Whoa: Putting A Stop To Horse Slaughter

By: Andrew Cohen
Topics: Field Notes

(CBS)

Lawyer Andrew Cohen analyzes legal affairs for CBS News and CBSNews.com.

Great news for many of you this afternoon from Illinois, where the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has dealt a huge (and perhaps the necessary final) blow to a horse slaughtering company operating in the Land of Lincoln. The federal appeals court upheld Illinois' recent ban on the slaughter of horses for human consumption, a decision that effectively closes the last remaining plant in the country that undertakes such dark work for such an ignoble cause.

The company, Cavel International, slaughters horses in Illinois and then sells the meat to overseas companies who then provide it to consumers who yearn to eat horsemeat. As disgusting as that sounds to me, and as gross as it may sound to you, horsemeat is a delicacy in places like Japan, and France, and Belgium and now folks in those countries will have to find other ways to satisfy those particular and peculiar appetites.

The decision upholds the Illinois Horse Meat Act, enacted this May by state legislators to shut down Cavel and any other businesses who might be inclined to pick up that company's slack. As a result of the ruling, many more horses will be euthanized more humanely and forbidding "killers" who scout horse sales looking for "candidates" for the slaughterhouse will have to find something a little more uplifting to do for a living. In short, a barbaric practice that has lasted too long will last no more.

The 15-page opinion was brilliantly written by Richard A. Posner, one of the most prolific and eclectic members of the federal judiciary. To give you an idea of the tone of the opinion, here is some of what Posner wrote:

But even if no horses live longer as a result of the new law, a state is permitted, within reason, to express disgust at what people do with the dead, whether dead human beings or dead animals. There would be an uproar if restaurants in Chicago started serving cat and dog steaks, even though millions of stray cats and dogs are euthanized in animal shelters.

The next step? Congress, where there is pending legislation that would uniformly prohibit the slaughter of horses for human consumption from sea to shining sea. Surely even the current do-nothing Congress could and should fix that.

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by ericmichael1 September 23, 2007 6:28 PM EDT: I am wondering why we have such a popular response (15 comments) on the state of Illinois and the federal appeals court successfully shutting down one horse-killing factory, yet the U.S. Congress cannot even get one human being with a uniform on out of that killing field called

Iraq.

It''s a real tragedy. It is a drama that only Shakespeare could adequately address.

Eric; Reply to this comment


by hazeldust September 22, 2007 9:42 PM EDT: yay finally this stupid and barbaric practice of slaughter is over. And my head is fine thank you, I don''t need it to be examined.; Reply to this comment


by helphorses September 22, 2007 3:49 AM EDT: hello-congress needs to get their heads out of their *****. They have only put a bandaid of appeasement on the issue, no resolution here-it isnt rocket science.; Reply to this comment


by desertglory September 22, 2007 3:15 AM EDT: Thank you Mr. Cohen for this wonderful article! How refreshing to read an article that captures the feelings and expressions of most Americans. I am proud of the 7th Court of Appeals and the State of Illinois for banning horse slaughter. It is wonderful to see our civilization evolve and move to protect a loyal companion that served beside us in our country''s endeavors be it crossing the plains in covered wagons or off to war in WWI. We own our horses, bred now as pets and sport horses or born wild on public lands, repect and dignity. There are always those to claim the right to hasten the death of an horse for a few coins. I was thinking today, were those that argue the right to continue horse slaughter that same voices that agrued against abolition and womens voting rights?

Congress needs to get on board and pass S311/HR 503 and completely end horse slaughter. That reminds me to fax Senators Harry Reid and Mitch O''Connell and letter today asking them to schedule S311 for a vote next week. It was voted out of Committee months ago. Why not a vote yet?; Reply to this comment


by joycej7 September 22, 2007 2:25 AM EDT: I am a little confused about the comment made by horsewelfare, despite the fact that it was repeated 4 times, that horses sent to Mexico for slaughter will not increase once the ban is passed. If that is indeed true, and I suspect it is not, as long as irresponsible horse owners have access to kill buyers who are legally permitted to transport across either the Northern or Southern borders, horses will continue to be taken elsewhere to endure a horrible death. Does it matter if it north or south?
The Court,in a very insightful and well-written opinion, has stated that " states have a legitimate interest in prolonging the lives of animals..." and that access to slaughter results in the early deaths of horses due to the financial benefit it provides. These jurists have recognized many aspects that lie at the heart of the issue. It is now up to the Congress to act on swift passage of the AHSPA, in keeping with the will of the people and the decision of the Court.
Thank you, Mr. Cohen, for this article. You have expressed the feelings of anti-slaughter quite eloquently and accurately. God willing, we will soon see an end to this inhumane, unnecessary practice. It is of no benefit to this country and prohibition will speak to our perception of ourselves as a compassionate Nation.
Please call and write your legislators and urge them to support S311/HR503.; Reply to this comment


