Our horses are being slaughtered for human consumption overseas...

Most Americans are shocked to learn that tens of thousands of our horses are slaughtered annually for human consumption abroad. Pet horses, work horses, race horses, Premarin foals and wild horses go to slaughter. Quarter Horses make up about 25% of all horses ending up in slaughter, Thoroughbreds comprise 16%. Most horses arrive at the slaughterhouse via livestock auctions where, often unknown to the seller, they are bought by middlemen working for the slaughter plants. These “killer buyers” travel from one auction to the next collecting young, old, sick and healthy animals. Some are shipped straight to slaughter, others are fattened up on despicably overcrowded feedlots before being shipped to slaughter.

Organizations opposed to this bill deliberately fail to inform their members that “humane” federal regulations concerning the transport of horses to slaughter allow for horses to be shipped on double-deck trailers designed for smaller livestock. Present laws permit shippers to travel over twenty-four hours without stops for food, water, or rest.

Upon arrival at the slaughterhouse, horses are callously herded into kill shoots where they are stunned using the captive-bolt method. This procedure includes driving a four-inch nail into the horse’s skull. If done improperly, the conscious horse continues through the remaining stages of slaughter, which includes slitting their throats.

Following tremendous momentum on the movement to ban horse slaughter achieved in the House last session, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (AHSPA) has been reintroduced in both chambers of the new 110th Congress.

The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act will end the slaughter of horses for human consumption and the domestic and international transport of live horses or horseflesh for human consumption.

Last year over 100,000 horses were slaughtered in one of the three foreign-owned, US-based horse slaughtering facilities located in Texas and Illinois.

H.R. 503, The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act has been reintroduced in the U.S. House by Congresswoman Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Congressman Ed Whitfield (R-KY), Congressman Nick Rahall (D-WV) and Congressman John Spratt, Jr. (D-SC). In the Senate, S. 311 has been reintroduced by Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Senator and veterinarian John Ensign (R-NV). On September 7, 2006, the House of Representatives voted 263 to 146 in favor of H.R. 503, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, to end the slaughter of horses for human consumption. Sadly, the U.S. Senate failed to act before the end of the 109th Congress.

UPDATE:

On April 25, 2007 the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation reported the bill favorably to the full Senate for consideration. No time has been set for a vote.

On August 2, 2007 the House of Representatives approved an amendment to the 2008 Agriculture Appropriations bill that will temporarily bring horse slaughter to a halt by stripping funds from the federally required inspection of slaughter-bound horses. Without the inspections, the slaughter cannot proceed. This amendment must still be considered in the US Senate. This amendment is only a temporary measure while the sponsors work to secure passage of the permanent American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Please call, fax or email your Representative and both Senators today, urging their co-sponsorship of the AHSPA (H.R. 503/S. 311).

To find your legislators, please visit this link.

For facts and additional information on both bills to include in your calls and letters, please visit this link.

Additionally, please share this information with family, friends and co-workers, and encourage them to contact their Representatives, too. As always, thank you very much for your help!

At left...Elmer was rescued from horse slaughter... read his story here.