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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!

Comments

I don't understand how not having facility inspections stops horse slaughtering. Doesn't that just mean anyone can do it without worrying about oversight?

Thats what I was thinking...

No, all meat animals slaughtered in the US must have USDA inspections for that meat and the funding must be in place before that happens. Without funding these inspections, the slaughter plants are prohibited from slaughtering horses for human consumption.

Unfortunately these horses get shipped to Canada and Mexico every week from the US. We can't regulate the torture that goes on in those plants. Very sad!

Yes they do!! It is a even worse death for them. When will that stop?? Horse being stabbed to death, shipped such long hours, and stallions being placed with mares and foals it just turns my stomach. This is far worse than what they suffered before. When will this ALL stop???? Horses do not deserve this.

That makes me so desperately sad! There's nothing we can do for the poor horses being shipped to other countries. Why can't this stop? I sometimes hate this world.

I am totally sick to my stomach over any animal cruelty and don't know why it cannot be stopped by alerting everyone to keep an eye on neighbors etc. and to send a message by giving the harshest sentences to those that are caught....LIFE in prison...same as for a human..If I had my way I would do to the "person" what they did to the animal

I am totally sick to my stomach over any animal cruelty and don't know why it cannot be stopped by alerting everyone to keep an eye on neighbors etc. and to send a message by giving the harshest sentences to those that are caught....LIFE in prison...same as for a human..If I had my way I would do to the "person" what they did to the animal

I could not agree with you more Mary! Life in prison. And yes...do to the "person" what they did to the animal. I'll bet if we started doing this, animal cruelty would soon end! We need to be more harsh in punishment!!

I agree. Its so very sad that we have such heartless people in this world. Well hopefully they'll see the light soon or one day they'll be begging for mercy & the ear they're pleading to may choose not to hear them or care either......

I agree, animal cruelty is so horribly prevalent. I applaud humane agencies for the work they do. I just don"'t understand how anyone can b cruel to any animal. Is there no end?

Me too! All you can do is take care of the horses you have :-) its impossible, though very sad, that you can't help what others do :-(

Of course you can help what other's do! Be an advocate for animals. Be aware of what your neighbors are doing. Report cruelty, do not turn a blind eye. Contact legislators to make and enforce laws to protect animals and advocate for harsh sentences. There is a LOT you can do! Doing nothing is the same as condoning it.

I think that as horse lovers, we should try to do something to help stop the horse slaughter in the U.S. Remember that we are the animal advocates of the u.s. Remember that we are their voice.

Any horrors that are going on now were going on before. It doesn't matter where the slaughter occurs. Don't kid yourself that the very few inspectors made any difference. I find it very sad that many horse people are pro slaughter due to the cost of euthanasia and disposal of dead horses. There are issues with unwanted, poorly bred horses just like with dogs. You have a mare, you breed it with no consideration for the life long consequences for that foal-perhaps more than 30 years. Unlike with dogs and cats, most horse people buy a horse knowing they will sell it. You have no idea what happens when that horse leaves your property. Sad, sad, sad...

We are all animal lovers and can not stand animals being tortured aor slaughtered,why cant we change all of this?Why do we let it happen?We can put pressure on politicians,we all vote,we can stop horses being shipped to other countries,stop animal abuse,make sure there is regulations and everyone applies them,etc....We,animal lovers are the ones that can make this happen,not just through animal rights organizations,but US,the People,and we can not do it individually.

Well said. I couldn't agree with you more. People, need to act and think more responsibly and not think only of their pockets or frivoloties.

so right Horses are hauled there from here everyday in horrible conditions too some don't make the trip, no food or water in very hot condition crowed too, so what is the answer, not to allow shipping to these places? just a thought. t

My feeling is that there is such over breeding in the race industry. It is so inhumane that they are shipped to Canada, this has to stop, if it can't I believe it would be more humane to have them slaughtered in this country under controlled conditions where they would not suffer pain. There is no place for all the horses. I am a life time horse lover, I have two of my own who will never have to be slaughtered as I have a life time commitment to them. I wish all horses could have the same chance.

