Victory—U.S. Horse Slaughter Rejected by U.S. House Committee!

Tuesday, June 19, 2012 - 3:30pm
Horse

Horse lovers across America can celebrate a big victory. The U.S. House Appropriations Committee just approved an amendment that will prevent taxpayer dollars from being used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to inspect U.S. horse slaughter facilities. By blocking this federal funding, the House has taken its first step to ensure that horse slaughter facilities cannot legally operate on U.S. soil. We will need your help to ensure this provision gets through the whole House and the Senate, so stay tuned for upcoming advocacy alerts.

While our current Congress has prided itself on reducing government spending, last year's agriculture funding bill actually omitted this provision—opening the U.S. market to the horse slaughter industry.

"Using taxpayer dollars to fund this abhorrent industry is a wildly unpopular decision," says Nancy Perry, ASPCA Senior Vice President of Government Relations. "At a time when funding for many vital programs is being cut, it is imperative that Congress not use $5 million of taxpayers' money to fund horse slaughter, a cruel practice that benefits only foreign interests."

Take Action!
Rep. Moran’s amendment to the Agriculture Appropriations bill protects American communities from the devastating environmental and economic impact of horse slaughter facilities, but the bill still has to pass the full House of Representatives. The House will vote on the bill on Tuesday, June 26. Please contact your U.S. representative today and urge him or her to pass the bill with the Moran Amendment intact and reject any attempts to fund horse slaughter during fiscal year 2013!

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Advocacy
Animal Cruelty
Equines
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Comments

Tue, 06/19/2012 - 23:35 — Jimmie (Visitor)
I hope ya'll understand something. Without the funding for inspections, that means instead of animals being put down or euthanized humanely, they will be mistreated however someone see's fit. I am a horse owner and lover and would never want something to happen to my animals. But I do feel that this is something that the U.s. can help with the wonderful budget our president has placed us in. I doubt very seriously ya'll even have an idea what a plant would do to open up jobs for people who need to work. If your going to keep the slaughter houses opened, why not go after Tyson Chicken for how they handle and process chicken. Or as to how cattle are abused by being closely confined and immunized with over 90% of antibiotics and steroids that humans are injected with DAILY?? I know that we love horses, and animals in general. But I would rather them be put down and humanely treated than to have them beaten and left to starve and have their eyes busted out by drunks and cruel people. This is a border line between humanity and animal cruelty. What would you do about abortion? Ask congress to get rid of it? All of these things have gone on for years. And there has not been a problem before. Why is there now?

Wed, 06/20/2012 - 00:39 — Elyse Evans (Visitor)
I see your point, and believe me I greive for the astronomical number of neglected horses. The problem with your comment is that horses are not the same type of animal as a cow or sheep or pig, for them slaughter plants are terrifying. Horses are NOT "put down and humanely treated" in these plants. To your other point, I agree, we SHOULD go after Tyson Chicken for the way their chicken is raised, handled, and eventually processed. We SHOULD change the way cattle is raised and beef is processed. But as for horses, I think it is about making a stand and saying, in this country we don't eat horse.

Wed, 06/20/2012 - 01:02 — Michelle (Visitor)
we do not eat horse... but it could be an export to us. and if people are going to complain about exporting it, why not send the horse meat to the zoo? horse meat would actually be good for the carnivores; the st. louis zoo had a nutritionist come to my university and speak and she actually mentioned that they are considering switching to horse meat given they find a provider for a prize the zoo can afford. would you rather see Animal Cops episodes filled with horses that have been abused and neglected, unable to stand due to hunger, or would you rather know that unwanted horses are slaughtered to benefit other animals who are being taken care of?

Wed, 06/20/2012 - 02:46 — Debbie Wiliams (Visitor)
Horses are already humanely euthanized by veterinarians in the US and many of those animals are donated to zoos and large animal sanctuaries but it is up to the owner to decide what becomes of their horse. Many horse rescues do the same. The horses sent to slaughter houses are not sent there for animal consumption because there is no money in it. Slaughter plant owners sell that horse meat to whoever pays the highest price in the market like Japan and some countries in Europe.

