Horse found slaughtered for meat

MIAMI, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- The slaughter of a horse in Florida is the latest indication of rising demand for black market horse meat for human consumption, an animal rights advocate said.

The horse's carcass was found by the side of a road. It is the 21st reported incident of this kind, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, reported Sunday.

"It was a typical slaughter," Richard Couto, an investigator with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said. "This was done by pros."

Miami-Dade police have arrested four men in connection with previous cases of horse slaughter but black market demand for horse meat is growing, as is horse theft, the newspaper said.

"There are so many people doing this," Couto said. "It is profitable and there is a high demand, and the problem is not going away soon."

Florida lawmakers are considering a resolution urging increased criminal penalties for horse slaughter and calling for the suspension or revocation of licenses for restaurants, stores or businesses that sell horse meat illegally.