There is no such thing as "humane" slaughter of ANY animal, much less a horse. Horse slaughter has to stop and shipment of horses to Mexico, Canada or ANY other country that slaughters has to stop. Hound your Reps and Senators--pay attention to how they vote and keep it in mind when YOU vote!

I live in Canada and as far as Im concerned I would love to see it abolished here too. I don't agree with it.

Well, do what we do: since the 70's when it became known that Canada was slaughtering baby seals, DON'T GO THERE....................Mexico too................& use the ASPCA notifications to let them know your vacation dollars won't be used in their countries. Works for us esp. since we are now retired & 78,000,000 Boombers are coming along after us.

Not so fast.....WY passed a law that state inspectators can inspect horse slaughtered for human consumption.....the EU requires Fed inspection for export to Europe...this will be stripped out of the final version of the farm bill!!!! Horse meat is good and good for you!!

"Horse meat is good and good for you"???????? What ARE you? Some kind of barbarian????? To post THAT kind of a comment here is just WRONG and if you were looking for a fight you have succeeded. Horses, just like dogs and cats, were domesticated to be pets and animal COMPANIONS for humans NOT as a food source. The conditions under which the slaughter of animals MEANT for human consumption are bad enough and need our help in being changed. No HORSE should EVER end up on a dinner plate -- I don't care if it should be discovered to contain the cure for CANCER! Yes, that may sound extreme but so was YOUR unwelcome-here comment. Go live in Europe!

Besides being the most barbarick thing you can do to a animal. If you do eat the meat(disgusting) its full of BUTTE and hundreds of other drugs. so when you come down with some weird disease don't be sueing for something you should never have done in the first place. People thee are all kinds of sites where you can help either with fostering a horse or helping to feed.. This horrid action has to be stopped now!!!!!!!!!

I don't understand how stopping the funding for inspection stops horse slaugther. Seems like this just opens it up for more abuses. We want it stopped completely.

I totally agree. Stopping funding for inpections will not stop horse slaughter and opensit up for more abuses and other illegal activities. It must be stopped completely, just dog fighting and puppy mills. The government does not have enough funds/people to monitor these activities. There is a quote by Ghandi: "The humanity of a nation is determine by the way it treats its animals."

Horse meat of any kind of meat can not be sold unless it is first inspected by the USDA. This is payed for with tax payers money.

Please stop this slaughter

Im so glad this passed. There is no need in slaughtering horses at all. Good going

I used to support this legislation when it passed a few years ago. Now I understand better what's happening: between horses shipped in horrendous conditions to be dismembered alive in Mexico, or unwanted horses slowly starving from neglect, I think the humane solution is the regulated slaughtering for human consumption... At least as long as no one is able to put a check on the horse breeding industry that does not give a damn to what happens next to the youngsters that leave the breeding facilites.

"regulated" and "humane" slaughter do NOT happen to ANY animal. Have you ever been to a slaughterhouse?? There is NO HUMANE REGULATED SLAUGHTER. Therefore, there should be NO HORSE SLAUGHTER.

I used to support this legislation when it passed a few years ago. Now I understand better what's happening: between horses shipped in horrendous conditions to be dismembered alive in Mexico, or unwanted horses slowly starving from neglect, I think the humane solution is the regulated slaughtering for human consumption... At least as long as no one is able to put a check on the horse breeding industry that does not give a damn to what happens next to the youngsters that leave the breeding facilites.

Any steps taken to get in the way of this cruel action are important. Spending our federal dollars on something such a huge part of our population is against is folly. Pass Horse Slaughter prevention.

