Horse Slaughter

2008 - It is Time to Tell the Truth ...about Horse Slaughter

These are the faces of slaughter.

Not what you were expecting?

URGENT ACTION REQUESTED!

A must see (not for weak stomachs): Tom Meyer's Ohio's Slaughter Town from 19ActionsNews.com exposes the underbelly of the slaughter industry.

If you are interested in learning more about the status of horse slaughter in the U.S., many of your questions will be answered in this section. Please use the tools provided to contact your elected officials and let them know your stand on the issue so that they will vote to reflect that when the bills are presented. We must do all we can to save the horses now.

Who is next

Horse Slaughter. Is it really worth it? A graphic look at the journey to slaughter through the eyes of the horse.

2008 Legislation includes

The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, H.R. 503, S. 311 and H.R. 249

Operation Miracle Horse: Why We Work to End Horse Slaughter

~ Nancy Perry

Each topic now has a detailed and separate section. Follow links at left or within the topic boxes below.

Contact Congress

*** ACTION NEEDED ON S. 311, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT ***

HERE IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO RIGHT NOW BEFORE THE 110th CONGRESSIONAL SESSION ENDS THE LAST QUARTER of 2008
(please note: this information is the most up-to-date and the following action items will be the essence of any effort this year to pass the AHSPA. Please take the time to make these calls, send emails and faxes. It is extremely important for our fight against the suffering of our horses to take the below actions)

1. CONTACT SENATOR HARRY REID (NV, Dem) - Senate Majority Leader

Capitol Address: 528 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 205100001
Ph: (202) 224-3542 / Fax: (202) 224-7327

District Address: Lloyd D. George Federal Building
333 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Ste. 8016
Las Vegas, NV 891017075
Ph: (702) 388-5020 / Fax: (702) 388-5030

Why: S. 311 has passed Senate committee and is awaiting floor vote. This means that if the bill is brought to the floor for a vote and we have the majority of senators to support it, we have a very good chance of passing S. 311 in Senate. The House will then have to mirror this. The House has voted favorably on HR. 503 (the sister bill in the House) several times. Now they are in a way waiting for their Senate counterparts to hold their end. Harry Reid alone is currently in a position to bring the bill to the floor for a vote without any additional Senate actions! This will effectively give our horses the chance they so desperately need. URGENT: ASK SENATOR REID TO BRING S.311 TO THE FLOOR FOR A VOTE!

2. CONTACT SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL (KY, Rep) - Senate Minority Leader

Capitol Address: 361-A Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 205100001
Ph: (202) 224-2541 / Fax: (202) 224-2499

District Address: 601 West Broadway Suite 630
Louisville, KY 402022238
Ph: (502) 582-6304 /Fax: (502) 582-5326

Why: Support from both Senate leaders would be of immeasurable importance to us. In addition, the endorsement of both Senate leaders would mean representation in both political parties which can in turn help ensure additional Senator votes and send a message that this issue spans political borders on a very high legislative level. URGENT: ASK SENATOR MCCONNEL TO SUPPORT S.311 AND HELP BRING IT TO THE FLOOR FOR A VOTE!

3. CALL YOUR SENATORS TO BUILD OUR S. 311 COSPONSOR LIST

Thank them if they're a cosponsor of S. 311 or, if they are not, urgently request that they become a cosponsor of S. 311.

This is the list of S.311 cosponsors at the moment: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:SN00311:@@@P
This is how to contact your senators: https://community.hsus.org/humane/leg-lookup/search.html

Why: when S. 311 is brought to the floor for a vote, we need the 60 cosponsors to pass the AHSPA in Senate; more cosponsors of the bill in Senate will send a strong message to the pro-slaughter showing strong legislative support for outlawing horse slaughter.
We need to do this now. This Congress will adjourn some time between September and December of 2008.

Follow the navigation at the left of the page to reach extensive information on the areas which are relative and important to the horse slaughter issue.

Included are studies on drugs in horsemeat, transport to and destinations of slaughter bound horses, important federal and state legislation, the latest news regarding horse slaughter, and tools to assist you in helping to assure that horses in the U.S. will no longer be sent to slaughter.

Almost 500,000 pounds of e-coli tainted beef were recalled during the week of 6/8/07.

More followed as the year progressed.

USDA takes meat packing plant to court to prevent the testing for mad cow disease.

