Let’s talk about euthanasia. It’s not a comfortable topic to think about, but the sad reality facing horses in the United States at the end of the journey through life is they have very few options: the horrific trip to slaughter in Mexico or Canada, a lingering slow, painful natural death, or euthanasia. Euthanasia is, by definition, “good death.” As a Full Circle of Life horse shelter, we help horses in every stage of life: from orphaned foals to horses living in chronic untreatable pain that truly need the Last Act of Kindness.
In the early 2000’s euthanasia of horses was extremely taboo. If you had an elderly horse you no longer wanted to keep you gave it away to someone who needed a horse for their kids or sold it at auction. Kill Buyers loved putting on a friendly face and scooping up the “Free to Good Home” horses around the nation. When taking horses into our shelter or rescuing from auction we would pick and choose who we would rescue, doing our best to only bring in horses we knew we could rehome, horses in the most adoptable stage of their life. This left very young horses, horses with behavioral or medical issues, and elderly horses without a safety net.
Two particular horses at an auction changed our perception of how rescue should be done. They were two sweet elderly horses who had obviously been friends for a long time. They both had chronic medical conditions that would make them unadoptable. As they went through the auction, we could only hope that some nice person would buy them and give them a retirement. After the auction those hopes and dreams were crushed: they loaded right onto the slaughter truck. Of course, no one went to the auction to buy elderly horses with medical problems to give them a retirement and spend thousands of dollars treating their medical conditions. In those early days it was quite common to see horses we had turned away from being owner surrendered end up at auction and go with the kill buyers. We constantly got calls from desperate horse owners trying to find placement for their horses. They told us they called multiple rescues and sanctuaries and were always told the same thing: “Sorry, we are full.” These circumstances caused us to reexamine our rescue philosophy and determined the right thing to do is rescue every horse we could that needs our help, even if it’s just to give them love and compassion with the Last Act of Kindness.
The horse welfare industry as a whole was about 25 years behind the dog and cat welfare industry in regards to sheltering practices and placement procedures. After coming to the realization that the way horse rescue was being done was not helping horses in all stages of life, and was causing the slaughter pipeline to flourish, we knew we had to change our rescue philosophy and break the ice for other organizations.
Our founders extensively studied dog and cat sheltering best practices as they knew what worked for dogs and cats could be replicated in many ways for horses. They were fascinated to learn what happened in the dog and cat rescue industry with the spay and neuter programs along with educating people on backyard breeding. Years ago 25 million dogs and cats were euthanized in the United States every year, and with education and spay/neuter programs, that number dropped to about 2.7 million a year now. In the early 1990’s, almost 350,000 American horses were slaughtered every year. Now, with a lessening in breeding, owner education, rescues starting to have euthanasia programs, the slaughter number has dropped to 81,000 in 2018 and the numbers dropped again for 2019 but Canada numbers are not available yet, but less than 54,000 were shipped to Mexico in 2019.
In 2008, after rethinking our rescue philosophy, we began holding free euthanasia clinics for people with horses who needed humane euthanasia, but could not afford the high cost. The horses were evaluated and if adoptable they were put into our adoption program. Those the veterinarian deemed had quality of life issues were sedated and humanely euthanized with sodium pentobarbital by the veterinarian and they were disposed of at a local rendering plant, which was the only option for disposal in the county. The free euthanasia clinics were to prevent horses from being sold at auction and shipped to slaughter. Economically, euthanasia was a hardship for many horse owners. It cost $500 – $1000 to euthanize and dispose of a horse back then in our area for the general public, despite the drug cost being less than $100. We knew it was the right thing to do, but up to that point it was something that was completely unheard of. We had to break the ice, it was the right thing to do. Horses needed a humane option. The public response was overwhelmingly positive. Once people understood the why and how they for the most part were extremely supportive. People praised us for stepping out and doing the right thing. TV stations covered the events. It was talked about nationally through horse magazines, and was groundbreaking for the horse welfare industry. Along with that came a very vocal minority who supported horse slaughter or were against anything other than “natural” death, and who attempted to destroy our organization. We received death threats, were called horse killers, campaigns and online petitions were started to try to destroy us, but the vast majority of people understood the reality American horses were facing. Our veterinarian began to get threats against her, nasty reviews, she was called a horse murderer, and those early days of trying to break the ice that humane euthanasia was a better option than slaughter were definitely hard times.
