Horse Slaughter Banned In U.S.

Illinois, Last State With Horse Slaughterhouse, Outlaws Practice

(AP)  The state with United States' last operating horse slaughterhouse made it illegal to kill the animals for human consumption.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich said he was proud to sign the law Thursday, calling it "past time to stop slaughtering horses in Illinois."

A slaughterhouse in DeKalb has been shipping horse meat overseas, where it is sold for people to eat. American horse meat is sold mostly in France, Belgium and Japan, where it is considered a delicacy.

The practice has outraged people who feel horses are more like pets than livestock.

A phone call to Cavel International's plant went unanswered Thursday evening.

Two other horse slaughter plants in Texas were shut down this year.

Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United States, called on the federal government to ban the export of horses for slaughter.

"Thousands of horses face grueling trips to slaughter facilities in Canada and Mexico unless Congress acts now to protect them," Pacelle said in a statement.

He said federal statistics show that 100,800 horses were slaughtered in the United States in 2006. Another 30,000 were sent to Mexico or Canada for slaughter.

Illinois lawmakers passed the ban after an appeal from actress Bo Derek. In a statement today, she applauded the end of the "cruel, bloody trade in horsemeat."

Opponents of the new law say there's no reason to treat horses differently from cattle or other farm animals. They say that horses are killed humanely and that the slaughterhouse creates jobs.

[SamThornton]

Well, there goes the Memorial Day barbecue. Or maybe not. Here Spot. Here Spot.

[equinevoice]

EQUINES ARE OUR AMERICAN HERITAGE.THEY DESERVE MUCH KINDER,GENTLE TREATMENT THAN BEING BUTCHERED BY A BELGIUM OWNED SLAUGHTER/BUTCHERSHOP.WE REVERE OUR HORSES BECAUSE WE LOVE,ADORE AND ADMIRE THEM FOR ALLOWING HUMANS TO BE TRUSTED AND BEFRIENDED.HORSES ARE COMPANION ANIMALS, BELOVED PETS, NOT A HUMAN FOOD SOURCE.AS A LONG TIME EQUINE OWNER AND 501(C)3 FEDERAL NONPROFIT EQUINE RESCUER, WE HAVE SAVED WELL OVER 4500 HORSES IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILTY AS EQUINE OWNERS TO PROVIDE FRESH WATER,GRAIN,HAY AND PASTURE, A FRESH CLEAN STALL AT NIGHT AND CARE FOR THESE BLESSED CREATURES WELL UNTIL THEIR TIME COMES TO BE CALLED TO THE RAINBOW BRIDGE.WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBLITY TO "HUMANELY EUTHANIZE OUR HORSES" BY A LICENSED DVM.TOSSING AWAY," PRECIOUS" BECAUSE HE IS OLD,INFIRMED IS WRONG.HUMANS CREATE THE MONSTERS AND BRING OUT THE BEAST IN ANY ANIMAL.HORSES ARE REGAL,MAJESTIC MAMMALS THAT DESERVE TO DIE WITH DIGNITY, NOT BY A CATTLE STUN GUN PISTOL AT AN EQUINE BUTCHERSHOP.THE EQUINES SKULL IS NOT DESIGNED FOR SUCH BRUTALITY.AND WHY ARE WE GIVING JOB"S TO ILLEGAL ALIENS AT THE EQUINE BUTCHERSHOPS??"UNTIL ALL AMERICAN HORSES ARE SAFE FROM THE KILLING OF FOREIGN OWNED BUTCHERS"

[swp1231]

My point was that we will not be losing American jobs when the slaughterhouses close down.

[swp1231]

Fido, Fluffy and Flicka, all part of America's protected species by virtue of our hearts. Is there something wrong with protecting these particular species since Americans in general have loved them so dearly? Americans have horse parks and dog parks. Our horse shows and dog shows never suggest we eat them later or sell them for butchering, but they do that for the cows, pigs, sheep and chickens. We have a right to expect a special place for horses since that's the way we want it to be. Americans do NOT eat horse, why let foreign owned corporations spill thier blood on our soil and take their flesh and run? Who's killing on the lines, Americans? Not many if any, do you speak Spanish? If you're outside the slaughterhouse you see who works there.

