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!

Tags: 
Advocacy
Animal Cruelty
Equines
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Comments

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 13:19 — Pamela Parks (Visitor)
I believe in horse slaughter ...because I have seven horses, and I cant take any more. I have thirty house dogs..and I cant take any more. Like euth for dogs and cats. a necessary evil. The WORSE fate is to be shipped to Mexico or Canada with NO regulation there for the treatment. Slaughter our horses at home and make sure it is done RIGHT...dont close the slaughter houses and think you have smugly cured the problem. I dont care what happens after they are dead...I care how they live and how they die..and I want us to take responsiblity for it.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 16:24 — P. McKenna (Visitor)
Why is the ASPCA not pushing congress to move on the companion bills to the Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, making it illegal to ship or possess any horse for slaughter for human consumption. How about pressing for no horse slaugheter for ANY reason? Humane Euthanasia is the only acceptable way to end a horse's life if it must be done.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 17:22 — Monica (Visitor)
I wonder if this would stop the new horse slaughter plant from opening up in Missouri. I sure hope so.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 20:00 — Shonna (Visitor)
We need the horse slaughter in the US that way it can be regulated. All you people that think it's wrong to slaughter horses please go to your search and bring up "starving horses" there is a very large problem with starving horses and I would much rather see a horse go to slaughter that is regulated and humane than to starve to death because they have no where to go.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 20:03 — Brianna (Visitor)
Oh yes lets stop it from happening that way they can keep traveling a long distance to die a much more long and painful death. What is wrong with people. It will happen one way or the other. They can either stay in states, employ people, keep horses from being hauled in long and miserable conditions. I own horses and love my horses. But we do have times that horses have to be put down and I would much rather have a place to go with that horse then to just let the meat go to waste.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 22:25 — Victoria (Visitor)
The horse is the iconic figure of American democracy along side of the American bald eagle and buffalo. Their presense in our nation is a reminder of the significance of freedom. I would like for a federal protection law be enacted as it is for the American bald eagle, on the lives of the American horse and buffalo. Victoria

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 23:26 — Michelle D Bran... (Visitor)
I don't know about any of you...but, I have Personally vistited TWO of the KILL PENS here in Eastern Washington (and there are A LOT more then that in this area alone!) Seeing the horses so sad and MANY of them are NICE, WELL BRED, BROKE horses that ARE NOT LAME or UN-USABLE at all! They are simply there because their owners could not afford the care, and the HORSE MARKET IS SHIT right now. But, that doesnt seem to stop people from BREEDING MORE HORSES! People everywhere are still breeding. TONS of REGISTERED HORSES/GRADE horses even ponies and mini's are sent to slaughter and if you havent a TRUE IDEA of what they indure on there journey to a horrible death...then search on YOU-TUBE for "HORSE SLAUGHTER" and then find a local KILL PEN and look those horses in the eye... KILLS ME INSIDE! STOP BREEDING THEM and EVENTUALLY things will change!

Sat, 06/23/2012 - 00:28 — Jack (Visitor)
the bill changes nothing,*with the obvious of less taxation which we're still not going to see lets be honest* all thats going to happen is someone in the private sector will find a way to carry on with inspections, or lobbying will occur to fund it privately. you lose good day sir, not that i advocate, but that is the proper response.

Sat, 06/23/2012 - 15:28 — CAROLYN FIGURES (Visitor)
please stop the slaughter of these beautiful animals

Sat, 06/23/2012 - 19:20 — cj (Visitor)
How many of you clowns against horse processing own or deal in horses? Thought so.....keep your f-ing nose out of other people's business!!

Sat, 06/23/2012 - 19:44 — Gma (Visitor)
why not make it illegal to ship large amount of hourses out of the US? Why not it illegal to kill horses in mass amounts. If they ship horses out of the US make it for recreational use only>

Sun, 06/24/2012 - 00:03 — Robert Stealey (Visitor)
Please end the slaughter of horses in this country, with no further delay in Congress.