Due to a lack of education people made outlandish statements that had no bearing on reality such as “The solution used to euthanize horses literally burns them from the inside out as they die.” Science clearly shows otherwise. We have not heard any statements like this regarding sodium pentobarbital for awhile and the public prefers this method of euthanasia because it is so well known, but let’s look into it a little further. Sodium pentobarbital, also commonly referred to as pentobarbital, pentobarb, or pentobarbitone, has been used historically as an anesthetic for humans and animals. In no way is it a chemical that burns the inside of the animal as it dies. Science shows that it takes up to 52 seconds for brain activity to cease after injection of sodium pentobarbital, up to 60 seconds for audible heart sounds to cease and up to 16 minutes for no heart activity to be recorded on an electrocardiogram. 16 minutes sound horrifically long, but science shows they lose consciousness nearly immediately upon administration of sodium pentobarbital, their eye reflex is gone, and it just takes time for the body to shut down with no detectable electrical activity. Death is a slow process with any humane method, it takes time for the body to shut down.
With the positive response to our free euthanasia clinics, we began offering owner requested euthanasia at our shelter Both of our founders became certified euthanasia technicians and working with our veterinarian our shelter in California had it’s own DEA license for purchasing, storage and use of Sodium Pentobarbital. Sodium Pentobarbital is a very tightly regulated controlled substance, every cc of it has to be logged in record books and it has to be kept in a locked cabinet in a locked room. In California we were receiving up to 10 horses a week in owner requested euthanasia horses. Adoptable horses were put into our adoption program. We saw so many horses that desperately needed euthanasia, we were thankful we could help these horses, otherwise they would have suffered on and on or get shipped to slaughter. It was such a needed program and we knew it needed to be replicated across the United States. There needed to be humane options for end of life for horses just like there is for dogs and cats.
Our groundbreaking programs started gaining national attention and a veterinarian at UC Davis approached us to talk about the need for humane euthanasia options on a global aspect. The vet went into how in 3rd world countries Sodium Pentobarbital is often not widely available and how there are not drugs available for euthanasia. This lack of resources was causing immense suffering among horses that needed humane euthanasia. It was a fascinating discussion and it opened our eyes to how big the need is, it wasn’t just a North American issue. We were asked if we would be willing to allow UC Davis to use some of the horses at our shelter that needed euthanasia for this study. Even though this was experimental euthanasia, the horses would be under general anesthesia and would be pain-free during the study. Ultimately they ended up using other horses, and the findings were released in 2015. The study, which focused on the intrathecal administration of lidocaine, has some very interesting discussion between the differences of this form of euthanasia vs sodium pentobarbital. Some key points to take from this study for our discussion of humane euthanasia as it relates to horse welfare is it takes up to 52 seconds for brain activity to cease after injection of sodium pentobarbital, up to 60 seconds for audible heart sounds to cease and up to 16 minutes for no heart activity to be recorded on an electrocardiogram. With the intrathecal administration of lidocaine under general anesthesia, it took up to 2 minutes for respirations to cease, up to 10 minutes for audible heart sounds to cease, and up to 21 minutes for the electrocardiogram to show no detectable heart electrical activity. Death is always a process, and the goal of humane euthanasia is to make this process as humane as possible. This study was very interesting because it would allow veterinarians to humanely euthanize horses in countries where sodium pentobarbital is not available. More on this method at this link: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jvim.13607
In 2016 we started holding 1-Day Open Door Shelters around the United States where horse owners could bring horses and surrender them no questions asked. Horses needing humane euthanasia were euthanized by local veterinarians and disposed of locally, primarily rendering companies. As it became more acceptable for horses to be humanely euthanized, rescues across the United States began their own euthanasia programs, all in an effort to help prevent horses from being shipped to slaughter. From 2015 to 2017 exports of horses for slaughter was plummeting, and dropped 45,000 in those 3 years. Horse owners were realizing it was the most responsible thing to euthanize their horse that had chronic problems and rescues were starting to do the same.
