How People Voted
 |
 |
81% For, 19% Against
Take Action
  |
Alert Your Friends and Colleagues |
  |
Write Your Representative in Congress |
| Save & Share | |
 |
del.icio.us |
 |
Digg |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
Yahoo! |
H.R. 503, 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
- This item is from the 110th Congress (2007-2008) and is no longer current. Comments, voting, and wiki editing have been disabled, and the cost/savings estimate has been frozen.
Revision History 
Below is the revision history of this article.
(Learn how to edit the WashingtonWatch.com wiki.)
No revisions found.
Learn More
Visitor Comments 
LARRY HAUN
February 1, 2007, 12:54pm (report abuse)Are the domestic terrorists (HSUS ALF PETA) going to feed these horses? Is congress going to appropiate money for me to feed them? Get real people, why deprive us of a market and cause suffering for an old horse.
Joy & Ray Mitchell
February 13, 2007, 9:54am (report abuse)We are in favor of any protection that can be given to these poor animals that are abused by packing them in small, tight quarters, or shipped for consumption. We are advocates of the care of animals and have 52 horses ourselves and take care of the horses before we buy for ourselves.
Give all the protection you can give to the wonderful, loving animals.
My comment to Larry Haun is don't buy horses you can't afford to feed - no one promised that Congress would help you take care of them.
Thank you.
Kimberlie & Keely Knutson
February 13, 2007, 9:58am (report abuse)We are in favor of all the help you can give these beautiful animals.
If you can't afford to take care of a horse then don't buy one. They cost money to care for and you should realize that before you take one.
If people in foreign countries want to eat horse let them raise their own.
Lynne Finnerty
February 14, 2007, 9:49am (report abuse)Anyone who really knows anything about nature and the environment knows that everything feeds something else. These horses can either feed just the maggots, or they can be used for a better purpose. They are going to die anyway. Why extend their suffering, and why not let them be processed into feed for zoo animals? Reduce, reuse, recycle! They are humanely euthanized. And how do you know they are packed in "small, tight quarters?" Have you seen the "quarters?" I doubt it. Think, people. THINK!
ragan sue and jamie
February 14, 2007, 10:07am (report abuse)HORSES ARE USED IN THE TREATMENT OF HANDICAPPED CHILDREN AND ADD SO MUCH JOY TO MANY, WE MUST PROTECT AND LOVE THEM AS THEY GIVE FREELY TO HUMANS IN SO MANY WAYS..
R. Edwards
February 15, 2007, 7:11am (report abuse)Last time I checked horses were raised to be pets and important parts of a farm. They are loved and cared for by the person who owned them. The injury or decline of health of one was a sad case. After serving you for a lifetime I don't feel they deserve this kind of abuse. Could you honestly sit with them during their travel and see what becomes of what was once your favorite horse??
Gary
February 17, 2007, 11:22am (report abuse)MUST READ anyone contemplating this bill must read the report found at www.animal welfare council.org entitled The Unintended Consequences of a Ban on the Humane Slaughter of Horses in the United States.
TENNESSEE
February 19, 2007, 9:49am (report abuse)Just another case of the animal rights terrorists attempting to push their agenda and dictate what we can or can't do with our property. Vote NO!!!!
TimmyB
March 20, 2007, 11:34pm (report abuse)There has been a balance in animal cruelty statutes/issues, etc., that has existed for years - human benefit versus normal people's desire to avoid unnecessary suffering for animals. The slaughter industry just isn't made for horses. Unless the industry is willing to put the money it needs into proper slaughter facilities this cannot be done properly (and the industry won't put the money in b/c France, Japan and Belgium cannot give enough demand to make this profitable). Bottom line, it doesn't fit American tradition and practices and it falls outside the scope of what Americans should be doing to animals.
mary g
March 22, 2007, 2:48am (report abuse)Do animals die humanely in the wild? Or do they get to watch as predators eat their throats and stomachs out to a slow and agonizing death? Do disease epidemics take out whole herds of wild horse--yes--you should see the pictures and watch those videos. Not pretty! I don't like to see a horse die in any fashion-I wish they could ALL live happily ever after. This is just one more law we don't need to waste time and money over. Let's work on tougher regulations on all animal processing plants. It is after all in their best interest to sell quality, not bruised, tough, and all the other negative affects a stressed out animal causes to the quality and palatability of their meat.--It's late I apologized for spelling and grammer mistakes :^)
mary g
March 22, 2007, 2:59am (report abuse)The definition of "sore" is a very long list. I recomend anyone who loves horses to read the definitions of the horse protection act (15 U.S.C.1821). "SORE" any device or substance! any tack, nail, screw, or chemical agent! All the horses will die of worm infestation, and we can't do anything for them as their owners--no halters, and definately no saddles. Sounds like PETA is behind this one too.
Charles Ehler
April 1, 2007, 6:50pm (report abuse)Americans don't eat horse out of habit. Making it illegal to do so in this way is just as wrong as Jews and Muslims not eating pig and then expecting everyone else to comply.
Am I for eating horse? Not normally. I sure will if that is the only choice though and far too many Americans forget that. Perhaps this sort of legislation is the result of way too many Americans having never missed a meal.
Also apparently, "sore" can mean just about anything making it a catch-all phrase or excuse.
This looks like a bit of legislation we don't need and just wastes time.
Farm Family
April 3, 2007, 1:40am (report abuse)What these terrorist have done to the horse industry and all the folks in it big and little just sickens me. Nothing better to do but pick on farmers and ranchers. Keep picking on the farmers and you will all starve some day. I can tell you most farmers of all kinds have about HAD IT!