Sun, 06/24/2012 - 21:54 — Terry Miller (Visitor)
Just curious. When horses become old and feeble so nobody wants them any more - are you volunteering to pay for their room and board until they die. I'm not sure of current prices but I think you can find a decent boarding facility for around $350.00 per month for each horse. Of course that doesn't include farrier care and vet care.

Sun, 06/24/2012 - 00:56 — Maryanne Wood-Lewis (Visitor)
I surely don't know who we, the human race, think we are. I suppose we think we're the almighty last word on this planet. ha! We have a rude awakening coming. My hope and prayer is that everybody who supported animal cruelty, homelessness, and all the other unspeakable things we humans do to animals. Of course, I don't know why anyone is surprised at the things we do to animals, in all forms of cruelty. We are the master when it comes to how many ways we can hurt, maim, and,,destroy a human being. So why is anyone surprised at what is happening to animals? We do the same thing to humans, white slavery, black slavery, or whatever the highest bidder, ( the one wth the most dollars, and depraved )is wanting at the moment, albeit animal or human. My greatest desire is for the humans that mete out this and facilitate this behavior, is this: may they receive the same as they gave while in this world and May God forgive me for that.

Sun, 06/24/2012 - 21:49 — Terry Miller (Visitor)
Yet another misguided campaign by ASPCA. Horses WILL be killed for food. We have a choice - kill them humanely here or ship them off to Mexico or Canada where they are starved, go without water and over crowded during transport. Once they arrive at the kill site the thought of humane killing doesn't cross anybody's mind. What a bunch of pompus jerks ASCPA. Send more animals off to be tortured on the way to death.

Tue, 06/26/2012 - 14:44 — Alexa S. (Visitor)
The ASPCA is not only trying to stop horse slaugher in the the U.S.A but also all over the world! HOW DARE YOU CALL THEM POMPUS JERKS WHEN YOU SHOULD GO TO A VERY BAD PLACE FOR SAYING THAT! They are trying to make the world a peaceful place and you must have misunder stood what the wonderful people of the ASPCA are trying to do! You need to think about things before you say/write them!

Mon, 06/25/2012 - 13:38 — Kella (Visitor)
Wow! I have just spent 10 minutes reading these comments on this heart breaking subject. We all agree this is our horses not livestock! Lets help! Share this with everyone you know talk is cheap!! we need to make lots of people aware! If we are not going to inspect these terrible places we must be prepared to make sure they are not out there! We all know that this is a tall order. How can we stop this at the boarders we need great ideas and people to push these ideas to doing something that will make a difference! Help! lets not just talk about it! lets do something! If you own horses, as I do not, you know better what can be done to help this regal special animal from this horrible fate!! I suppport the ASPCA with only $35 a month and that's not much but if wwe educate and share and encourage everyone we know to help just a little that puts more people out there to watch out for the bad guys! Please take the time to share everyone must know the truth and the unpleasant details to shock us into action. If you have a connection with the media please share anyway you can!

Tue, 06/26/2012 - 02:58 — Kim Sheppard (Visitor)
Please OPPOSE removal of Congressman James Moran’s Amendment to Prohibit Funding of USDA Inspections at Horse Slaughter Houses in the United States. Here is the message politicians need to recieve: Please support and Vote YES on the Bill IF it INCLUDES Congressman James Moran’s Amendment to Prohibit Funding of USDA Inspections at Horse Slaughter Houses in the United States. Here is why: Thousands do NOT want TAX Dollars wastefully spent for Funding of USDA Inspections at Horse Slaughter Houses. It is OUTRAGEOUS that Special Interests will receive Subsidies on Horse Slaughter Plant and income tax breaks. I do NOT want a further financial burden added to our currently compromised Food Budget of the USDA.. The devastation of towns and the burden on their local economy and governments where Horse Slaughter Plants are located will significantly strain their economy (except for the small amount of businesses that employees working in the plant frequent). Surrounding ecosystems will be significantly compromised due to the resulting plant waste. Because of this real estate values will go down~no one wants that in their back yard. Also, horse slaughter in United States does not mean less abandoned horses. Stopping breeding horses *does*, but the location of where horses are slaughtered has no bearing whatsoever on less abandoned horses~it is just common sense. Well over 100,000 United States horses are slaughtered annually and have been for decades..

