Melissa is a black, Percheron-Belgian cross. She is one of four foals who were rescued by Redwings from the Premarin slaughter sales in Canada.
Premarin is a hormone replacement drug for menopausal women. The drug is made from the urine of pregnant mares. As you can see from the photos below, the mares live together in such crowded, dirty pens that they cannot move. The foals of these mares are sold primarily to dog-food manufacturers. Before they’re sold, the foals also live in heart-breakingly close quarters, exhibiting extreme fear and sadness. The mares are then bred again, beginning this terrible cycle anew.
Some pharmaceutical companies have developed generic versions of drug which do not use the urine of pregnant mares. However, Premarin’s manufacturer, Wyeth-Ayerst, has attempted to prevent the generic versions from gaining a foothold in this $1 billion market.
Redwings was able to rescue just four of the many thousands of Premarin foals who are born each year. Please join with us in rejecting the use of Premarin and ending the inhumane treatment of mares and foals.