Wed, 06/20/2012 - 21:30 — Deb Dahlberg (Visitor)
Have YOU ever SEEN a euthanization? I have seen them gone wrong and its far from Humanely as you say! Are you aware of the poisons put into the body--it is NOT fit for other animals to eat. Our vet will NOT euthe one unless the hole is dug as birds will carry parts away and droppings and death follows for the innocent birds and whatever picks up the droppings. I STRUGGLE with "what people read and believe as truth" There are TWO spectrums to this topic and WE "LIVE" horses and cattle.........just TELL me what to do with all of the unwanted,,,mean,,,,,ill bred,,,,,,,crippled horses? IF you look at populated areas there is NO place to bury them.....they are being turned loose to fend for themselves.......animals that have NO idea as to how to do THAT. The wolves are now an endagered species and are fed well--and you want humane? Live it....then you have the right to tlak aobut it!

Mon, 06/25/2012 - 13:16 — Carol Stef (Visitor)
Even the worst scenario of a euth gone wrong pales in comparison to what horses go through when sent to slaughter. A bullet to the head is what is done for remains donation. Most of the drugs nearly all horses receive in the US are toxic to humans, both here and abroad in case you think it's OK to send it out of the country. As far as what to do with the unwanted-mean-ill bred-crippled, how about OWNER RESPONSIBILTY??? People who turn loose their animals should be prosecuted. The slaughter houses were no more humane here in the US then they are elsewhere, let's reward the overbreeders and give them a few bucks for the lives of the unlucky so they can keep breeding! Better yet if you LIVE cattle and horses you must have land, donate some of your land to build a slaughter house. Hope you can sleep at night after its built with all the savory characters that will actually work there.

Sat, 06/23/2012 - 01:15 — Erin Zamzow DVM (Visitor)
yes as a nation we should stand up and say 'we don't eat horse' like we don't eat dogs and cats. however, I disagree that horses are different than cows and sheep and pigs- for them slaughter is terrifying too. Just because we send animals to slaughter houses does not mean it's right, the best world would be one in which we either do not raise animals for food at all or only do it in the most respectful and humane way which means meat becomes a very rarely eaten item. I think a never eaten item would be best but I know humans are way too attached to their flesh to give that up.

Wed, 06/20/2012 - 03:05 — Debbie Williams (Visitor)
Horses are NOT humanely put down or euthanized in slaughter plants. The methods used to kill cows do not work effectively on horses and the horse is conscious when they are being strung up by one leg and killed. This has already been proven with many videos documenting it. There is nothing remotely humane in that. If a horse owner wants to have their horse put down then a veterinarian or other qualified person should do it at their farm and then they could donate the meat to a zoo or wildlife sanctuary. If you object to the drugs, etc., that they inject cows and other meat animals to why would you even consider horse meat as being safe? Horse are routinely injected with loads of drugs and chemicals throughout their lives all of which are extremely dangerous to humans if they are consumed. All meat animals in the US now are raised for that purpose on only approved drugs, etc., that are allowed to be used. That meat supply at least has some protection whereas horse meat does not. Slaughter plants do not have many personnel and if horse slaughter was allowed, there would be very few additional jobs. That fact has already been documented using records of horse slaughter plants that used to operate in the US. Also, horse slaughter plants in the past have proven to only attract some of the lowest type of persons to work there which most communities would not wish to attract. Read some of the reports from people who used to live in areas where horse slaughter plants operated in the past and you will read how the plant polluted the environment and water supply, used massive amounts of water, devastated the area real estate market and lowered property values and lastly how thankful they were when the plants were closed.

Sat, 06/23/2012 - 12:36 — Carly (Visitor)
Keep in mind that the videos that are out there are general put up by animal rights groups such as PETA who is currently up against charges of cruelty, neglect, fraud, and just in dogs alone, put down 90% of the "rescues" they had last year. They do not believe in saving any animal. They want them all to be free and wild and roaming the streets. The videos are grossly edited to look a lot worse than they are. (except maybe Mexico) I dont agree with horse slaughter at all. I live in Canada where the majority of those horses come. I hate it. I don't want to go to the auctions and know where they are going. But if the regulations and inspections were more serious it could get better and hopefully horses that go thru it, will be treated better. I don't hold out a lot of hope though.

