthanasia clinics for own-
ers who are unable or unwilling to have their
horses euthanized at home. However, veteri-
narians participating in rescue-sponsored clin-
ics can still decline to euthanize some horses.
“If euthanasia is not appropriate, the veter-
inarian will talk to the owner and help them
find other options for the horse,” says Erin
Clemm Ochoa, chief executive officer for the
Days End Farm Horse Rescue (DEFHR).suppoRt system
Some owners put off or decline euthanasia ser-
vices for their horses to avoid guilt over making
the decision to end the life of a beloved animal.
If you do choose appropriate euthanasia,
support is key to carrying out the decision. Youeverst/shutterstock