[barb_az]

Horses SUFFER before and during their treatment from the auction to the captive bolt gun, which was designed for COWS, not HORSES. We will NOT tolerate this treatment of our American horses. Horses who have served us for many years, or even a few years, or, in the case of the unborn foal, who have never had a chance to serve us, are rewarded by suffering. This is UNACCEPTABLE. HORSES ARE NOT RAISED FOR FOOD. Wealthy (NOT POOR!) Europeans are eating carcinogens, unaware that they are even doing so!
Horse owners have other alternatives. Euthanasia is a HUMANE death, and a dignified one. THIS should be the option the horse owner chooses, if there is no other option.
Horse slaughter does NOT help the American economy in ANY way.
I can%u2019t think of ONE reason to support this barbaric practice. Polls show that approximately 66-82% of Americans want this to STOP.
PLEASE LISTEN TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND END HORSE SLAUGHTER NOW.
Support legislation HR 503 and S 311 and End this NOW.

[factchecker1]

It is astounding that the people who are defending horse slaughter have obviously not even read the legislation in Congress to ban it. They have apparently not read the other comments on this site, either.

To state a personal opinion, uninformed and unsupported by facts, is every citizen's right. To expect anyone to believe overly emotional arguments, based on no hard data, documents, statistics, or the lessons of the past is beyond reason.

The majority of Americans want horse slaughter to be banned and are calling their Rep. to vote FOR HR 503 and their Senators to vote FOR SB 311. Perhaps they've done an internet search on 'horse slaughter' and learned the facts instead of relying on anyone's personal opinion.

[achadog]

Another reason not to like the French...horse eatters...Giddy up La'horsie

[lmatte]

The difference is Americans raise chickens, cows and pigs to eat. Americans do not eat horses they ride them, show them, race them, etc. get the picture?

[sy2502]

Ok, when I hear comments like "murdering horses" or "if we eat horses why not eat each other" I start to wonder about the mental sanity of some people. When did a horse stop being an animal and become a person? I wasn't notified of that. Also, you seem to get your panties in a bunch about how cruel horse slaughter is, but where do you think your burgers come from? Trees? You get all emotional about the poor horse, how about the poor sheep, the poor chicken, the poor cow? You don't loose your sleep over them, I understand. Humm, are we maybe a wee bit hypocritical there?
If you have a horse as a pet, you don't HAVE to get it slaughtered and eaten, there are people that keep pigs and rabbits as pets, and don't end up eating them, but we don't pass laws against pork or rabbit meat do we?
As somebody said, soon enough, emotions will run so wild that for real we'll all be forced to become vegetarian, we will smuggle steaks, and those who eat them will be called murderers. Can't wait for that to happen... NOT!

[barakababy]

More emotion that thought in some comments.
Slaughter is not an over-population issue- it is a supply and demand issue. is being run like that as business.
When illegal, breeders will quit overbreeding -voila, no over pop.
Some horses, various reasons, homeless, abused, will be cared for by rescues-plenty room.
Perhaps 1 yr. overlap of 2 many during 1st yr. then perhaps breeders will go back to cattle and real food livestock.

[lmatte]

Also when you take into consideration the number of horses that are imported from Canada, the number of horses stolen, the number of horses sold under false pretense, the number of horses that were by products of Premarin, the number of horses bred for the sole purpose of slaughter, and the number of horses that will be humanely euthanized, the number of horses left are far less than what the pro horse slaughter advocates want you to believe. Horse slaughter is NOT a service to help owners dispose of a horse. It is a business and as long as other countries will buy the product the slaughter houses will supply the product. Go to manesandtailsorganization.org/stats.htm and take a look at the statistics. At one time in 1990 345,700 horses were butchered in 1994 107,029 and in 2000 47,134. Where did all of those horses go? Once again the supply and demand fact is what comes into play. The fact of the matter is slaughter of horses is abusive, barbaric and a cruel way to end a life regardless of any unwanted horse claims. Horse owner's that abuse and starve their horses will abuse and starve their horses with or without slaughter.