Wed, 06/20/2012 - 07:36 — Beth (Visitor)
If I may comment to your post. Horse slaughter being legalized will not stop the abuse. I know this personally. I don't know the answer to how to make it stop but the way that these animals are transported and slaughtered is inhumane. It just adds to the abuse. It doesn't stop it. I wish there was a simple answer to the problem but there isn't.

Sun, 06/24/2012 - 11:21 — Betty Jones (Visitor)
Some things are worse than death..., it is the inhumane way they are treated before there death is what we need to improve in this country. Would it not be nice if more people got involved with abuse before it got to the intense suffering of animals.

Wed, 06/20/2012 - 08:48 — Denise (Visitor)
You bring up some good points. Beef cattle, sheep, and lambs for goodnes sake all go through horrific experiences. And the chickens! They feed them antibiotics because the ammonia from their urine is so strong where they live day after day that it scars their lungs and causes them to bleed. And we are suppossed to be highest on the food chain......

Thu, 06/21/2012 - 00:40 — faith (Visitor)
Slaughter is not humane. What is humane and the morally responsible solution for horses who are ill and old is veterinarian adminstered euthanasia. No money for inspection means that horses cannot be slaughtered for human consumption. Please do not switch topics so you can create a straw man argument abortion is irrelevant to the topic of horse slaughter. 80% of Americans are opposed to horse slaughter we do not eat horses just as we do not eat dogs and cats. The answer to abuse and neglect is enforcement of the existing laws against it and and punishment. Why should horses pay the price for human actions. Slaughtering horses amounts to punishing the victims. Now we need a federal ban on horse slaughter. Who are you kidding open up jobs for who? They will be real high paying jobs. Read the literature slaughter house moves in crime goes up because of the sort of people who are willing to make a living slaughtering horses. Lastly, the argument from is to ought is a naturalistic fallacy. Just because something has been accepted does not make it right.

Thu, 06/21/2012 - 21:40 — kt (Visitor)
It has been proven many times before that Horse Slaughter is NOT a humane practice- they do not have the regulations in place as they do for other animals such as cattle and pigs, etc. If you indeed were a horse owner you would know that horses are "flight" animals- many times in these so called slaughter houses they miss the first time- and again and again-thus subjecting the horse to an incredible amount of pain and suffering. You are a horse owner and you are okay with this? Perhaps you really arenot human? No one in their right mind would approve this barbaric practice if seen- and yes I have seen it! You should do some more research to get the facts straight.

Tue, 06/19/2012 - 23:47 — Jeannie (Visitor)
The penalties would shut down violators. Is there please, _any_ progress on Premarin TM(c)?

Wed, 06/20/2012 - 00:25 — Karen (Visitor)
There is no reason for horse slaughter in the US. There is no excuse for this. Jobs in the slaughter plants are the least of our worries. It is horrendous how slaughter horses are treated and I can't believe the US has allowed it for so long. The transportation to Canada and Mexico needs to be stopped too.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 10:44 — Penny (Visitor)
Karen, please tell that to the horses that haven't eaten in weeks and don't know where their next meal is coming from!! Plain and simple, there are too many horses in the US (like most companion animals) and they suffer when people cannot take care of them. I would definitely support a US inspected, humane, horse slaughter plant. I cannot be okay with allowing these animals to starve a slow death or be shipped to other slaughter plants were the US has no say. Whether it is a slow death or through a slaughter plant, it is never "the best scenario". The best scenario is that people get their heads out of the butts and realize the consequences out of all our "wants".