"Risk based inspections"

2007 Year End Summary for Slaughter Statistics

2007 Totals - All U.S. Horses for Slaughter - 111,771 + * 2006- All U.S. Horses for Slaughter - 135,288 + *

U.S.
29,761 U.S. 105,835

Exported to Mexico for Slaughter
45,609 Exported to Mexico for Slaughter 11,080

*Exported to Canada for Slaughter 36,401 + *Exported to Canada for Slaughter 18,373 +

*Canadian figures through September 2007 - full figures will be posted upon receipt
*Canadian figures through September 2006 - full figures will be posted upon receipt

2008 Slaughter Statistics

Total U.S. Horses slaughtered week ending 4/26/08

(includes U.S., exported to Mexico, exported to Canada)

1052+

As of 5/1/08 the statistics service will be discontinued on this site. For current statistics visit

Statistics from USDA

Weekly

Slaughter & Export Statistics

2008 & 2007

Statistics

week by week

Find Federal Officials

Enter ZIP Code:

or Search by State

Find State Officials

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or Search by State

Contact The Media

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or Search by State

2007 Horses exported to Mexico from U.S.

for slaughter

Statistics from USDA

Note the substantial increase over previous year

**NOTE: There were ZERO horses exported to Mexico for slaughter during the last week of 2007

2007 Horses exported to Canada from U.S.

for immediate slaughter

Statistics from Canadian government through end of 09/07

Note the substantial increase over previous year

Year End Statistics

45,609

2006 Year End Statistics

11,080

2007 Year to Date

(01/07 - end of 09/07)

36,401

2006 Year to Date

(01/06 - end of 09/06)

18,373

It can happen to any of them.

Wild mustangs, family pets, famous race horses, sport horses, Premarin mares and foals, young, old, healthy, sound. Many arrive at the slaughter houses from an owner who has no idea that this will be the fate that awaits their horse. They come from auctions, off the track, some are stolen.

Is it important enough?

Do you care enough?

Don't be a victim of SPIN!

Slaughterhouse Propaganda's International Nightmare

“The propagandist's purpose is to make one set of people forget

that certain other sets of people are human”
~ Aldous Huxley

What other products are derived from slaughtered horses?

We know about Premarin and the PMU mares, but there is more.

e-FSH (equine follicle stimulating hormone) from Bioniche Animal Health, derived from the ovaries of slaughtered mares, is used for Superovulation. Vested interests? AAEP and AQHA, both avid supporters of this lucrative practice. Is this a case of produce more horses, slaughter more horses, produce more horses... There is some concern now that the product is not readily available due to the decrease of slaughter in this country.

Very simple and "food for thought" from the Bible.

Rules for clean and unclean animals would place the horse on the list of animals not intended for human consumption.

Deuteronomy 14:7

Leviticus 11:26

Of the "beasts of the earth" (which basically refers to land mammals with the exception of swarming rodents), you may eat any animal that has cloven hooves and chews its cud. Lev. 11:3; Deut. 14:6. Any land mammal that does not have both of these qualities is forbidden. Of the "beasts of the earth" (which basically refers to land mammals with the exception of swarming rodents), you may eat any animal that has cloven hooves and chews its cud. Lev. 11:3; Deut. 14:6. Any land mammal that does not have both of these qualities is forbidden.

Only animals that chew their cud and have cloven hooves are kosher (Lev. 11:3; Deut. 14:6). Thus beef, sheep, lamb, goats and deer may be eaten, while pork, camel and rabbits may not. These restrictions include the flesh, organs, milk and any by-products. Thus gelatin, which is usually made from horse hooves, is trayf (forbidden), as are most hard cheeses, which are processed using an enzyme from the stomach lining of non-kosher animals.

The horse neither chews its cud or has a cloven hoof.

Horsemeat

By Any Other Name

Google Web Page Translator

Hippophagy - The act or practice of feeding on horseflesh.

Who Eats Horsemeat?

The Horse as Meat Supplier - Dutch site with some translated English pages. Lists suppliers, breeds commonly used for horsemeat, links, and guestbook.