With the increase of horse euthanasia came a tragic problem: pet food contaminated with sodium pentobarbital poisoning and killing pets. About the same time dogs started getting sick and dying from contaminated dog food and there were massive recalls. Any detectable level of sodium pentobarbital is illegal in pet food, but sadly it was getting past the safety measures and hurting pets. The FDA issued warnings to pet owners that drugs used to euthanize animals was ending up in dog food. People wondered how euthanizing drugs could end up in their pet’s food. Rendering companies supply raw material for dog and cat food manufacturers. With the increase of euthanized horses entering rendering plants, it was starting to cause real problems. Trying to avoid lawsuits, rendering companies across the United States began refusing to take horses, in fear of euthanasia solution ending up in their products. This caused an extremely difficult situation for not only our 1-Day Open Door Shelters, but for horse owners across the United States. There were no good disposal options for horses that had been euthanized with Sodium Pentobarbital. Burial of horses that had been euthanized could contaminate the groundwater. Rendering plants wouldn’t accept them. Landfills that accept horses are few and far between and who wants their beloved pet tossed in a trash pile? Cremation was thought to be prohibitively expensive, at least $1,000 per horse. As leaders in the horse welfare industry, we had to look at this problem and work with veterinarians across the United States to find solutions. Research scientists began studying drug residue in horses to determine toxicity levels of horses euthanized using various drugs. It was found that horses euthanized under general anesthesia with lidocaine intrathecally from the UC Davis study showed there was little drug residue in the carcass. In many areas of the United States it is illegal to take a horse that is euthanized with sodium pentobarbital to a landfill or bury it.
This development in the problem of euthanized horse disposal was no doubt accepted with glee by the horse slaughter industry. Here was proof that euthanizing horses was not sustainable and was harmful, and that horse slaughter was necessary. We knew there had to be a solution to this problem.
We reached back out to the veterinarian at UC Davis who was heading up the studies on horse euthanasia to talk about alternatives to sodium pentobarbital. We were still actively holding 1-Day Open Door Shelters across the United States and it was becoming very difficult to find solutions for euthanized horse disposal. Every rendering plant we would contact would refuse to take euthanized horses. This led us to the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) and their guidelines for horse euthanasia. “The AAEP’s mission is to improve the health and welfare of the horse, to further the professional development of its members, and to provide resources and leadership for the benefit of the equine industry. These principles have guided the AAEP for more than six decades in the activities and services it provides.” Over 9,000 veterinarians are members of the AAEP and they are considered the premier source of equine health and welfare. The AAEP has published euthanized guidelines for horses in accordance with the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA.) The following is their acceptable routine (nonemergency) euthanasia techniques: Overdose of sodium pentobarbital, gunshot to the brain, penetrating captive bolt to the brain, and intravenous administration of a solution of concentrated potassium chloride under anesthesia. Let’s take a close look at each method approved by the AAEP and the AVMA. We believe that in any euthanasia using any method, every horse should be heavily sedated or under anesthesia if safely possible to do so.
Overdose of sodium pentobarbital – This is our preferred method of euthanasia. As we have the ability to cremate horses at our shelter, there is no contamination of pet food or contaminating the ground. There is often agonal breathing and uncoordinated paddling of the limbs and muscle spasms and it can take up to 3 minutes for brain stem activity to cease as the body is shutting down. If the veterinarian or euthanasia technician wants to expedite this process, they will often give a second or even third dose of sodium pentobarbital.
Gunshot to the brain – Due to the danger of firearms, the movement of horses even under sedation, and the risk of ricochet, we believe gunshot should be used only in emergency situations where no other option is available. Anyone considering using this method needs to be educated in horse anatomy, the use of firearms, and proper euthanasia of horses using gunshot. We have heard countless horror stories of people who tried shooting a horse, most commonly between the eyes (which is their nasal cavity) and the horse suffers tremendously. The physical reaction and death process is similar between properly performed gunshot and properly performed penetrating captive bolt.