Wed, 06/20/2012 - 00:57 — Michelle (Visitor)
hmm so now more overbred thoroughbreds that people dont want anymore will be neglected and abandoned because their owners couldnt get rid of them. great plan... i LOVE horses and could never eat one, but how is killing a horse any worse than killing cows? yes we dont eat it here, but horse meat can be an export OR it can be sent to zoos for the carnivores to eat it. to me that is better than seeing massive amounts of horses starve to death.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 10:19 — Liz (Visitor)
The problem of horse overpopulation is one that needs to be addressed; not unlike cats and dogs who are the ultimate victims when owners do not take the lifelong responsibility for caring for their animals. Yes, there are too many backyard breeders. And the Thoroughbred racing industry needs a complete overhaul. To my knowledge, Thoroughbreds are the only registered breed organization who does not permit breeding using artificial insemination. The mares must be brought to the stallion for live breeding. And since horses have 11 month gestation periods and everyone wants their foals to be born as soon after January 1 as possible, that means broodmares are foaling one day and sent off for the next breeding within weeks. It's too expensive and risky to ship a newborn foal with its dam, so it is left behind but requires a substitute mother for it to nurse from. And where do you find those? You create them by breeding another mare (breed and age unimportant) who will give birth to a foal (a "nurse mare foal") who is now an unwanted by-product. Its sole purpose was to make its mother's milk available for a Thoroughbred foal whose mother was sent off for another breeding. Those nurse mare foals are sent to auctions where they are bought for their meat and hides. Some of them are a day old at the time. Another ugly story that the Thoroughbred industry doesn't want the public to know about. But it's one more heartbreaking contributing factor to the unwanted horse population. That, in addition to the dispensible mindset of owners and trainers who seem to only care about their horses if they are making them money. Once they become a financial liability, they turn their backs in apathy. And the kill buyers are all too happy to take them off their hands. But believe me, slaughter is not the answer. Humane euthanasia should be made available and affordable to any owner who cannot afford to properly care for their horse or whose horse is unhealthy, unsound, in any distress or becomes a risk to itself or others. No horse should ever be made to endure the cruelty of slaughter.

Wed, 06/20/2012 - 01:28 — Susanne (Visitor)
Now how is this considered a victory?! I do not see the light at the end of the tunnel, but I do see a lot of pain, agony and blood forthese Magnificent animals! This is extremely frustrating...

Wed, 06/20/2012 - 02:29 — Amy (Visitor)
Why is nothing being done to stop the export of horses being slaughtered in foreign plants? They use cruel practices. I dont understand how they can watch an animal die a slow, terrifying and agonizing death, rather than spend a few cents on a bullet or an injection? If the buyer wants the meat bad enough, they can absorb the cost! With the abundance of overpopulation and unwanted horses I am not so much opposed to slaughter, so long as it is quick and painless. The thought of my horses ending up an auction terrifies me. Do the right thing and humanely euthanize an animal! As humans we are aghast if a human stabs another human to death, why not animals? Do they not feel too?! Such a cruel world we live in.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 21:42 — Trish (Visitor)
YOU SAID IT!!! We need to stop the export. But how? Do We The People need to constantly NAG our Representatives to create a bill? How do we go about that? I am SO SICK of how if 80% of us feel this way, why is it not gettig done? Seems the EVIL & GREEDY Rule.

Wed, 06/20/2012 - 07:01 — Rebecca (Visitor)
It is an uphill battle to stop the export of horses for slaughter in Mexico. The US laws are based on a right to property. Horses are property. If they become a commodity, then you also have all of the laws under the UCC code. If you are going to stop the export, it better be before it becomes big business. The end of slaughter in the US is a moral win for us but it will certainly feed into the precedent of the export business and therefore make it harder to shut down that "use" for profit of someones "property". I agree that when it comes to horses and their distinction from other farm animals in America due to their intelligence, they should be separated from the food chain. I also understand that because of their similarity to other farm animals, this will be almost impossible. Keep working at it with your state representatives. I love when Americans achieve the impossible!

Wed, 06/20/2012 - 07:08 — jmarisk (Visitor)
Preventing horse slaughter in the US is not going to prevent horse slaughter elsewhere. Honestly, it's within the horses best interest to have horse slaughter regulated in the States rather than going across the border to be beaten, hung, and gutted. Think people!