Horsemeat or dishes made from horsemeat in countries outside of the U. S. could be referred to as:

Leberkäse, Pferdeleberkäse, Horse-Gulag, or Käre in Austria.
Viande Chevaline in Belgium. The Belgians like to eat horsemeat raw or smoked.
Charqui in Chile
In France, horsemeat is sold in specialized butcher shops known as Chevaline Boucherie. Consumption of horsemeat has decreased in France due to consistant problems with salmonella and trichinosis contained in imported horsemeat.
- "Non, un Cheval, ça ne se mange pas!" - A horse is not for eating! has become a popular cry in France.
Pezzetti di Cavallo, la Carne di Cavallo, Pastissada, Carpaccio, Bresaola or Puledri (young horses) in Italy. The taste in Italy runs toward the raw.
Sakura, Cherry Blossom, Sashimi, Basashi, Yakiniku, Baniku, Bagushi (skewered horse), Basashi Ice Cream in Japan.
Konili (noble steed), Kazy, Shuzhuk, Zhaya, Zhal, Karta (boiled and smoked horse rectum), Sur-yet in Kazakhstan.
Paardenrookvlees, Huzarensalade in the Netherlands.
Horsemeat burgers and hot dogs in fast food establishments, and žrebičkov zrezek in Slovenia.
Hamburgerkött, Gustavskorv, Medwurst in Sweden.
Fondue Bourguignonne in Switzerland.

A large percentage of meat in the Netherlands contains horsemeat.

The Unwanted Horse Coalition

The American Horse Council.

There seems to be some confusion regarding these two, one and the same, organizations and their stand on horse slaughter. To clarify:

"The Unwanted Horse Coalition, a broad alliance of equine organizations that have joined together under the American Horse Council," or see "Unwanted Horse Coalition folded into AHC".

The American Horse Council's official stand on slaughter is:

"AHC Position
The AHC is neutral on the legislation because it has organizations and individual members both supporting and opposing a federal legislative ban."

Although previously statements declared that they were in favor of slaughter, the current membership of AHC contains organizations which are both pro and con on the slaughter issue. Nevertheless, if some feel that they need to affiliate with them due to the mistaken impression that AHC /UHC are anti-slaughter, please refer to the AHC list of members.

It is somewhat enlightening to refer to the section for AHC Members, then cross reference it to the list of members for Common Horse Sense/aka Horse Welfare Coalition/aka slaughterhouse web site, (commonhorsense.com domain previously registered to attorney for Texas slaughterhouses, now listing contact as SciWords, the PR firm for the slaughterhouses).

If the chain of association still seems cloudy, refer to the list of Current Unwanted Horse Coalition Member Organizations. The first four on the list are very actively pro slaughter. Also, reference JAVMA, August 15, 2006 where a news release was published in the AVMA Journal as the start up of UHC was initiated. AAEP/AVMA was instrumental, and both organizations are quite openly in favor of horse slaughter.

There are no praises to be sung for UHC as related to the slaughter issue. Elsewhere, perhaps there are, but not here. If someone is considering donating dollars to them, it would be better spent in assisting horse rescue.

Inspiration

and Good Deeds

T. Boone and Madeleine Pickens to receive Equine Advocates' Safe Home Equine Protection Award for their 2006 work to end slaughter in the U.S.

PBS - Wild Horses, An American Romance

Grace Girls Fighting for Foals

Kids save horses from slaughterhouse

Pregnant Horses Arrive at Sanctuary

To know your subject thoroughly, insight into the opposite point of view is necessary. Understand the monetary motivations that drive the pro-slaughter supporters.

It is all about the bottom line because this is their business (i.e. farmer, transporter, slaughter employee) and is not a philosophical issue.
Assumption driven reasoning (the "snowball effect") that if horse slaughter ends, they will then be held accountable for the management of other animals.

New:

2006 History

The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act

H.R. 503 & S. 1915 in the 109th Congress

More on 2006 Action

History of action regarding legislation and news from 2006. Originally on the H.R. 503 page, it has now been moved to a separate history section.

Horse Slaughter in America. Why?

If you love horses, as so many of us do, the idea of slaughter in the U.S. is unthinkable. That our great county could allow the brutal and uncaring death of horses at the hands of foreign interests, for export to a foreign market, is both as foreign and brutal as the practice itself. To say that it is barbaric is an understatement. To say that we are powerless is both a lie and an underestimation of the principals of our American heritage.

We can do anything if we try.

We can do anything if we want it badly enough.

We can do anything if we do it together.

I hope that you will join with FlyingFilly, and with the majority of America's great citizens, to bring our country back to the land that we are so privileged and proud to be a part of. To bring this land back to the foundation upon which it was built, with the help of the horse, will be our proudest and most privileged moment.

In each section below you will find a link to pages which include information on the realities of horse slaughter. Please follow those roads for specific information. I leave it to you to determine your stand on the issue, your conscience, and your humanity.

~FlyingFilly

Easy Navigation to section by Topic

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap

The Road to the Slaughter House & the Gory Details

For horses of all ages, conditions, shapes, and sizes, what is the road to the slaughterhouse?