Tue, 06/26/2012 - 14:33 — Alexa S. (Visitor)
Horses and other animals need us to be there for them and help them. They do not have a voice of their own so we have to be there voice! Horses are not bred/raised to be food animals. So many thing we put into/on our horses (like flyspray, soap, medicine, ect.) to make them feel better can't be eaten by humans! 80% of Americans DO NOT want horses to be slaughtered! If most of us don't even want to think about a horse being slaughtered ( I sure don't want to think about that) we won't be eating horse meat! I AM A HUGE HORSE LOVER AND SLAUGHTER IS VERY WRONG! IT IS HORRIABLE TO THINK ABOUT ANY ANIMAL BEING SLAUGHTERED! WE NEED TO BE THERE FOR ALL ANIMALS AND HORSES NEED US RIGHT NOW MORE THAN EVER!

Wed, 06/27/2012 - 08:26 — Sue McDargh (Visitor)
How do we stop horses from being shipped to Canada and Mexico for slaughter? I would rather have humane slaughter here and then have the meat sent to them. I don't eat any kind of meat, but I saw the video of Mexican slaughter and I will never get it out of my mind. Horses have feelings and feel fear and pain, and what they have to go trough before they go to heaven is aweful.

Wed, 06/27/2012 - 22:55 — Tim Bernsen (Visitor)
Do you guys not realize what horrors you're forcing on our equine friends? Stabbed in the neck multiple times by Mexican killers after a long haul with no feed, hay or water... And you think this is a better end than a quick death... What amounts to euthanasia... Or a long cramped hungry thirsty haul to Canada for the same purpose? Do y'all NOT realize what you're doing to the market? Both wanted and unwanted horses being sold for next to nothing to people who don't have any clue how to care for a horse because they can afford the purchase price of multiple horses now? Did y'all know that some people think that horses can subsist on weeds and dirt til their death due to a desperate ingestion of a toxic plant or starvation or colic? What in THE hell is the matter with you people? Let somebody who knows something about horses lead this charge... Cuz y'all ain't got a clue.

Fri, 08/24/2012 - 17:53 — Emily (Visitor)
As I understand the bill being debated it will also prevent the transportation of horses for "human consumption OR "other purposes". An animals death in a slaughter house is not usually "quick" or "euthanasia". Before their death they are often kept in deplorable conditions and abused. Horses are highly intelligent, I can only imagine the terror they feel smelling, hearing, and seeing other horses suffering and death. The "death bolt" is often off target and only serves to injure or destroy the horses eye and/or cause severe wounds and burns from the electricity, only to have to endure it another time... Euthanasia is a controlled, compassionate, mostly painless end to an animals life. Their are many people who know something about horses leading this charge, and this cause needs all the supporters it can. By degrading those that have commented, I feel will only cause to drive away people who may not be fully educated on horse care, but have a concern for their demise. What the hell is the matter with you?!

Fri, 06/29/2012 - 11:07 — Barb (Visitor)
It is horrible what those horses go through when going to the slaughter houses. It is wrong. No horse should go through something like that. Horses of any kind do not need to end up in the slaughter houses. I could not stand that. It makes a person sick just to see what happens to them. It is horrible and it is not easy to see. It does make you sick. I could not do that. It is about time that there is a law to protect them. Thank you for doing your job! Keep up the great work.

Fri, 06/29/2012 - 11:17 — Barb (Visitor)
Please save the horses from the slaughter houses. No horse should suffer at the hands of the people at the slaughter houses. It is a horrible death those horses go through. It is sickning what those horses go through. It needs to end now. It makes me sick just thinking about it. What is wrong with you people don't you understand the horrors those horses go through. It is wrong what you are doing. Please don't do this. Horses are not meant for meat. Save the horses from being killed like that. There is no need for this. it is terrible. Shame on you people. You have no respect for horses at all. Why kill them??

