An undercover video of the Laverton knackery in Melbourne which supplies food for zoo animals captured footage of former racehorses being dragged across concrete by a rope tied to one leg. A portion of the graphic video can be viewed here.
Despite the evident brutality displayed at the knackery, the Australian RSPCA decided that the footage was insufficient to press charges, and merely issued a formal warning. According to Lisa Chalk of Animals Australia, "The cruel treatment of horses witnessed in this case is indicative of the much broader, systemic problem of the lack of monitering and regulation of domestic abattoirs and knackeries."
Racehorses deserve to be treated with dignity, not dragged through concrete as displayed in the video! Please sign the petition to urge the RSPCA to charge the knackery with animal abuse!
To: Australian RSPCA
We, the undersigned, are concerned with your response to a recent undercover video that captured abuse at the Laverton knackery in Melbourne. The video clearly shows horses being dragged through concrete by one leg in a gruesome display of animal abuse.
Despite the evident brutality displayed at the knackery, we understand that you decided not to press charges, and merely issued a formal warning. We believe there is no excuse for what is shown in the video. An employee's statement to Fairfax media that "We've done nothing wrong in the first place" suggests that workers feel no remorse for the abuse and will continue what they've been doing.
According to Lisa Chalk of Animals Australia, "The cruel treatment of horses witnessed in this case is indicative of the much broader, systemic problem of the lack of monitering and regulation of domestic abattoirs and knackeries."
Racehorses deserve to be treated with dignity, not dragged through concrete as displayed in the video. We believe that the knackery deserves a stronger punishment for their cruel treatment of horses and respectfully urge you to press charges against them. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider our petition.
