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DeKalb, Illinois, might brag about being the hometown of Cindy Crawford, but the supermodel moved away long ago. All the more reason to embrace the town's other claim to fame: It's the U.S. horse-slaughter capital. Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Aug. 2, 2007) – Once again, Congress has voiced its opposition to horse slaughter. The U.S. House of Representatives today approved an amendment to the 2008 Agriculture Appropriations bill that will temporarily bring horse slaughter to a halt by stripping funds from the federally required inspection of slaughter-bound horses. Without the inspections, the slaughter cannot proceed.

Introduced by U.S. Representatives John Spratt (D-SC), Ed Whitfield (R-KY), Nick Rahall (D-WV) and Ben Chandler (D-KY), the amendment ensures that horse slaughter stops while Congress considers the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (AHSPA), a permanent ban on this abhorrent trade. The measure must now go to the U.S. Senate for consideration.

The amendment is almost identical to one that passed overwhelmingly in the U.S. Congress two years ago, with the addition of language to prevent the U.S. Department of Agriculture from circumventing the will of Congress – as it did in 2005 when the slaughter continued.

More than 100,000 horses were brutally slaughtered in the United States last year at three foreign-owned slaughterhouses for human consumption in Europe and Asia. Tens of thousands more were exported for slaughter in Canada and Mexico. Currently, Cavel International (DeKalb, IL) is the last remaining horse slaughter plant in operation in the country. The only other plants, both in Texas, were effectively closed down earlier this year under state law.

A hearing on Aug. 16 in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit will determine whether Cavel International will remain open or be forced to shut its doors, following last April’s passage of a similar law that was signed by Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.

“Once again, when the entire House has the chance to vote on ending slaughter, support for a ban is overwhelming. Sadly, a few politicians and misguided business associations continue to thwart the Democratic process by stalling enactment of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act,” said Chris Heyde, deputy legislative director of the Animal Welfare Institute. “I implore these individuals to stand with the majority of Americans who support a ban on horse slaughter and allow this measure to move forward.”

The American public, over 500 animal protective organizations, horse industry organizations and veterinarians all support the effort to end the slaughter of America’s horses. Congress must now pass the AHSPA (H.R. 503/S.311) to end the slaughter of American horses nationwide and ensure that they are not exported elsewhere to be killed for those who wish to eat them.

The Animal Welfare Institute applauds the continued leadership of the sponsors of legislation to end horse slaughter. The organization also commends Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) for supporting efforts to protect America’s horses from this cruel industry and those who want to exploit their suffering.

The Animal Welfare Institute, founded in 1951, is a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by humans. Our legislative division is leading the national campaign to end horse slaughter and advocating passage of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. For more information, please visit www.awionline.org and www.saplonline.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 25, 2007) – The Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee of the US Senate today held a mark-up for S. 311, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (AHSPA), voting 15 to 7 in favor of sending the bill to be considered before the full US Senate.

Dispelling misguided arguments from AHSPA opponents, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) argued, “We have this law in place in California… since 1998. The people voted for it, and the state has seen no increase in neglect and no abandoned horses – and this is from the largest state in the Union.”

The three remaining foreign-owned slaughter plants in the United States – located in Illinois and Texas – have been shut down temporarily by recent court decisions. However, passage of the bill is critical to ensure horses are protected from slaughter forever, and that they are not exported elsewhere to be killed for the same purpose.

“Until Congress acts, horses are being hauled under horrible conditions across the border to Mexico and Canada, where they are brutally slaughtered,” said Chris Heyde, deputy legislative director of the Society for Animal Protective Legislation. “The AHSPA is their only hope.”

Two years ago, the Senate voted overwhelmingly to stop horse slaughter for a year, and last year, the House passed the bill. Unfortunately, Congress went out of session before the Senate could vote on the measure. The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, sponsored in this session by Senators Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and John Ensign (R-NV), will ensure that the practice of horse slaughter for human consumption is stopped permanently.

Before the measure went up for a vote, Senator Ensign stated, “There is no question that this bill will pass in this Committee, in the full Senate and in the House of Representatives, finally stopping horse slaughter.”

Thanks to our work in two federal courts, the last three horse slaughter plants in the United States, all foreign owned, have been shut down for now. But we are not in the clear just yet. In order to permanently ban horse slaughter in the United States, and to prohibit horses from being exported for slaughter, where they face longer transports and an even more grisly death, Congress must enact permanent protections for horses. Starting on Tuesday morning, April 24, we need everyone who cares about ending horse slaughter to call Congress as part of our National Call-In Day.

TAKE ACTION
On Thursday, April 26, a bill (H.R. 249) to restore protections for wild horses from commercial sale and slaughter will be brought up for a vote in the full House of Representatives. Your U.S. Representative must hear from you. Please call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to your Representative or click here to look up your Representative and the office phone number.

When you make your call, you can say: "Hello, my name is [your name] and I'm calling from [your town] to urge [legislator's name] to save our wild horses from being sold and sent to slaughter by voting YES on H.R. 249." After you make your call, click here to send a follow-up email.

Thank you for taking action to save horses. We have made tremendous progress, and thousands of horses have already been saved from slaughter. But we need to finish the job and shutter this barbaric business for good.

Federal Appeals Court Declares Horse Slaughter in Texas Illegal
Two of the Nation’s Three Horse Slaughter Plants Face Closure, Criminal Charges
WASHINGTON (Jan. 20, 2007) – The Humane Society of the United States, which has been campaigning to ban the slaughter of American horses for export for human consumption, hailed a decision yesterday by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit overturning a lower court decision that invalidated a Texas state law banning the sale of horsemeat for human consumption. The HSUS filed an amicus brief in the case in March 2006, arguing in defense of Texas’ state law barring the slaughter of American horses for human consumption overseas.
Complete Story

Federal Bill to Ban Horse Slaughter Introduced in Both U.S. House and Senate
Lawmakers reintroduce legislation with large original cosponsorship
WASHINGTON (Jan. 17, 2007) – Today, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act was introduced in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to ban the slaughter of American horses for human consumption overseas. The Senate bill was introduced by Mary Landrieu (D-La.), and John Ensign (R-Nev.), and the House bill, H.R. 503, was introduced by Janice Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), John Spratt (D-S.C.), and Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.).
Complete Story

What should Congress do first?
On January 4, Democrats take control of both houses of the U.S. Congress for the first time in 12 years.
CNN wants to hear from you. What issues do you think should be at the top of the legislative agenda?
Let Congress know what you think about Horse Slaughter

Please Join List of Supporters
2/25/05, Society for Animal Protective Legislation, Society for Animal Protective Legislation

Do your part to help stop horse slaughter! Read more about whats happening in the world with horse slaughter through the news and article items below.