Animal Protection Issues
Horse Slaughter
Horse Slaughter is a Betrayal of Our Equine Companions
Slaughter used as a means to "recycle" horses for cash
THLN, with the help of other animal protection groups, horse groups and fellow Texans who agree that we owe every horse a humane life and death, have worked together since 2002 to stop the legalization of horse slaughter in Texas. Although the two horse slaughter plants previously operating in Texas are now closed, thousands of horses (although in much smaller numbers) are being transported to Mexico for slaughter.
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. For more information concerning how you can help end the transport of America's horses to foreign slaughterhouses and ensure a permanent ban on horse slaughter for human consumption in the U.S, please visit http://www.humanesociety.org/ and www.saplonline.org/.
THLN will be prepared to defeat any attempt to repeal or weaken existing animal cruelty laws such as: the existing law prohibiting the slaughter of horses for human consumption (click here to view the Horse Slaughter Fact Sheet [PDF format]).
White House Recommends Removal of Horse Slaughter Funding in Proposed 2014 Budget
http://horsebackmagazine.com/hb/archives/21599 - 4.10.13 | Congress could once again ban the use of federal funds to inspect horse slaughter plants in the United States if it follows the lead of the White House-a move that is strongly supported by The Humane Society of the United States, the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI).
Save the Horses! Three Lawmakers Will Try to Ban Slaughter for Food
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/03/save-the-horses-three-lawmakers-will-try-to-ban-slaughter-for-food/ - 3.12.13 | The U.S. is set to begin slaughtering horses again for the first time in six years, and recent news of Ikea sausages and British Taco Bell beef containing small amounts of horse has raised horse-meat alarm bells among the meat-consuming public.
New Public Health Concerns Emerge as Horse Slaughter Once Again Rears Its Head
http://hslf.typepad.com/political_animal/2012/08/new-public-health-concerns-emerge-as-horse-slaughter-once-again-rears-its-head.html - 8.03.12 | When horse slaughter plants previously operated in the U.S. they were typically a blight on their communities, causing housing prices in nearby areas to decline and local economies to suffer.
No Country For Old Horses?
http://www.austinchronicle.com/blogs/news/2012-07-16/no-country-for-old-horses/ - 7.16.12 | Former Kaufman Mayor Paula Bacon: It would be better to have a "lead-smelting plant and sex-oriented businesses up and down" a city's main drag than it would to have a horse slaughtering facility in any Texas town.
How Safe Is That Horse Meat?
http://www.forbes.com/sites/vickeryeckhoff/2012/06/18/how-safe-is-that-horse-meat/ - 6.18.12 | Phenylbutazone, a human carcinogen, is prevalent in U.S. horse meat, along with numerous other drugs banned by the FDA in food animals.
WSJ Serves Up Tainted Journalism On Horse Slaughter Plate
http://www.forbes.com/sites/vickeryeckhoff/2012/05/11/wsj-serves-up-tainted-journalism-on-horse-slaughter-plate/ - 5.11.12 | The horse-slaughter lobby represents a handful of powerful industries looking to bring horse slaughter back to the U.S.
How Many Congressmen Does It Take To Screw A Horse?
http://www.forbes.com/sites/vickeryeckhoff/2011/12/21/how-many-congressmen-does-it-take-to-screw-a-horse/ - 12.21.11 | Consider the more than 70% of Americans opposed to horse slaughter who awoke on November 29, 2011, to learn that they were now on the hook for funding USDA inspections of horsemeat from the nation’s Quarter Horses (70% of those slaughtered in 2010), Thoroughbreds (16%—many, right off the track) and other hard-working, revenue-producing and well-loved breeds.
Former BLM Director of the Wild Horse and Burro Program Shares His Story with Madeleine Pickens
https://www.savingamericasmustangs.org/news_and_events/article/equine_conference_speech/ - 10.03.11 | Historical information on the wild horses and burros in the western United States, the management direction for these animals by our federal government, estimated population size over time, and herd management areas set aside for the protection and management of these animals.
Horse slaughter
http://www.lvrj.com/opinion/horse-slaughter-cruel-deaths-at-the-end-of-the-trail-113157739.html - 1.09.11 | Each year, thousands of American horses -- riding horses, carriage horses, race horses, wild horses, and children's ponies -- are unnecessarily and inhumanely transported across U.S. borders to be slaughtered for their meat.
