[AI-Generated Summary] An undercover investigation by News 8 I-Team reporter Karen Hensel reveals how rising demand for horse meat in Europe and Japan is driving an influx of Indiana horses into local auction kill pens—such as the one in Shipshewana—where neglected, injured, and even healthy animals are sold for slaughter. Despite horses serving as family companions, therapy animals, and work horses, many are packed tightly into double-decker cattle trailers for long trips to slaughterhouses under conditions that lack the animal welfare protections found in states like California, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. The report highlights additional concerns regarding the meat quality—noting these horses are often treated with medications labeled unsafe for human consumption—while spotlighting local rescuers attempting to save animals from slaughter. Following the broadcast, an overwhelming 91% of surveyed viewers expressed outrage and backed legislative action to ban horse slaughter auctions, prompting viewers to contact state lawmakers and the governor's office.
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