In regards to comments made from the horse barn manager at this organization ("Debate continues on ethics of horse slaughter," April 24), there is a huge difference in slaughtering a horse who has had care and close human contact and a cow whose life was not the same. Horses are intuitive animals and were put here for riding and working. They are here for recreation and companionship. Why is it, in these articles, no one seems to think that people who have horses should have the responsibility for the life of that horse? It is always the fact that they can't afford to have their animal put down humanely.

It's probably a symptom of this country in general to just dispose of everything when you're tired of it, like the trash, and just send it to the dump. Well, if anyone could stand in the kill box at an equine slaughter house and watch your horse be killed in a most inhumane and fearful way, you could see firsthand why the slaughter of a horse for the benefit of the Belgians is horrendous. Maybe America just needs to stand up and be responsible for its horses. Until humans treat all animals with kindness, there will never be peace in this world.