Where do the horses come from?
How are they transported?
Where are the slaughterhouses?
Who are the players?

More on the betrayal of America's horses on Slaughter Road Page

From the Niagara Falls Reporter, an excellent overview of the manipulations and enablers promoting slaughter in the U.S. The following articles by John Hanchette, Pulitzer Prize winning national correspondent, grow ever more pertinent as the days pass.

MOUNTAIN VIEWS: HORSE-EATING FOREIGNERS AIDED IN CONGRESS BY ONE TEXAS REPUBLICAN - 11/05

MOUNTAIN VIEWS: WARNING: HORSE MAY BE HAZARDOUS - 11/05

MOUNTAIN VIEWS: HORSE-EATING FOREIGNERS ARE BACK - 1/06

MOUNTAIN VIEWS: MAZIARZ BILL TO END HORSE SLAUGHTER - 4/06

MOUNTAIN VIEWS: NEEDLESS EQUINE SLAUGHTER CONTINUES - 6/06

MOUNTAIN VIEWS: HORSE-EATING FOREIGNERS FINDING FRIENDS IN UNITED STATES CONGRESS - 8/06

MOUNTAIN VIEWS: BILL TO END SLAUGHTER OF AMERICAN HORSES HAS A FEW HURDLES TO JUMP - 9/06

MOUNTAIN VIEWS: UPDATE ON HORSE SLAUGTHER - 1/07

Horse Slaughter News

Recent articles and areas of interest.

Legislation

The ongoing battle in Texas to end the illegal practice of slaughter.

Keep on top of the news coming out of Washington with the Washington Post Politics pages.

GPO - U.S. Government Printing Office

2007 Federal Legislation

H.R. 503 - In the House of Representatives - To amend the Horse Protection Act to prohibit the shipping, transporting, moving, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donation of horses and other equines to be slaughtered for human consumption, and for other purposes.
S. 311 - In the Senate - To amend the Horse Protection Act to prohibit the shipping, transporting, moving, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donation of horses and other equines to be slaughtered for human consumption, and for other purposes.
H.R. 249 - In the House of Representatives - To restore the prohibition on the commercial sale and slaughter of wild free-roaming horses and burros.
State legislation is also active. Details can be found on the Legislation page.

More on 2007 legislation on Legislation page

or contact Congress.

Drugs in Horsemeat

Why Would You Want to Eat Horsemeat?

Horsemeat can be hazardous to your health.

Many of the drugs and medications commonly used in horses are on the FDA's list of prohibited drugs in food animals. Horses, not being collectively raised as a food source in this country, are administered countless drugs over the course of their lifetimes including, but not limited to, wormers and legal racing medications. The length of time that these drugs remain in the meat, and the effects of those drugs on human consumption, is being ignored. Why does the FDA/USDA overlook the fact that horses sent to the slaughter houses have been repeatedly administered drugs with datasheets which clearly state "Horses, not for meat production?" Who bears the responsibility for this action which seems clearly more than an oversight?

More on drugs in horsemeat on Drug Meat page.

TAKE ACTION!

How to contact your Senator and Representatives to end horse slaughter in the U.S.

More on Take Action page

or contact Congress.

Freedom of Information Act - As a citizen of the U.S. it is your right to obtain information, per written request, from federal agencies. Principal FOIA Contacts at Federal Agencies.

If not slaughter, then what?

Alternatives to slaughter

Veterinarians for Equine Welfare - Not all veterinarians hold the same point of view as the AAEP. Here you will find highly respected members of the profession with a decidedly different opinion and solutions.

The "Stickers" Program - ReRun, Inc., a Thoroughbred adoption organization, has instituted a model program that issues stickers which can be attached to the Jockey Club registration papers of a horse. The sticker provides contact information from the breeder or owner designating a person or organization to be contacted in the event that the horse is in need of retirement and the present owner is unable to provide a suitable home.

Retirement Plan - Thoroughbred owner and Eclipse Award winning breeder Frank Stronach of Adena Springs Farm steps up to providing assured retirement for his horses.

Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation's Pony-Up Program. Trainers unite to donate a set amount each time one of their horses win to benefit retired race horses.

The National Equine Rescue Coalition bands together groups and people for a common goal.

Let's address the arguments presented by the pro slaughter side:

CIVIL RIGHTS - The owners' right to euthanize their horse would not be taken away. Only the option to profit by selling to slaughter would be ended. No one's civil rights are being endangered.

INCREASED ABUSE and NEGLECT - We have laws in place which already address these problems. If you are the owner, you are the responsible party.