[grammote]

And IF there are too many horses who is to blame ???? Surely not the horses. All you have to do is keep the stallions away from the mares or have them gelded. Horses do not breed like cats and dogs... A mare will come into heat in the spring...it takes 11 months for a foal to be born.... Usually she just has one not 3 to 10 like cats and dogs....Where there is NO STALLION there are no foals...comman sense .

A BIG QUESTION ??? WHY WOULD ANYONE BREED A MARE AND THEN TURN AROUND AND SELL HER TO BE SLAUGHTERED ??

Once a mare is sold to the killer buyer she is not protected from the stallions. The thought being she is going to slaughter...... so she and her baby will be killed. I don't believe that shows respect for life. Do you ? AS we saw SNICKERS A BLIND MARE..(.IT IS ILLEGAL TO TRANSPORT A BLIND HORSE TO BE SLAUGHTERED !!) SHE DELIVERED 2 WEEKS AFTER CAVEL WAS CLOSED (MARCH 29)THEN THERE WAS THE MARE WHO GAVE BIRTH ON THE SLAUGHTER HOUSE KILLING FLOOR MINUTES BEFORE SHE WAS TO ENTER THE KILLBOX.SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AND HER FULL TERM HEALTHY AND BEAUTIFUL PINTO/PAINT BABY THROWN ON THE TRASH PILE. SOMEONE SAW THIS AND CALLED FOR A VET AND RESCUE.
Is this what AMERICA wants for HER Horses ??

WE HAVE NO AGENDA OTHER THEN SAVING OUR HORSES !!Now we must keep them safe at home(IN AMERICA) and pass laws (S311/HS503 )so they can't be transported to Canada and Mexico where there is NO protection that they may have had from US LAWS !!

[caitlinndad]

I was 16 when my pony had to be put down , never even thought of cooking him !

[maineline3]

If you cant afford to take care of your animals from beginning to end don't have them. I hope you don't have kids I hear there board is pretty expensive.

[bloomer142]

Sorry folks, what you're saying isn't so....

80% of all horses slaughtered are not old, and unfit. No killer buyer would make any money on these animals. 80% are young and fit horses.

The captive bolt and slaughter process is not humane to the equine - it is designed for cattle, not horses. Due to the difference in skull, it does not work well on horses, who are often awake during the slaughtering process.

As for jobs lost - 40 jobs murdering horses for a European company - big deal. I am sure that people in these LOW PAYING will be able to find something else.

On a NATIONWIDE LEVEL the slaughter of horses is OPPOSED by 70 to 80% of AMERICANS.

[maineline3]

Horses in US are not raised for human consumption consequently they are given medications not intended for human consumption. Horses that end up at a slaughterhouse are tame or relatively so, leading us to believe they have served humans. Slaughterhouse horses are either a byproduct (thanks to humans) deemed unusable or not wanted the slaughterhouse, sale barn is the last way for some pathetic person to squeeze the last bit of $$ out of them it's easy disposal. Young, old, newborn, and injured are allowed this fate. I am not a fan of how MOST animals meet there fate for human consumption a slaughterhouse is NOT a humane way for any living thing to be killed. Would you rather be deer in a meadow happily grazing a hunter takes a clean shot to feed his family or a horse betrayed by a human, stuffed on a trailer that%u2019s not designed for them and not given adequate provisions enduring a ride to a hideous fate to watch the panicked met there INHUMANE death. The afore mentioned goes for ALL slaughterhouse bound animals. Horses are not raised for human consumption and in most cases are pets is it reprehensible to send your dog to this fate? After all he's just an animal and people do eat dog in other countries granted you're not going to get as much per-pound but you would not have to pay for a vet to come and HUMANLY euthanize him. Illegalize Horse slaughter in America YES. Will it impact us we need to stop breeding if we cannot take proper HUMANE care for those we have!

