Save America’s Horses from Slaughter Overseas
Unfortunately, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (H.R. 503), the anti-slaughter bill we have advocated for in the past, has stalled in Congress due to political maneuvering. Similar to H.R. 503, the newly introduced Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act (H.R. 6598) would prohibit the possession, shipment, transport, purchase, sale, delivery or receipt via interstate commerce of any horse intended for slaughter for human consumption. Unlike the Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, this bill has the potential to move quickly in the House of Representatives. Americans do not eat horse meat. However, tens of thousands of our horses are cruelly slaughtered every year to satisfy the markets for horsemeat in Europe and Asia. Since the last horse slaughter plants in the U.S. were closed in 2007, thousands of horses have been shipped to Canada and Mexico for slaughter. These overseas plants are not subject to U.S. oversight or regulation. Due to overcrowded transport conditions, many horses are injured even before reaching their final destination. Some are shipped for more than 24 hours at a time without food, water or rest, and the methods used to kill these horses once they arrive at the plant can be exceptionally inhumane.
Horses have been our trusted companions and are a historically significant part of American culture. They deserve a more dignified end to their lives than to be slaughtered and served for dinner. H.R. 6598 would put an end to this practice by prohibiting the transport of America’s horses to foreign countries for slaughter.
What You Can Do
Please visit the ASPCA Advocacy Center to email a letter to your representative now and urge him or her to support and cosponsor H.R. 6598!
Thank you for taking action for America's animals.
Labels: Humane Legislation, News
posted by ASPCA at 11:03 AM PERMALINK
7 Comments:
I think that people should save horses. Even if their are a lot of them we still need to save them. Please go to www.freewebs.com/theworldofanimals
I am a huge animal lover. I even own a boarding stable and 14 of my own horses. I love each and everyone of them and worry about them everyday. They are part of my family. I do not favor the slaughter houses because of the inhumane methods used. However, I do believe they are a necessary evil. Just as the animal shelters use euthanasia as a means to eliminate the overcrounding of dogs and cats, so must something be done with the horses. Why do we accept it as a way of life for dogs and cats but not horses. It is the method in which it is done and the transporting of these large animals that I have issues with.
I totally agree with the person that owns 14 horses and has a boarding stable. I own 18 horses and would like to sell several, since I have fantastic bred quarter horses and love to raise the babies. Here in Michigan, as in many states to the south of us, there is hay shortages. Thank goodness we raise our own hay and don't have a problem feeding our wonderful pets. I have people calling me to plz accept their horses, no charge, simply because they can't feed them. And in Ohio, W. Va., Tenn, etc I'm hearing horror stories of animals starving and even being turned loose on state and federal lands in order for them to survive. It's way too sad. I can't imagine any horses going hungry much less being turned loose to fend for themselves. There must be a better humane way to control the over-crowding and hungry animal situation.
Their is no reason for horse slaughter and i think the people that do that should be slaughter also!
itis so sad what they are doing
This is horrible. I was sickened by this story. I love horses, and something has to be done. This must STOP!
I agree with the person who owns the 14 horses. There must be a way to put a hold on the number of horses being abandoned or those whose owners can no longer care for them. Unfortunately, the horse rescues are feeling the pinch also and many horses at the smaller rescues are having to be rescued by the larger rescues. I am, however, strongly opposed to the method of transportation and slaughter. I believe we owe our horses more than that. I own 5 horses and if the time comes that I cannot keep them and cannot find them a suitable home, I will have them euthanized rather than suffer the trauma of being shipped and slaughtered in the manner now used.
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