All arguments can be summed up in one word:

RESPONSIBILITY

If you own a horse, you are responsible for its care. If you breed horses, breed responsibly.

It's just that simple.

Additionally, for those who have argued that we will be in a situation likened to the problem of unwanted dogs and cats, but on a larger scale, and that we are powerless to prevent this, I can only tell you that we are the master of our own fate. If you accept that it is always someone else's problem, you may be part of that problem. We can all pick up after ourselves, which means that time is long overdue to own up to the responsibility of animal ownership. With privilege comes responsibility. If you enjoy the ownership and companionship of an animal that relies on you, treat it with respect and be responsible for its well being. Nothing more need be said, as there is no other argument. If you cannot accept this simple premise, perhaps you should not have animals.

The Horse Slaughter Information Booklet from National Equine Rescue Coalition. Answers to ALL of the questions. Available in both .doc and .pdf files for downloading, this most accurate and concise treatise addresses each argument regarding slaughter in both a factual and logical format.

Recommended Resources for Anti-Slaughter Information

Horse Slaughter Bill Reaches Trail's End, from The Hill - The Newspaper for and about the U.S. Congress

SUPPORTERS of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, from the National Horse Protection Coalition.

Always on target, read Bill Heller's 8/03/06 Saratoga Journal entry "Making Equine Welfare a Priority" from New York Thoroughbred Life.

Support the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act Petition - S. 1915, the Senate version, which is next. The goal is 50,000 signatures. Please sign today.

Where Would All the Horses Go? by John Hettinger, Blue Horse Charities

Answers to the arguments posed by the pro-slaughter faction.

Alliance of Wild Horse Advocates - info and history of the quest to end horse slaughter

American Horse Defense Fund, Inc.

Canadian Horse Defense Coalition - our neighbors in Canada with similar objectives

Equine Advocates

Equine Protection Network - Awareness campaign

Hoofpac - Political Action Committee

Horse Slaughter - America's Dirty Little Secret

International Fund for Horses

Just Say Whoa to Horse Slaughter

Mary Nash's Horsemeat Website - Mary is gone now, but her friends have carried on her quest. I'm sure she is watching.

National Horse Protection Coalition

Return to Freedom - American Wild Horse Sanctuary

Society for Animal Protective Legislation - current status information

Confused about the process and humanity of slaughter?

It is basically the same procedure as carried out in slaughterhouses, irregardless of the species of animal concerned. Although graphic in nature, the process is documented in the following films:

Our Daily Bread - filmed in Austria, without narration, it has recently been aired on the Sundance Channel as part of The Green, focusing on environmentally relevant programming. Our Daily Bread provides a candid look at slaughter, factory farming, and food production.
Fast Food Nation - (the movie) fictionalized dramatization of Eric Schlosser's very non-fiction work exposes the money driven slaughter industry and the careless practices within. The film is easily found for rent.

For the complete and accurate information, the following books and articles are available:
- Fast Food Nation (the book) by Eric Schlosser. Originally created as an exposé for Rolling Stone magazine, it became a best seller in 2001 for its unedited reporting of the dirty practices of the slaughter industry.
- Eric's Echo (on the web) - E. Coli Help Organization created by Rainer Mueller, father of Eric Jackson Mueller, who died of E. coli contaminated hamburger in 1993. A tragedy that never should have been allowed to happen through the carelessness of the meat industry, the site exposes and answers questions of contamination in the meat supply, outbreaks, and slaughterhouse horrors.
- The Jungle, (book) by Upton Sinclair is a timeless classic, written in 1906, which exposes the meat-packing industry. The edited 31 chapter edition (some of the more gory and cultural details removed), available online for reading through Berkeley Digital Library.

Equine Rescue Resource - The issues

Horse Slaughter is Un-American, by Jonathan Friedman, Malibu Times

Equine Web Design - Well researched, revealing and comprehensive information on the fight to ban horse slaughter. It's all here, including the "who's who" of our representatives in support of slaughter. In addition to this, it is mighty fine web design!

NPR - All Things Considered 6/28/05 - Article, audio, and link to commonhorsesense.com which NPR identifies as "Web Site for Texas Horse Slaughter Facilities."

Blood Country ... a Texas Shame - video on the horse slaughter issue in Texas (warning: graphic scenes included)

National Horse Protection Coalition video narrated by Bo Derek.

Kinky Friedman for Governor 2006 - "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy"

Congressional Research Service - Report for Congress - Horse Slaughter Prevention Bills and Issues