Sun, 07/01/2012 - 17:59 — Bonnie (Visitor)
This entry has to do with the abuses done to cattle, pigs, etc., at some large farms in the US. Abuses such as using shock prods on cattle that cant even stand because of prior ongoing-abuse! Has anyone ever considered looking into workers, that seem to ENJOY inflicting pain on animals, at these 'factory farms'. It is known that most (if not all) serial killers have been known to treat animals in vicious ways; finding pleasure/excitement in their inhumane actions. Doing things to animals that no NORMAL human would EVER think to do. Killing an animal for food, is one thing. Torturing it beforehand, even to its death, is another. Such men are SICK!! What would they do to another human, if, in their mind, they deserve it/think of them as no more than an animal. What HAVE some of them done?!!!!  I think there should be a legal, pre-authorized search-warrant-style, government agency set up to access farms on how animals are treated. Even if done by volunteers, at no expense to taxpayers, that are escorted by law enforcement; three or so farms per week, on a Sheriff's Dept. time, would not be a hardship.These should be random/unannounced-checks, done STRICTLY for findings of abuse; with the ENTIRETY of the farm allowed in the search. And ALL workers, found on farms where abuses are discovered, should be placed in a registry, sentenced to prison and fined. Their DNA put on file, and checked against the DNA in the national DNA database. I would almost bet that some, so far, unrevealed criminals (of rape, murder, etc.) would be found! BTW: This should include include horse farms as well. And ANYONE found connected to the slaughter of equine put in the database, and given jail time and fines.

Fri, 08/24/2012 - 18:17 — Emily (Visitor)
I agree that anyone who could work in a slaughterhouse and or enjoy inflicting pain on helpless creatures are subhuman and probably wouldn't have a problem committing other "crimes"to serve their purpose. Since law enforcement can hardly keep up with domestic abuse & crimes it will be a LONG time before anything like your proposal would come into effect. Jails are already over crowded and most states have a shortage of law enforcement and funds. Although their are laws in effect to protect animals, they do not carry the same value for many as a human life. However for some animals have a greater value as we humans have "dominion" and a responsibility for those that are dependent on us for their very lives and have no options. Instead of wasting money on a DNA database, how about an automatic life sentence for any type of human or animal abuse.I mean really are these types of people going to be rehabilitated and productive members of society?

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Wed, 07/18/2012 - 13:33 — Eleanor Blazer (Visitor)
This is not a victory for the horses being shipped to Canada and Mexico. At least if the US had horse slaughter facilities the horses may stand a chance at humane treatment. Horses bound for slaughter will be slaughtered anyway...the question is how they will be treated until that occurs...and in what manner? Drought and worsening economy will not help the unwanted horse situation. Feed and hay prices are expected to escalate, along with the expense of feeding families...which will be fed first...your children or your horse? Horse rescue facilities are maxed out and many have been accused of starving horses because of lacks of funds. The first step is to quit breeding horses...that includes the beloved backyard mare. Soon only the rich will be able to afford horses and a poorly bred animal will not stand a chance of finding a “forever” home.

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Tue, 08/21/2012 - 14:33 — ortopedia online (Visitor)
Why users still make use of to read news papers when in this technological world all is existing on web?

Fri, 08/24/2012 - 17:27 — Leslie (Visitor)
The bill H.R. 2966 also bans the transportation, possessing, purchasing, donation of horses for human consumption or other purposes. It prevents slaughter in the USA AND the transportation to Canada & Mexico!!! Incredibly PETA says horse slaughter will prevent additional neglect & mistreatment of unwanted horses and is a humane solution! It is not!! It is misinformation! Many slaughter houses treat the animals poorly; pigs, chickens, cows, etc. It is the almighty dollar. Look for meat that is certified humanely farmed and organic. It is out there! Leslie

Fri, 09/21/2012 - 10:22 — David Meek (Visitor)
What is needed first here is for people to change first because if there is no demand for horse's meat then they would not be slaughtered. Being considered as a delicacy in European countries means that people are paying a lot to have this meat so stop this people from eating them and then the horses would be safe from slaughter.

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