[factchecker1]

If people starve their horses they will charged under longstanding animal cruelty laws. Horse slaughter, as an option, never prevented that. If it did, no horse would starve when the owner could have made a fast buck selling them to slaughter instead. If slaughter prevents abuse and starvation, it is the worst preventative ever.

The slaughter houses' own intake documents state that over 90% of the horses they process are healthy and sound. For anyone misguided enough to be pro-slaughter, are you going to argue with the industry you're defending? Are you saying that the slaughter house administrators lie, on the record?

When the ban on horse slaughter passes, it will be illegal to transport horses for slaughter to Mexico, Canada, or anywhere else. Read the legislation you're complaining about, folks.

Banning horse slaughter is what the great majority of Americans want. We still live in a democracy and the majority rules. If you're one of the majority who wants a ban, call your Rep. to vote FOR HR 503 and your Senators to vote FOR SB 311. Speak up for the horses and call Washington D.C. today!!

[marcat0130]

It's about time! We now have a fighting chance to get them both passed again, especially with the closings of these slaughterhouses. To those of you arguing that there will be a surplus of unwanted horses-please-we have heard those sob stories from the pro-slaughter folks all along. Why don't you ask California how many homeless, neglected, and abused horses they have found wandering the streets since they banned slaughter in their state? You might be disappointed to hear this, but reports of abuse and neglect or theft of horses has DECLINED 34% since slaughter was made illegal in that state. Why do you ask? There is no incentive to steal horses if you can't slaughter them. And some people may argue horses are no different than cattle or pigs or goats or chickens etc. The difference is AMERICANS do not eat horse meat, so there is no reason to operate this business in this country to benefit the very few who profit from it. Plus-captive bolt guns are designed for cattle and other short-necked livestock, not horses. So there is no humane way to render them unconscious. Gee-I guess people will actually have to THINK before purchasing a horse if they can afford to care for it or not, just like we have to THINK "can I afford this car? this house? this living room set?" Owners will no longer have an easy-out for disposing of their horses-they will have to put them down humanely, imagine that?

[lmatte]

Call your U.S. Representatives and U.S. Senators and ask them to support the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act bills HR 503 and S 311 go to hsus.org to send a letter it only takes 2 minutes!!!!

[grammote]

A FOREIGN business sets itself up in Texas to slaughter America's horses when it has been ILLEGAL IN Texas SINCE 1949. They had 2 plants in Texas ,and one in De Kalb Il. The American people working with the U.S.LAWS have finally closed down all of them as of May 24,2007 !!

The HORSE meat which is sold is contaminated from all the medicines that horses are given during their lives. Since they sell ALL the meat in Europe they pay the US perhaps 5$ per year in Taxes. Since nowhere in the United States are horses raised for HUMAN consumption they have been given medicines that on label state clearly NOT TO GIVE TO ANY HORSE THAT WILL BE USED AS A FOOD ANIMAL AT ANY POINT IN IT'S LIFE !!.

MR. TUCKER OF CAVEL INTERNATIONAL IN DE KALB,ILLINOIS ,in an interview, did say THEY BUY HORSES that have been bought at AUCTIONS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. NOT horses raised for meat for human consumption BECAUSE THERE ARE NONE .
FROM THE STABLE TO THE TABLE IN 4 DAYS."is the slaughter house motto. That's a table somewhere in Europe where they are paying lots of $$$ per pound for our contaminated horse meat. Horse people do know what BUTE IS .DO you want to eat bute laden horse meat ? Since nowhere in the United States are horses raised for HUMAN consumption they all have been given medicines that on label state clearly NOT TO GIVE TO ANY HORSE THAT WILL BE USED AS A FOOD ANIMAL AT ANY POINT IN IT"S LIFE !!.