Bipartisan push to end slaughter of US horses

The introduction of bipartisan legislation seeking an cease to the slaughter of American horses has been applauded past times US welfare groups.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), Animal Welfare Institute, Humane Society of the US (HSUS) in addition to the Center for Science inward the Public Interest applauded the motion past times Senators Mary Landrieu, D-La., in addition to Lindsey Graham, R-SC, in addition to Representatives Patrick Meehan, R-Pa., in addition to January Schakowsky, D-Ill.

Their Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act would non exclusively foreclose the slaughter of horses on US ground for human consumption, simply would also prohibit the carry of horses across the border for slaughter inward Canada in addition to Mexico.

Last year, to a greater extent than than 160,000 American horses were sent to slaughter plants inward United Mexican States in addition to Canada.

The grouping pointed to the risks posed past times several drugs used routinely inward the handling of horses that are banned from the human nutrient chain.

Last week, the US Department of Agriculture announced its invention to procedure an application for inspecting Equus caballus slaughter at a New United Mexican States facility.

If approved, Valley Meat Company LLC volition hold upwardly the get-go facility inward the US to slaughter horses for human consumption since 2007.

News of the plans for a novel slaughter flora comes equally authorities inward Europe are unravelling multiple cases of Equus caballus meat contaminating processed beef products.

Nancy Perry, senior vice president of ASPCA authorities relations, said: “The overwhelming bulk of Americans are intensely opposed to the cruel exercise of Equus caballus slaughter, in addition to nosotros give thank yous the sponsors of the SAFE Act for their efforts to protect non exclusively world health, simply also safeguard our nation’s equines.

“The shocking regain of Equus caballus meat inward mislabeled beef products across Europe underscores the threat to American wellness that could upshot should Equus caballus slaughter proponents hold upwardly successful inward bringing this grisly exercise dorsum to the United States.

“Now is the fourth dimension for Congress to permanently ban domestic Equus caballus slaughter in addition to the export of our horses to neighboring countries for slaughter. We must foreclose fifty-fifty ane to a greater extent than Equus caballus from suffering this terrible fate.”

Chris Heyde, deputy manager of authorities in addition to legal affairs for AWI, said: “When AWI get-go brought this number to Congress in addition to the American public, Equus caballus slaughter was a muddy exercise that no responsible Equus caballus possessor wanted to acknowledge fifty-fifty existed.

“While the number is at ane time inward earth eye, no-one who cares virtually horses thinks it is humane to slaughter them.

“The exclusively individuals advocating for Equus caballus slaughter are those who lucre from the suffering of these amazing animals. Like the manufacture they protect, deception is key. They are willing to mislead in addition to deceive anyone who advocates for the welfare of American horses.

“I wish them to know today, that everyone supporting the neb volition non halt fighting against this cruelty until all of our horses are security from slaughter.”

HSUS president in addition to primary executive Wayne Pacelle said the arguments of the horse-meat manufacture were unraveling earlier the eyes of the world.

“Congress must accept activity to foreclose the spending of millions of American taxation dollars on a marginal manufacture that peddles tainted Equus caballus meat to unusual consumers in addition to seeks to create thence at home, too.”

Sarah Klein, senior attorney inward the nutrient security computer programme at the Center for Science inward the Public Interest, said American horses were non raised for nutrient in addition to should non air current upwardly on consumers’ plates.

“Horse meat often carries residues from drugs that are non security for consumers.”

Representative Meehan said: “Horses are non bred for human consumption. Horses are routinely treated amongst drugs over the course of report of their lifetimes that are toxic to humans if ingested.

“At a fourth dimension when the US Department of Agriculture is threatening to furlough meat inspectors due to budget cuts, American taxpayers should non hold upwardly subsidizing Equus caballus meat inspections for the unusual export market.”

Representative Schakowsky said horses sent to slaughter were often dependent champaign to appalling, cruel treatment. “We must deal those practices. The SAFE Act of 2013 volition ensure that these regal animals are treated amongst the honor they deserve.”

Senator Landrieu agreed. “The exercise of Equus caballus slaughter for human consumption is revolting to me equally a Equus caballus owner, simply also equally a consumer.

“Horses are non raised for human consumption, in addition to they are often treated amongst drugs in addition to chemicals that are toxic when ingested past times humans.

“Especially inward low-cal of the European horse-meat contamination scandals, nosotros must ensure that our nutrient provide at abode is non tainted amongst Equus caballus meat, nor should nosotros provide an dangerous nutrient production to unusual industries.”

Past congressional actions on Equus caballus slaughter receive got demonstrated a strong, bipartisan wish to prohibit the killing of horses for human consumption, simply Congress has failed to permanently cease the export of alive horses to neighboring countries for slaughter.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Times has called in an editorial for Congress to reinstate the ban on funding Equus caballus meat inspections.

“Congress should reinstate the ban on funding such inspections, for several reasons,” it said.

“In this country, horses are non raised equally nutrient animals, amongst the form of controls in addition to restrictions inward identify for cattle, poultry in addition to swine destined for our tables.

“Currently, horses that are bought hither to hold upwardly sold to processing plants inward United Mexican States in addition to Canada are acquired from random sources, aggregated at feedlots or ranches, in addition to and thence shipped to slaughter. They receive got non been tracked from birth, equally cattle in addition to pigs are.

“In addition, the horses receive got unremarkably been treated over their lifetimes amongst a vast array of drugs, the most mutual of which is the hurting reliever phenylbutazone, a centre the US Food in addition to Drug Administration stipulates tin laissez passer on the axe never hold upwardly administered to animals processed for food.

“Furthermore, for Equus caballus meat plants to resume operating, the Department of Agriculture would receive got to develop in addition to deploy inspectors at a fourth dimension when its meat inspection budget is beingness cutting past times the sequestration.

“And in that place is around other reason. For centuries, horses receive got been our companions inward life in addition to inward sport, in addition to most Americans regain the notion of killing horses to eat them repugnant. Horse meat isn’t fifty-fifty used inward domestic dog nutrient whatsoever longer because domestic dog owners won’t purchase it.”

 

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