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 14:10 — Janet (Visitor)
Finally someone who gets it. Can we not come up with a safe, humane way to slaughter horses in this country? I believe Temple Grandin helped to make the cattle slaughtering facilities more humane. I just think shipping horses packed in trucks LONG DISTANCES - Mexico and Canada and then enduring the torture of stabbing them is insane! I have been told, and it makes sense to me, that a bullet to the brain is about as quick as you can get. Which I believe happens in Canada. If slaughter is going to occur, then make it quick, please! Also, I also don't understand why we can't take a percentage of (fees, winnings, etc.) from the owners of all horses who race and put it into a fund to humanely euthanize them when and if it is needed. And, lastly, yes, please neuter. We need programs to educate people in poor areas. This is where you have inbreeding or bad breeding of not only horses but dogs and other animals.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 18:40 — Barb (Visitor)
AMEN ! each slaughter house in the states should 'accommodate' horses to save them from suffering even more.

Wed, 06/20/2012 - 08:05 — Steph (Visitor)
"I doubt very seriously ya'll even have an idea what a plant would do to open up jobs for people who need to work" Would you work in a plant? Would your friends, uncle, cousins, or anyone you know? The only ones I know of that will have no concept of what pain and suffering is. I also have more of a racial bias opinion on who would work at the slaughter plants and sure wouldn't seee many black or caucasians. There is plenty of jobs out there. It is those getting off their lazy entitlement butts to actually work those jobs. "hmm so now more overbred thoroughbreds that people dont want anymore will be neglected and abandoned because their owners couldnt get rid of them." Whoa, wait a minute. Over bred is the key word there. So instead of punishing the ignorant,selfish, money hungry people who won't stop prostituting their animals, you rather make the horses's suffer? Don't bred more than you can sell and don't bred to get perfect. Don't keep that stud out there and then go "oh crap" and need to find homes for over 40 horses with out knowing who sired what dam, imbreeding nor ages of horses etc. "I don't have the money to geld". Put down the cig, don't eat out for a month, return the xbox, go around recycling or apply for carecredit (be very hard to not qualify for it and payments are low) and I am sure you can geld the horse very quickly. Check with rescues for voucher or clinics many set up seasonaly. Find a home for the stud. If can't afford to spend much, then can't afford a horse, who can easily run a vet bill higher than a human's hospital bill. "best interest to have horse slaughter regulated in the States rather than going across the border to be beaten, hung, and gutted. Think people" Regulated? Lets see how many violations and under cover animal cruelty cases that are found every year in our dairy, poultry and other live animal plants and shelters. Also lets see what punishments they get? Apparently they are still in business and have not seen any arrest. I also didn't see those animals be put down or cared for on their injuries. I also don't see the US doing a great job at protecting our animals as it is from abuse cases. Punishments are laughable. There has been times people are told that cops has "murder" and bigger criminal cases on their hands to handle when it comes to reporting animal abuse. They fail to remember that criminals start out on animals. So if our law can't even be enforced with the plants we have now (and the horse plants we did have back then), nothing will be better the next time around. Way to solve it is to put responsibility back where it belongs. In the breeder's (back yard and "professional")hands. What is next: Cats? Dogs? .......we got over population of those. They are eaten by other countries. That person on craigslist who wants to find a "stud" for his fefe dog to make some "extra money" by selling the puppies and eventually her. Seriously? Get a job and stop prosituting your animals. Those are the people who need a dose of reality. Not make horse's and animals suffer due to ignorant selfish decisions such as that. Those who claim to be professional also to keep in mind that horses with papers go to slaughter all the time. Horses who won over $200K as a 4 year old will go to slaughter for $200 at the age of 20, if not by 10. What do they care, they are richer and that is what matters to them. Discusting and twisted. One word for that: Greed

Wed, 06/20/2012 - 09:10 — Pamela (Visitor)
I agree with you about the breeding. However, ride for miles in a trailer full of horses, stomping on each other, trying to breed with each other, without food or water...just to get to a plant where I then am whipped, beaten, kicked, still without food or water. Then I get to walk into a stall or pen thinking I am finally going to get some food or water, probably bleeding from many injuries, to get shot in the head. That is inhuman and despicable. I and many other animal activists would never support this for any amount of money or jobs.

Wed, 06/20/2012 - 09:09 — Michelle (Visitor)
Great job...not they will just continue to ship them on 2-3 day hauls with no food or water to mexico where they have their spinal cords severed with machetes.