Bill to Ban Horse Slaughter in Canada Introduced
http://www.horsefund.org/ - 6.17.10 | New Democrat Agriculture Critic, Alex Atamanenko introduced a bill that would effectively shut down the slaughtering of horses for human consumption in Canada.
European horse meat imports crumbling
http://www.harnesslink.com/www/Article.cgi?ID=79945 - 4.21.10 | EU horse meat importers have recently been caught in the glare of a seemingly endless series of investigative stories. The most recent blow came with the release of a report issued by GAIA, a respected Belgium animal welfare organization in partnership with Animals' Angels USA.
An important message for THLN Members from Madeleine Pickens
2.22.10 | It is sad and regrettable that the approach we have taken to house over 22,000 older wild horses has been strictly limited to a long term holding arrangement that does little to protect or preserve the horses and offers little, if any, incentive to improve the lands where they are located.
Texas Ranch Saves Horses From Slaughterhouse
http://cbs11tv.com/local/rescued.foals.rescued.2.1277266.html - 10.29.09 | It's a practice that makes animal lovers cringe. Pregnant horses are needed to make medicine, but their babies are sent to the slaughterhouse.
Canadian Horse Defence Coalition
http://www.defendhorsescanada.org/ - 4.06.09 | The Canadian Horse Defense Coalition is pleased to announce that Natural Meat Company (formerly Natural Valley Farms) in Neudorf, Saskatchewan, closed its doors in mid-February. No more horses are being slaughtered in that facility!
House panel takes up bill to protect wild horses
Associated Press - 3.08.09 | WASHINGTON (AP) — The wife of oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens says her proposal for a wild horse sanctuary in the West would be good for the country and save the government close to a billion dollars over the next decade.
Horse Transport Violations at Beltex
www.animals-angels.com - 11.25.08 | Results from Freedom of Information Request show severe abuse previously undisclosed: New data provides over nine hundred reasons for the urgent passage of bill banning the slaughter of American horses.
Oppose Pro-Slaughter Resolution
The Humane Society of the United States - 6.24.08 | The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), an organization made up of state lawmakers from across the country, will consider a pro-slaughter resolution at its annual meeting in July.
Wayne Pacelle: A Humane Nation
The Humane Society of the United States - 4.11.08 | Stopping horse slaughter for human consumption has been a long-standing priority for the organization. In the past year, we’ve seen the closure of the last three domestic horse slaughter plants, and we are pushing Congress to pass legislation to ban the export of live horses for slaughter in Canada and Mexico. However, the path to slaughter starts years before the animal is loaded on a trailer bound for a slaughter plant in Canada or Mexico, and the long-term solution to this problem is to foster a sense of greater responsibility to horses.
Americans Against Horse Slaughter - End Horse Slaughter Now
3.26.08 | Although horses are no longer being slaughtered in the U.S. for human consumption, they are now being exported to Mexico and Canada for slaughter.
Iowa Bill Says Horses are No Longer Livestock
Iowa - 3.23.08 | Like a number of states, for purposes of the animal cruelty laws, Iowa classifies equines as livestock. In Iowa it is illegal for someone to injure or destroy someone else's livestock intentionally such as by poisoning, shooting or trapping. When it comes to livestock an owner can only be guilty of neglect, not abuse or cruelty. Livestock are not otherwise protected under the state's animal cruelty laws. A bill pending in the Iowa legislature may change this for horses.
Other Resource Options
THLN has several Texas licensed attorneys who have volunteered to consult with people regarding animal law issues. HOWEVER, we do not deal with animal cruelty issues or adoption issues. We do not have an animal shelter, nor do our members foster animals as part of THLN.
If your inquiry involves a legal question that CANNOT be answered by contacting your local city animal control or local sheriff (or if the local law enforcement is refusing to help), you may contact us via email at "webmaster@thln.org" or using our contact form above. The inquiry will be forwarded to the appropriate person for a timely response. Please note that our attorneys are board members who volunteer their time as their private legal practice permits. Please give us 1-3 days to respond in most instances; however, during a legislative session, it may take a little longer.
Other outstanding sources of information are the Southwest Regional office of HSUS, the SPCA of Texas, your local humane organization, and/or law enforcment. You may contact the SPCA and HSUS at the contact information listed below.
Habitat for Horses
P.O. Box 213
Hitchcock, TX 77563
P 866-434-5737
E admin@habitatforhorses.org
W: www.habitatforhorses.org
National Equine Rescue Coalition, Inc.
W www.NERConline.com
W www.horserescuehotline.com
F 508-986-7088
E rescuecoalition@gmail.com
