“What many fail to realize is that this legislation [HR857] would do more harm than good for the treatment of unwanted horses.”
- Bob Goodlatte (in a letter to his colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives)
FACTS – WHAT BOB GOODLATTE NEEDS TO REALIZE:
*Last year 50,564 horses were cruelly slaughtered at two foreign-owned slaughter plants for human consumption in gourmet markets of Europe and Asia (another slaughterhouse has recently reopened in Illinois). Tens of thousands more of America’s horses were exported and slaughtered in other countries.
*Slaughter is NOT humane euthanasia. Horses suffer horribly on the way to and during slaughter.
*Passage of The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (AHSPA) will reduce animal suffering – hence its wide support throughout the equestrian and veterinary world and humane community. The Thoroughbred industry, for one, is solidly behind this legislation.
*Americans overwhelming support an end to horse slaughter for human consumption (recent polls from Kentucky, Texas and Utah show that 82%, 72% and 69% respectively of those questioned oppose to the practice). In California, a 1998 ballot initiative (Prop. 6) banning horse slaughter for human consumption was passed with an overwhelming 60% of the vote. Since then, there has been a decrease in abuse and neglect cases and a dramatic decrease in horse theft in California.
CONSIDER THESE ISSUES...
1. Only sick and old horses go to slaughter...
Question: Is it true that slaughter is used only as a last resort for horses that are infirm, dangerous or no longer serviceable?
Answer: The USDA’s own Guidelines for Handling and Transporting Equines to Slaughter state that 92.3% of horses arriving at slaughter plants in this country are in “good” condition.
2. Neglect and abuse...
Question: Will horse abuse and neglect cases rise significantly following a ban on slaughter? BOB GOODLATTE SAYS HORSES ARE MORE LIKELY TO BECOME “NEGLECTED AND ABUSED” IF HR857 PASSES.
Answer: There has been no documented rise in abuse and neglect cases in California since the state banned horse slaughter for human consumption in 1998. No similar rise has been documented in Illinois following closure of the state’s only horse slaughter plant in 2002. Horse theft declined dramatically in these areas.
3. Cost of caring for unwanted horses...
Question: If horse slaughter is banned, do horse rescue and retirement groups have the resources to take care of unwanted horses? Should the government have to pay for the care of horses voluntarily given up by their owners. BOB GOODLATTE SAYS THAT HR857 “COULD RESULT IN A POTENTIAL FUNDING REQUIREMENT OF $100 MILLION A YEAR” FOR HORSES “DIVERTED FROM SLAUGHTER” … BOB GOODLATTE SAYS “THE POTENTIAL ECONOMIC EFFECTS FOR THE CARE OF UNWANTED HORSES WOULD COST IN EXCESS OF $530 MILLION A YEAR BY 2016” AND HE SUGGESTS THAT THEY WOULD “END UP SICK AND STARVING LIKE THE CATS AND DOGS THAT HAVE BEEN ABANDONED.”
Answer: Approximately 350,000 horses were slaughtered in the U.S. ten years ago. That figure is now at approximately 50,000 per year. The total number of horses in the U.S. has not changed substantially over the last ten years. Where did 300,000 or so horses go each year? They were either euthanized or absorbed into the equine community in one way or the other. There have been no documented problems from the decrease in numbers of horses being slaughtered. Not every horse currently going to slaughter will need to be absorbed into the rescue community – many will be sold to a new owner, others will be kept longer, and some will be humanely euthanized by a licensed veterinarian. Opponents of this legislation admit that passage of the bill won’t necessarily lead to an increase in the number of horses being sent to rescue facilities precisely because humane euthanasia is such a widely used method of disposal. There is nothing in the language of HR857 that suggests that the Federal government will pay for the care of horses. It is not the Federal government’s responsibility to provide for the care of horses voluntarily given up by their owners; these animals are private property and should be cared for by their owners. However, the AHSPA allows fines collected under the Act to be distributed to legitimate horse rescue groups caring for horses confiscated under the Act. Hundreds of horse rescue organizations operate around the country, and additional facilities are being established (list available).
4. Safe and humane disposal of sick, old and unwanted horses...
Question: If slaughter isn’t an option, how will we safely dispose of sick, old and unwanted horses? BOB GOODLATTE SAYS THE U.S. CANNOT ABSORB THE “LARGE NUMBER” OF “UNWANTED” HORSES THAT THIS BILL WILL AFFECT.
Answer: Approximately 690,000 horses die in this country annually (10% of an estimated population of 6.9M) - the vast majority of which is not slaughtered, but euthanized and rendered or buried without any negative environmental impact. Humane euthanasia and carcass disposal is highly affordable and widely available. The average cost of having a horse humanely euthanized and its carcass safely disposed of is approximately $225, while the average monthly cost of keeping a horse is approximately $200.
5. Export of horses for slaughter abroad...
Question: If horse slaughter is banned in the US, won’t there be an increase in the export of horses for foreign slaughter? Won’t horses suffer more as they are transported further for slaughter in countries where there may be weaker welfare laws?
Answer: Although horse slaughter has, over all, declined dramatically in the US over the past decade, there has been no correlating increase in the number of American horses being exported for slaughter abroad. Further, the AHSPA prohibits the export of horses for slaughter abroad, and contains clear enforcement and penalty provisions to prevent this from happening. Risk of federal prosecution and the high costs associated with illegally transporting horses long distances for slaughter abroad are real deterrents.
6. Standards of care at sanctuaries and rescue organizations...
Question: Is it true that no standards exist for horse rescue facilities that take unwanted horses? BOB GOODLATTE SAYS THAT HR857 “DOES NOT ESTABLISH STANDARDS OF CARE”.”
Answer: The Association of Sanctuaries and the American Sanctuaries Association provide accreditation programs, a code of ethics and guidelines for the operation of sanctuaries and rescue organizations. Horse rescue groups must also provide for the welfare of horses in their custody in compliance with state and local animal welfare laws. The National Horse Protection Coalition and several of its member organizations are working with horse organizations and sanctuaries to develop guidelines specific to equine rescue facilities.
Representative Goodlatte can be reached:
By e-mail: bob.goodlatte@mail.house.gov
By fax: (202) 225-9681
For further information on this bill and how to contact your representative, call Anne Russek at (540) 291-2772.