Wed, 06/20/2012 - 09:54 — misti (Visitor)
People are ignorant if they want to blame this on thoroughbred breeding....there's plenty of backyard breedersthat have no papers and create unwanted or not needed animals. Slaughter isn't the evil its the people who starve and neglect these horses that are the problem. Open up your eyes people.

Wed, 06/20/2012 - 11:48 — Tina Yrshus (Visitor)
I believe it is much harder on the horses to take a very long trailer ride out of the country to be slaughtered in unregulated slaughterhouses. No one who loves animals likes to think about this but isn't it more humane to send them to a facility where they will be killed quickly with a bolt gun and inspectors? We kill all sorts of animals for consumer use and export so what do we do differently here? I am a horse lover and owner for many years and would like to see proper respect given to all the animals in this situation.

Thu, 06/21/2012 - 21:43 — kt (Visitor)
they are not killed quickly with a bolt gun- you need to learn the facts- it os far from a quick painless death-very far!

Wed, 06/20/2012 - 11:50 — Karen (Visitor)
All this does is send them across the borders to Mexico & Canada to even WORSE situations & conditions. The ride alone kills them. Once again the U.S. House Committee sicks it's head in the sand. WAKE UP and look at the horses that are being starved & turned loose in the deserts & back roads in other peoples property because they can't take care of them or sell them. US NEEDS TO PROVIDE A HUMANE OPTION BECAUSE HORSES WILL NEVER GO AWAY. PEOPLE NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN. Associations like PETA & ASPCA need to BACK OFF and HELP this situation & quite being a hindrance to it.

Wed, 06/20/2012 - 12:24 — K (Visitor)
I TELL YOU WHAT WHEN IT IS TIME FOR MY HORSE TO GO I WILL HAVE HER EUTHENIZED BY THE VET THEN I WILL HAVE HER BURIED. I WILL NOT PUT MY BELOVED HORSE THROUGH SOMETHING SO HORRIFIC AS SENDING HER TO A PLACE THAT SHE WON'T KNOW AND WILL SCARE HER TO DEATH NOT KNOWING HER FAIT. STOP THE SLAUGHTER LET'S SMARTEN UP AND CARE FOR OUR HORSES THE WAY THEY DESERVE TO BE.

Wed, 06/20/2012 - 12:40 — Lauren (Visitor)
u would be shocked who would work at a slaughter plant the mom or dad who are having trouble finding a job and need to feed their family cause they cant get the benefits they should be getting while other people who can work are sitting on their butts getting the unemployment benefits the other family should be getting

Wed, 06/20/2012 - 13:49 — Ramona (Visitor)
I don't want horses to be slaughtered but these horses will still be slaughtered. They just won't be slaughtered in the U.S. Instead they will be shipped off and slaughtered in another country with little regulation. How is this good for the horses? I am typically in support of ASPCA, but I'm very disappointed with the misinformation they are giving their members on this subject.

Wed, 06/20/2012 - 15:29 — Amy (Visitor)
I disagree. I think it is better to have an organization like the ASPCA trying to protect the rights of animals. We are or USE to be a civilized country who see animals as companions. Maybe foreign influence from all the immigrants in this country is changing the AMERICAN viewpoint? Whether animals are raised for food or companionship they should be treated humanely! Period! These are living, breathing, feeling things. Come on people!

Wed, 06/20/2012 - 18:33 — mary (Visitor)
please stop horse slaughter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wed, 06/20/2012 - 21:46 — maria vitale (Visitor)
This is a good thing! There will be no U.S slaughterhouses. Its true that horses will most likely still be shipped over our boarders. Thats why its crucial that they ban the transport of horses to slaughter. This way it will be illegal to export live horses to Mexico and Canada. Unfortunatly there are many illegal slaughterhouses popping up all over the U.S. WE need out local law enforcement againcies to step up to the plate and make sure these people are punished to the fullest extent of the law!