by awionline September 21, 2007 11:48 PM EDT: Fantastic article and right on target. While this is a great victory everyone must remember, the ultimate goal we have had since day one is passage of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. Until we pass this bill the slaughterhouses in the US will continue to buy horses and ship them even greater distances to their plants in Mexico and Canada.

The victories in Illinois and Texas along with constant support in the US Congress demonstrates public support for ending horse slaughter. Lets hope our elected officials step up and do what is right - ban horse slaughter.

Isn''t ironic that while the pro-horse slaughter groups run around the US Congress complaining about how bad it is for the horses to be shipped further distances, they are the very groups doing this dirty deed. Logic dictates that they then are admitting to abusing the animals. It is time for Congress to protect our horses once and for all from this admitted animal abusers by passing the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (H.R. 503/S. 311).

To learn how you can help AWI and our campaign to end horse slaughter, please visit: http://www.awionline.org/legislation/horse_slaughter/index.htm; Reply to this comment


by horsewelfare September 21, 2007 10:16 PM EDT: Horse slaughter is no more barbaric than cattle slaughter. There is more to this issue than just whether horse steak is served up to foreigners.

Horses are going to Mexico for slaughter now instead of being slaughtered in Texas - over 1,300 last week alone. Northern horses will just ship to Canada instead. All that has been accomplished is longer, more dreadful journeys to the same end.

According to the driving forces behind the anti-slaughter movement, horses to Mexico would NOT increase if slaughter was shut down. The number of horses to Mexico YTD is up 400% over last year.

The horse market is in a perilous downward spiral. There are severe droughts and hay shortages in many areas of the U.S. Banning slaughter is NOT making things better for horses. Those that think this is good for horses need their heads examined!; Reply to this comment


by horsewelfare September 21, 2007 10:14 PM EDT: Horse slaughter is no more barbaric than cattle slaughter. There is more to this issue than just whether horse steak is served up to foreigners.

Horses are going to Mexico for slaughter now instead of being slaughtered in Texas - over 1,300 last week alone. Northern horses will just ship to Canada instead. All that has been accomplished is longer, more dreadful journeys to the same end.

According to the driving forces behind the anti-slaughter movement, horses to Mexico would NOT increase if slaughter was shut down. The number of horses to Mexico YTD is up 400% over last year.

The horse market is in a perilous downward spiral. There are severe droughts and hay shortages in many areas of the U.S. Banning slaughter is NOT making things better for horses. Those that think this is good for horses need their heads examined!; Reply to this comment


by horsewelfare September 21, 2007 10:05 PM EDT: Horse slaughter is no more barbaric than cattle slaughter. There is more to this issue than just whether horse steak is served up to foreigners.

Horses are going to Mexico for slaughter now instead of being slaughtered in Texas - over 1,300 last week alone. Northern horses will just ship to Canada instead. All that has been accomplished is longer, more dreadful journeys to the same end.

According to the driving forces behind the anti-slaughter movement, horses to Mexico would NOT increase if slaughter was shut down. The number of horses to Mexico YTD is up 400% over last year.

The horse market is in a perilous downward spiral. There are severe droughts and hay shortages in many areas of the U.S. Banning slaughter is NOT making things better for horses. Those that think this is good for horses need their heads examined!; Reply to this comment


by horsewelfare September 21, 2007 9:57 PM EDT: Horse slaughter is no more barbaric than cattle slaughter. There is more to this issue than just whether horse steak is served up to foreigners.

Horses are going to Mexico for slaughter now instead of being slaughtered in Texas - over 1,300 last week alone. Northern horses will just ship to Canada instead. All that has been accomplished is longer, more dreadful journeys to the same end.

According to the driving forces behind the anti-slaughter movement, horses to Mexico would NOT increase if slaughter was shut down. The number of horses to Mexico YTD is up 400% over last year.

The horse market is in a perilous downward spiral. There are severe droughts and hay shortages in many areas of the U.S. Banning slaughter is NOT making things better for horses. Those that think this is good for horses need their heads examined!; Reply to this comment