Horses are routinely shipped into Mexico and Canada for long exhausting non stop trips often with their horseshoes still on sliding on the metal floors and hitting their heads on the rooves of these short cars. Research is everywhere. Please stop this terrifying journey.

unlicensed or back door breeders need to stop breeding their horses, this why there are so many horses that can't find good homes, but what happens when shelters have no room and no money to save horses from slaughter?? people quit breeding then you don't have such a surge of horses that can't be taken care of....the trip ot mexico and canada is a very hard trip on these animals and as long as there is demand there is supply. Stop unecessary breeding...

Do any North Americans actually eat horsemeat? To me, the obvious solution to this horrible dilemma is to geld colts as soon as their testicles descend, thereby preventing the breeding of yet more foals to be eaten. Geldings have little on their minds but playing, eating, and being ridden. The only stallion I've ever ridden had other things on his mind, and was quite difficult to control. Every other male I'd ever ridden was a gelding, easy to saddle-train and happy to be controlled.

No need to get a 'license' to breed horses. We need more grants and money for rescues, castration and euthanasia clinics. Vets are already pressed with all the services we donate to rescue groups, more funding to help with the horse overpopulation issue would be wonderful. IMO when you create an animal whether it is a dog, cat, horse or any other creature, you have taken on a responsibility. Irresponsible breeding will continue because so many people remove themselves from the problem as a whole, we all refuse to see our own culpability.

Completely agree with you. It wouldnt happen if people just fixed their animals. This goes for dogs and cats also.

I totally agree. I fear for these poor horses that are taking these horrifying trips to be slaughtered. We have to stop it all.

Totally in agreement, this has got to stop! The torture these horses experience is horrendous. Our voices can be heard if we yell loud enough...Thank you ASPCA for keeping us rallied for the horses.

They just approved a new Horse Slaughtering Plant in a small town of Missouri. and the town was happy about it. Dont let them open this Facility.

I think it makes a difference which article you read on the subject, all the ones I saw the members if the town were not supportive or happy about it.

Elizabeth, what town is this in?

Sue Wallis a Republican state legislator from the state of Wyoming and her company Unified Equine Solutions is a rabid proponent of horse slaughter. What is she doing in Missouri? There is apparently a large number of unwanted/abandoned horses out there according to some web sites I have been on. If this is actually the case or not I do not know. That shutdown packing plant in Rockville is supposed to be up and running by the fall and it is planned to kill 800 horses EACH DAY!!! Sue Wallis and her ilk must be stopped.

Although I do not live in the USA I still fully support stopping this slaughter, I am in Australia and I know it happens here to but there are alot of Kind people that go to the auctions and save these beautiful animals so they can be sent to forever homes Good Luck.

Please, help stop the horse slaughter. Help people realize that these animals are what made this country a country!

I don't understand why horses are killed at all; please provide more details for people like me who are in the dark on this.

Horse slaughter si very irrelevant to our lifestyle in the U.S, we don't eat the meat, only send it to European countries to eat it. We have used horse meat in dog food and their hooves in glue. It is honestly a very irrelevant and stupid process to happen in America.

Horse meat is considered a delicacy in European countries and that is why horses are shipped by the thousands to Mexico and Canada for slaughter. There is $$ to be made in selling horse meat. It is a major meat in only a few countries, notably in Central Asia, but it forms a significant part of the culinary traditions of many others, from Europe to South America to Asia. The top eight countries consume about 4.7 million horses a year. In the early times horses were eaten by man for protein, but later on they became a "work" animal for man being his major form of transportation, then later horses were given the "pet" status in the U.S., hence, with thee horse's history people in the U.S. are disgusted that this magnificent animal should be slaughtered for meat. We need to make sure slaughtering of horses is outlawed in the U.S, more importantly we need to outlaw the selling of horses to anyone that is going to take them to Mexico or Canada for slaughter. Very complicated, not sure how this can be done, but it can be done. The animals suffer a horrific death and their travel to these locations is nothing short of terrifying and dangerous. We all need to make it known it has to stop. It's all about greed $$ and the people involved could care less about the emotional or physical well being of the animal.

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