RedFlagMagazine

Location: Amado, Arizona

Name: Nicole Davis

Equine Voices Rescue & Sanctuary is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization dedicated to saving Premarin (PMU) mares and foals from slaughter. They are “… a voice for the many horses that cannot speak for themselves, working to end their senseless slaughter for overseas markets. Through education, we are confident we can enlighten the public about the horrors behind the premarin industry and horse slaughter, and be a catalyst for change so these noble animals may finally live a life without abuse, pain and suffering.”

Many of the horses at Equine Voices are rescues from PMU production facilities. PMU stands for “Pregnant Mare Urine”. The hormones collected from the urine of pregnant mares has long since been used as a source for hormone replacement therapy medications prescribed to women going through menopause. The hormone replacement therapy is called PREMARIN therapy and related products such as PremPro and PremPhase are taken by millions of women every day.

At a PMU facility pregnant mares live each day in cramped stalls too small to even lie down, they are denied free access to water, standing for up to six months in a “pee-line” with rubber collection cups hooked tightly around their urethra. Once they have their foals, they are immediately impregnated and brought back to the “pee-line”. The mares are purposely kept pregnant – similar to the cycle of a dairy cows existence and just like the baby calves born to dairy cows in dairy production facilities, the baby foal born to a mare in a PMU production facility is taken from the mother and immediately sent to auction or to slaughter.

The founder of Equine Voices, Karen Pomroy, is extremely passionate about educated the public about PMU production. She splits her time between caring for the horses at the sanctuary and traveling the country to give awareness raising presentations on the issues surrounding PMU facilities and the rights of horses which vary from state to state.

With recent news that these drugs have been medically proven to cause cancer, blood clots, and other harmful medical conditions in women, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals has cut production of Premarin by 50%. Although in the long run this is good news, currently there are 20,000 stallions, mares and foals without homes. Some are being rescued by individuals, some by non-profit groups, but the majority are sent to slaughter for human consumption.

There are many ways to support the cause. Adopting, Sponsoring or even donating funds to feed the horses at Equine Voices are a few ways. For more information visit their website: http://www.equinevoices.org/horses/.