Horse Slaughter Battle Continues in States
Thursday, February 18, 2010

Legislative Efforts Emphasize Pros and Cons

After years of legislative efforts to pass a ban on the slaughter of horses for human consumption, the federal government continues to hold off any legislative solution, leaving on-going legislation languishing in committees. In the meantime, the states continue with a diverse approach, some banning the slaughter altogether, and others sending Congress a strong message that they should not interfere with states’ rights to slaughter horses if they want.

While no slaughter plant has been in operation in the U.S. for the slaughter of horse for human consumption since 2007, some states are considering the construction and operation of horse slaughter facilities. These opponents of the ban on slaughtering horses for human consumption argue that U.S. slaughterhouses are far more humane than those in Mexico and Canada where horses are now transported for slaughter and that U.S. regulation of slaughterhouses is far superior to those out of the country. In addition, they argue that it is far crueler to have horses abandoned and starving because owners can’t afford to keep them, then to send them to slaughter.

These arguments fail to address some very important issues:

• Americans do not eat horse meat and a vast majority of Americans don’t think that we should kill horses for meat
• Horses are not raised specifically for their meat and are therefore not monitored for health issues and exposure to pathogens prior to going to slaughter
• It is illegal in every state to abandon or starve an animal under your care and individuals who do so should be charged with crimes, not afforded an easy way to make a profit by killing a horse they no longer want to keep
• Recent exposés of slaughterhouses for both cattle and swine demonstrate that the U.S. meat industry has failed to follow humane guidelines and that current regulations regarding slaughter are inadequate or—at the very least—unenforced
• Methods used for the slaughter of horses were developed for cattle and are not suited to equine anatomy or temperament

It is important to deal with another problem in the equine industry: what to do with too many horses. This problem arises because of over breeding in certain industries, including foals that are the unwanted by-product of horses used for drugs such as Premarin and Prempro, which use pregnant mare’s urine in their products. Horses bred to pull carriages and for riding stables usually work for many years. Yet some owners have no sense of obligation to ensure that these horses have a humane death when they become too old or too sick to work.

Instead of conducting feasibility studies on the cost of establishing new slaughterhouses, proponents for horse slaughter should conduct a study into the practices of equine industries that result in so many unwanted horses. The question is why are there so many animals being sent to slaughter, or being starved and abandoned by owners who refuse to take responsibility for their horses' humane care.

Contact your state and federal legislators to make your voice heard on individual state and U.S. bills.

Find Your Legislators

Make your voice heard in support of federal legislation—or to support or oppose initiatives in your state. Check below to see if your state has weighed in on horse slaughter:

Support this legislation:

Federal HR 503: introduced 1-14-09, referred to House Subcommittee on Crime, Territory, and Homeland Security 3-16-09
Prohibits certain conduct relating to the use of horses for human consumption

Federal S 727: introduced 3-26-09, referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
Prohibits certain conduct relating to the use of horses for human consumption

California SJR 22: introduced 2-11-10, referred to Committee on Rules.
Urges the U.S. Congress to support federal legislation to protect American horses from slaughter for human consumption.

California SR 30: introduced 9-2-09, referred to Committee on Rules.
Urges the U.S. Congress to support federal legislation to protect American horses from slaughter for human consumption.

Florida S 1708: introduced 2-4-10, referred to Committee on Criminal Justice
Unlawful Slaughter of Horses Act, would prohibit the slaughter and transportation of horsemeat for human consumption.

Florida H 765: introduced 1-20-10, referred to Agriculture & Natural Resources Policy Committee, 2-5-10
Unlawful Slaughter of Horses Act, would prohibit the slaughter and transportation of horsemeat for human consumption.

New York S 3178: referred to Committee on Consumer Protection 1-6-10
Prohibits the slaughter and transport of horses for human consumption.

New York A3736: referred to Committee on Agriculture 1-6-10
Prohibits slaughter of horses for human consumption

Far more states are looking at the economic bottom line and promoting the slaughter of horses:

Oppose this legislation:
 
Arizona SCM 1001: Senate second reading 6-08-09, Assigned to Rules and Natural Resources, Infrastructure and Public Debt Committees
Urges Congress to oppose federal legislation to ban the slaughter of horses and transport of horses for slaughter

Georgia HR 583: introduced 3-10-09, passed House 3-30-09, sent to Senate. Urges Congress to oppose federal legislation that interferes with a state's ability to direct the transport or processing of horses

Idaho SJM 104: introduced 2-15-10, referred to Agricultural Affairs Committee
Urges Congress to oppose federal legislation that interferes with a state's ability to direct the transport or processing of horses

Illinois HB 4812: introduced 1-12-10, referred to Agriculture & Conservation Committee
Repeals the state ban on the slaughter of horses

Kansas HCR 5004: adopted as amended by Agriculture and Natural Resources but not by the full house 2-17-09
Resolution urging the US Congress to oppose federal legislation to ban the slaughter of horses and the transport of horses for slaughter

Kentucky HC47: introduced 1-13-10, referred to Committee on Agriculture & Small Business
Resolution urging the US Congress to oppose federal legislation to ban the slaughter of horses and the transport of horses for slaughter

Michigan HR168: introduced 10-16-09, referred to Committee on Agriculture
Urges Congress to adopt a proposed Humane and Optimal Restoration and Sustainability of Equines Act, to restore horse slaughter and horse processing in the U.S. (not yet introduced in the U.S. Congress)

Minnesota SF 133: Passed Senate, sent to House 5-15-09
Resolution urging Congress to oppose federal legislation banning the slaughter of horses and the transport of horses to slaughter

Minnesota HF 840: House first reading, referred to Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veteran Affairs 2-16-09
Resolution urging Congress to oppose federal legislation banning the slaughter of horses and the transport of horses to slaughter

Oklahoma HCR 1045: passed the House and is now being considered by the state Senate.
Urges Congress to adopt the Humane and Optimal Restoration and Sustainability of Equines Act, to restore horse slaughter and horse processing in the U.S.

South Carolina SCR 480: Senate referred to Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources 2-25-09
Urges Congress to oppose federal legislation that interferes with a state's ability to direct the transport or processing of horses
Urges Congress to oppose federal legislation that would interfere with a state's authority to direct the transport or processing of horses

Tennessee HJR 245: introduced 3-25-09, passed House 5-7-09, assigned to Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee 5-26-09
Urges Congress to oppose federal legislation that would interfere with a state's authority to direct the transport or processing of horses

The following states have already passed resolutions opposing federal legislation to ban the slaughter of horses in the U.S. (HR 503 & S 727—at the top of the page)

Arkansas HCR 1004: Sent to Governor's office 4-03-09

Missouri SCR 8: Adopted by House and Senate, no executive signature needed 5-13-09

North Dakota SCR 4021: Adopted 4-20-09

South Dakota HCR 1003: Adoped 1-21-10

Utah HJR 7: Adopted 2/17/09

Wyoming HJR 8: Adopted 3-03-09

Last updated 2/18/10