Wed, 06/20/2012 - 21:59 — GEMO (Visitor)
The Government just slaughtered the Horse Industry! None of us prefer the sentencing to death or slaughter of any animal, regardless of the species; but, the reality of it all is, that we need horse slaughter houses as a practical alternative and solution to govern the horse population. Public Laws forbid burying a horse on your own property these days because of possible contamination of water sources and supplies; so, what’s the practical alternative or solution? I agree that the need of unnecessary suffering needs to be resolved in all slaughter houses, regardless of species . . . cow, pig, chicken, etc. As for horse meat for human consumption, if it is untainted and USDA inspected, it is an excellent source of meat protein and an alternative to beef, pork, poultry, and other human-grade meat sources. If that is too hard for the U.S. human meat industry to consider, use horse meat for carnivorous animal food diets, just as other animal sources are used. The horse industry has crashed since the close of horse slaughter houses, and reopening of the horse slaughter houses is the only resolution to the over population of horses in the U.S. Do you really think that hunter’s get the shot exactly right for an instant kill every time, or slashing the throats of cows and pigs is a quick death, or wringing the necks or cutting-off the heads of chickens is instantaneous demise? Sit-back and give serious thought to all animal slaughter solutions, not just that of horses; if you’re going to sympathize with one species of animal, sympathize with them all; but the end result and reality-check has been the same for thousands of years of animal slaughter for human and animal consumption. Citizens within the U.S. need to ban together and offer better solutions to the overall humane slaughter of animals for whatever the meat by-product use is and not the concentration of one species.

Thu, 06/21/2012 - 19:05 — Adrianne Grade (Visitor)
Now we need to work on making it illegal to ship horses from the USA to other countries to be slaughtered. Only then will we have a REAL victory!!!!!

Thu, 06/21/2012 - 20:06 — kim menser (Visitor)
this is a huge step in the wrong direction. Horses are live stock and to say they are different than sheep or cows is retarded. people are too busy giving human emotions to animals. I do not like the idea of slaughter, but to have the slaughter plants regulated by the USDA is better than horses being shipped 1000s of miles away to foreign plants where they can suffer even more along the ride and then when they arrive to the plant. Without slaughter i sure hope Uncle Sam and all the other do gooders will pay to house and feed and care for these animals until their death. with up too 150k horses slaughtered each year, who is going to care for these animals? The over populated shelters? over populated rescues? Nope! These animals will be left to starve to death, die from dehydration, and killed by each other once abandoned. Blaming the horse population on TB breeding and QH breeding, and big breeders is dumb. Look at the millions of back yard breeders who think because they have a mare or a stallion they must breed it. Or they want their kids to see the "miracle of life." They constantly produce extreme poor quality horses, that then also end up in slaughter. So unless someone including myself can come up with a perfect plan to spare the horses bound for slaughter, slaughter is an unfortunate but a necessary evil.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 01:57 — Peggy (Visitor)
Horse Meat is not fit for animal or human consumption.We give our horses drugs such as bute along with many others drugs.The drug remains in the meat and is poisonous to both man and beast.By letting these horses be shipped for slaughter knowingly they will be used for human and animal consumption makes us guilty of not only giving these horses a horrible dead,but also harming our fellow man

