|
|
|
To: The National Horse Protection
Coalition
From: McLaughlin &
Associates
Date: June 25, 2004
Re:
Virginia Voters Support The Stopping Of Slaughtering Horses For Human
Consumption
_______________________________________________________
Methodology:
This Virginia statewide survey was conducted among 500 likely general election
voters on June 15, 2004. All interviews were conducted by professional
interviewers via telephone. Interview selection was at random within
predetermined election units. These units were structured to statistically
correlate with actual voter distributions in statewide general elections. The
accuracy of the sample of 500 likely general election voters is within +/- 4.5%
at a 95% confidence interval.
Summary: This survey of
likely voters clearly indicates that the public sentiment in Virginia is to stop
the slaughtering of horses for human consumption. Currently in Virginia there is
a low awareness of horses in the United States being sold and slaughtered for
human consumption overseas (36% aware to 64% unaware). Despite the low
awareness, the electorate strongly agrees with the points made by advocates of
stopping the slaughtering of horses for human consumption. Conversely, the
electorate disagrees with the points made by their opponents.
Key Findings: As stated in the summary, the electorate
concurs with the positions held by supporters of stopping the slaughtering of
horses for human consumption. Nearly three-quarters (74%) of the likely voters
agree with the statement that “horses are an important part of Virginia’s
history and heritage, and we owe horses better treatment at the end of their
life than abusing them and slaughtering them for human consumption”. This
overwhelming agreement is evident across all key voter groups. In particular,
the intense agreement is shown among agriculture households and horse owners.
Two-thirds (67%) of the likely voters agree with the statement “The conditions
under which horses are shipped on trucks and the way they are treated in
slaughterhouses are cruel and inhumane. We should stop this practice.” The
support of this statement significantly increases among agriculture households
(81% agree) and horse owners (76% agree). Clearly, the voters, especially
agriculture households and horse owners, think horses deserve more respect and
better treatment than slaughtering them for human consumption.
Unlike
the points made by advocates of stopping the slaughtering of horses for human
consumption, Virginia voters disagree with the positions taken by their
opponents. Two-thirds (67%) of the voters disagree with the statement that
“selling horses for slaughter is often the only way many people can afford to
give horses a humane way to end their lives”. The majority (55%) disagree with
the statement “Slaughtering practices are supervised and slaughtering horses is
no different than slaughtering any other type of animal. If we stop the
slaughter of horses then people will want to stop the slaughter of pigs,
chickens and cows.” The survey results demonstrate that Virginia voters believe
there are more affordable and humane ways to end the lives of horses than
slaughter and that there is a difference between slaughtering horses and other
animals such as pigs, chickens and cows. In addition, they don’t believe
stopping the slaughtering of horses will cause a movement to end the
slaughtering of animals such as pigs, chickens and cows.
|
|
|