Penetrating captive bolt to the brain – The penetrating captive bolt euthanizes by
physical destruction of the brain. Only a penetrating captive bolt gun that uses a long retractable rod can be used for euthanasia. A nonpenetrating captive bolt gun should never be used as it only renders the animal unconscious and injured and does not cause death. The two types of bolt guns cause a massive amount of confusion. Again, only a penetrating bolt gun can be used to humanely euthanize a horse. Anyone considering using a penetrating bolt gun needs to be educated in horse anatomy, the use of the penetrating bolt gun, and proper euthanasia of horses using the penetrating bolt gun. Many veterinarians believe a penetrating bolt gun is the fastest and most humane way to euthanize a horse.
“I have seen it used hundreds of times on cattle and horses and know in my mind that it is very humane and much more instantaneous than (chemical) euthanasia. The animal literally knows nothing.” Jerry Black, DVM (Colorado State University, Equine Science)
“I would equate captive bolt with gunshot and consider both as humanely superior to lethal injection when performed properly. The public’s perception of lethal injection as being the only humane procedure parlays to the standards of the veterinary profession in this country–we simply do not teach instantaneous lethal trauma. ” Doug Byars, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, Dipl. ACVECC (Previous Director of the medicine clinic at Hagyard-Davidson-McGee equine practice in Lexington, Ky)
“A captive bolt stunning gun kills the animal and reduces it instantly unconscious without causing pain. A captive bolt gun has a steel bolt that is powered by either compressed air or a blank cartridge. The bolt is driven into the animal’s brain. It has the same effect on the animal as a firearm with a live bullet. After the animal is shot the bolt retracts… A captive bolt gun is safer than a firearm.” – Temple Grandin (Department of Animal Science Colorado State University)
The use of the penetrating captive bolt gun under heavy sedation results in immediate loss of consciousness. As with sodium pentobarbital, the horse may experience agonal breathing, paddling or uncoordinated movement of its limbs as the body is shutting down. If the veterinarian or euthanasia technician wants to expedite this process, they may choose to perform subsequent use of the penetrating bolt gun.
Intravenous administration of a solution of concentrated potassium chloride under anesthesia – The horse must be in a surgical plane under general anesthesia for this euthanasia method. This method is difficult to prepare the solution for, and special care should be taken to ensure enough solution is available to complete the euthanasia process as more solution is not readily available and it cannot be stored long term, and multiple doses are often needed. The physical reaction and death process is similar between sodium pentobarbital and potassium chloride.
As the AAEP is made up of thousands of veterinarian members who are experts in horse science and welfare, we will not discredit or renounce the science behind their chosen humane euthanasia methods. With the difficulties of horse euthanasia and the increase of horses being euthanized with sodium pentobarbital, we as horse welfare organizations and our veterinarians must look at all options available in making end of life decisions. If the horrors of the slaughter pipeline for horses is going to end, we must have a plan and resources in place to care for horses in every stage of life.
We have researched and studied in-depth all of the above methods and have used all of the approved AAEP methods during our 17 years of rescuing and sheltering in different situations around the United States under the guidance of dozens of veterinarians. Our policy at Horse Plus Humane Society is prior to euthanasia all horses should be heavily sedated if safely possible and all euthanasia procedures should be done in accordance with the AAEP guidelines. Our preferred method at our shelter for euthanasia is, and always has been, heavy sedation followed by sodium pentobarbital administered by our veterinarian and then cremation. We are so thankful that we are able to cremate horses at our shelter. There is a significant cost with the crematory, but the actual cost for cremation is less than $100 per horse.
We know that not all organizations are able to have cremation available to them, and in many places around the United States there are no disposal options available for horses euthanized with Sodium Pentobarbital. In these circumstances, the AVMA and the AAEP recognize other humane euthanasia options that can put an end to the cruel export and slaughter of horses. Every method of humane euthanasia recognized by the AAEP is far superior to the horrors of slaughter in many slaughterhouses in Mexico where a small puntilla knife is used to sever the spinal cord paralyzing the horse. The horse is alive and conscious, the horse is then shackled, hoisted, has its neck slashed open, and exsanguinated.
If you have read things on social media about Horse Plus Humane Society euthanizing horses, we hope this blog will clarify why we support and follow the AAEP’s recommended guidelines for the humane euthanasia of horses.