(Equine Welfare Alliance news release)
Published: Monday, Jun. 24, 2013 – 7:30 pm
CHICAGO, June 24, 2013 — /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — (EWA) – The Equine Welfare Alliance today released a statistical study on the rates of equine abuse and neglect across the US since 2000. The research examined equine abuse statistics from Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Maine and Oregon.
Historical records of the number of cases of equine abuse and neglect from these states was correlated with three potential causes; the rate of equine slaughter (or lack of it), unemployment and the cost of hay.
Surprisingly, the researchers found that the rate of abuse has been in decline in four of the six states since 2008. Five of the six states had shown a spike in abuse and neglect around 2008 and two have shown a significant increase in the past two years.
The dominant factor the analysis produced in every state was the price of hay. “My assumption was always that unemployment was the dominant factor,” acknowledged EWA president John Holland. “In fact, the analysis showed that the rate of unemployment in the state was the least important predictor of the level of abuse and neglect.”
If you’d like to discuss equine law, contact Adam Trenk, atrenk@roselawgroup.com