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 09:25 — Linda Rentfrow (Visitor)
If horses aren't slaughtered here in the US are they shipped other places to be slaughtered? I mean are we prolonging the inevitable? I don't believe in horse slaughter, but if it makes it worse on the animal by having scary travel involved it might make sense.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 10:45 — KAREN (Visitor)
Hello, I see many good ideas here from a lot of caring people, many of whom appear to feel as powerless as I do. I do not agree that other farmed animals suffer less than horses do. I am reading the Palgrave Macmillan Animal Ethics Series and the debate about that seem to be ongoing. However, knowing and loving horses as we do, we empathize with their suffering and it is THEIR suffering that is at issue in this thread. I completely agree that Horses should not be slaughtered, period. Horses should definitely not be shipped out of the US for slaughter either. But what can one person do? Maybe one person here can adopt a horse this week? I know it can't be me. Maybe all of us here could organize a coalition to create a lobbying force? I don't know how to do that but maybe someone here does? Maybe we could all send letters to the governments of Switzerland, and other horsemeat eating countries and ask them to boycott horsemeat or at least American horsemeat (might be a start?) Boycott products imported from horsemeat eating countries? I don't have the answers. Here are the few things I know I can do: I no longer have any horses but if I ever have a horse under my guardianship again, I pledge to: 1. Take care of him or her for LIFE. In the event of my death: 2. Put it in my will EXACTLY who should inherit the horse, having put that guardianship agreement in place orally and in writing ahead of time, and having a second party (another qualified horse person) in place as one who oversees that the inheritor is giving my horse the agreed upon level of care (and hopefully love). 3. Provide FUNDS for the horse to live out his or her natural life (this is difficult, to be sure). 4. If I am unable to secure an inheritor, then to swallow very hard and do the difficult deed of asking a trusted veterinarian and my family to humanely put down and bury my horse. It's horrible to think of putting down a vibrant horse, but the gruesome and highly possible alternative is much worse, I think. Should the passage of time change circumstances for the inheritor of my horse, I would also require him or her to have the horse humanely euthanized and buried. How I will accomplish this: 1. I will only adopt a horse if I can afford it, both financially and and time-wise. 2. In my case, being middle aged, I will only adopt an adult or older horse so that I have a good chance of outliving him or her. While I am not a horse owner I am: 1. Helping out as much as I can at horse rescues (and other animal rescues). 2. Advocating for horses (and other animals) when I clearly see cruel treatment and/or neglect. If that makes me the nosey neighbor, so be it. I take pictures and send them to the proper authorities. I check back. I call animal control. I call again if need be. 3. When I learn that someone is contemplating first-time horse ownership, I offer guidance about proper care. Also, I casually check in from time to time. New owners need support. 4. When I learn someone is beginning to neglect their horse, I offer non-judgmental help. Tough economic times, sickness, life trauma can turn an otherwise good person into an absent horse parent. I do what I can for them. I offer grooming and a bit of exercise if I can't afford more. I politely, but firmly, advocate for the horse's well-being. 5. When I learn that someone is selling their horse, I talk with them about where they are placing him or her and how they intend to follow their horse through its life. I'm amazed at some owners' reactions to this. Most seem to think that anyone will love their horse as much as they do. NO ONE loves your horse like you do. Granted, I have made the decision to dedicate a slice of my time to this kind of help and maybe few people can do that. But even someone with the busiest schedule in the world can do something. Give an afternoon to learning more and writing to government officials. Give $10 to the cause. Something. Anything. Participating in this forum is another great step for me. I am very grateful to all of you for helping me see the issue a little more clearly (I still have a long way to go). I am also very grateful to know that people like you are out there. Caring, good people, who want the best for horses. I will continue to visit this site. I look forward to learning more from you. Thank you all, so much, Karen

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 11:01 — Leila Lappin (Visitor)
I am glad I read all the comments. I will not support a bill that will cause more pain and suffering. I can’t imagine what ASPCA is thinking in supporting this effort. Do they think shipping the horses to Mexico or Canada will make the suffering of the horses less?! If horses must be killed then the push should be monitoring the process better.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 11:47 — Jes (Visitor)
But the USDA is suppose to inspect ALL factory farms, but look @ how cows, pigs & chickens are treated from conception to their horrific dismemberment. Try using the monies to hire more inspectors & DO the job they were hired to do!!!

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 12:08 — Susan Siniard (Visitor)
They cannot operate a horse slaughterhouse LEGALLY without taxes to have them inspected, this is a big Victory!

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 12:13 — Bob (Visitor)
The horse slaughtering isn't inhumane. It is better than leaving them stranded, neglected, starving, and in pain. Some people do not have the money to have their animals putdown by a vet, therefore, they suffer greatly. Slaughter houses help the horse economy, and suffering horses. I love horses just as much as the next person, I live on a ranch full of them. Thats why I support the slaughter house. People do not see how the economy is affecting horse owners, and horses. Wouldn't you rather see a horse be humanely put out of it's misery? My guess is that you people that don't support slaughter houses have never had to pay for the bill of a horse being put down, or seen all the thousands of suffering horses because people just dump them, or move away without them because they can't feed them. Think about that before you object to the slaughter house next time.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 12:39 — joyce (Visitor)
Now we need to Stop the transport of the animals to mexico and Canada ....What is going on to stop this ???????????

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