Debbie Sandefer
May 11, 2007, 2:07pm (report abuse)Wake up people these majestic animals placed on this earth are not split hoof animals to be slaughtered for consumption of any kind, human or amimal consumption lets all team up and save them amd let them live out there days on rescue ranches or in adopted homes please find it in you heart care for them or find someone that will.
Gary
May 11, 2007, 6:56pm (report abuse)Debbie PLEASE read my previous post,go to the referenced site and educate yourself to the facts before telling others to wake up.
Barbara
June 7, 2007, 6:26pm (report abuse)If you are unable to care for your horse, Euthanasia in the dictionary is described as: an easy death, putting to death by painless means.
It is the least you can do. The only reason anyone would send horses to a slaughter house is for the money.....It is not because they are old or sick,not because you cannot afford to feed them.
Face it, some people will do most anything for money....
Allen L.
June 18, 2007, 9:48pm (report abuse)I am strongly opposed to this bill.
I have seen horses die of old age and it is not a pretty sight. Basically old horses lose the ability to adequately eat, and either become easy prey for wild animals or starve to death in their last years of life. Many horse owners will not pay the costs of having these animals uthenized, thereby allowing them to die a slow, cruel death. There is nothing imhumane about selling an old horse and having them transported and put to death in a humane way at a slaughter plant. Take it from someone who has owned a lot of horses and has deep respect and love for them
Rebecca N.
June 20, 2007, 5:05pm (report abuse)It's not just the old horse that go to slaughter. They are not humanely euthanized. Some are very young and healthy. American"s don"t eat horse meat and the profits do go overseas> PLEASE STOP THE SLAUGHTER OF OUR HORSES!!!THERE IS NOTHING HUMANE ABOUT THE PROCESS THIS SPIRITED ANIMALS GO THRU ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
Gary
June 21, 2007, 9:05pm (report abuse)Rebecca,It is true not all slaughter horses are old however they are all unwanted.
Rebecca N.
June 25, 2007, 1:26pm (report abuse)Gee, Gary, how about this, when a owner no longer wants his or her horse, how about they find a home for it or have a dangerous horse ,they pay to put it down humanly. Just think it's their responsiablty when they took the horse in the first place. Pretty easy to profit when someone no longer can or wants to take care of their own.
Gary
June 25, 2007, 7:27pm (report abuse)How about we let the Horse Owner make the decision of what is best to do with his/her personal property,which is what we are talking about here.
Rebecca N.
June 26, 2007, 10:51am (report abuse)what we are talking about is slaughter for profit. Obviously there are other options and evidently many strong views on the subject , however while expressing my own i didn't know i was getting into a 1 on 1 debate, but thats ok.
Cheval-4-All
June 26, 2007, 7:22pm (report abuse)Hey, given the world's exponentially increasing population, and millions starving to death worldwide, it might not be such a bad idea to explore other sources of food. Besides, I like philly cheese steak!! (Ha,Ha!)
Also, I don't hear too many people complaining about the slaughter of lambs for food (the supposed symbol of Christianity and innocence) so give me a break, please! And since the invention of the automobile, there are really only three uses for horses: as pets, for racing, or for FOOD!!!
Cheval-4-All
June 26, 2007, 7:32pm (report abuse)Oh, and Debbie, we don't all eat "Kosher". Not everybody cares whether and animal is "cloven-hooved" or not before they consider consuming them. So maybe YOU should consider waking up!!!
Rebecca N.
June 29, 2007, 4:58pm (report abuse)Just wanted to say THANK YOU to all who helped shut down Cavel International Inc. Hope it stays that way.
Shad
July 21, 2007, 11:21am (report abuse)'Animal Rights Terrorists'?Someone needs to look at the definition of terrorist. That term is better applied to the slaughter industry who cause pain, suffering and death 'humanely euthenized' ha! The arguement about needing slaughterhouses for sick or old horses is thin. It is about money. Paying a vet to euthenize a horse isn't more expensive than paying one month board and feed. How is that too much money for a companion, partner or pet? It is the fear, pain and suffering before their deaths that offends me about the industry. Personnaly my horses are part of my family. I would scale eating them right alongside trying a roast from my cat, dog, or uncle Jim. And as for 'humane' go find videos of the process or pictures of the injuries horses sustain on double-decker cattle trucks. Cramming an old pony on one of those trucks to be shipped for days before reaching the plant comes so close to pre-meditated cruelty that there is no difference.
Alecia
December 3, 2007, 10:36pm (report abuse)I realize that there is an overpopulation of horses but most of this can be prevented. Probably half of the horses being shipped off are Premarin offspring. It is so sick how many are slaughted for a stupid hormone that is just as good as the herbal one. The biggest problem that I have with the slaughter is that most is done in a barbaric and extremely painful manner. Stabbing in animal numerous times in the neck is not what I call a very intelligent way to end a life. There are no regulations in place to ensure a humane death. Why let the horses suffer for our stupidity and ignorance? Aren't there enough factory farms already causing extreme slaughters for this gluttonous country...why let this pattern continue elsewhere? I suggest checking out some video footage and tell me that as a "civilized" human being we can allow this kind barbarism to continue.
mARTIN
January 4, 2008, 3:11pm (report abuse)Gary - horse owners dont choose slaughter - well, maybe the overbreeding AQHA who are just throw away the wrong colored foals etc...
most are gathered up by bunchers and kill buyers who mistreat and abuse them while collecting them for a full - cruel, overpacked road to hell.
why dont you go read some facts at www.kaufmanzoning.net
or vetsforequinewelfare
FACTS, documents, and sworn testimonies...
and BTW - your "unintended.." report.. LOL ..go see who holds the rights to the websites that promote that crap..
none other than the lawyer for the slaughter plants - they sure fooled you!!
Lori
January 4, 2008, 7:03pm (report abuse)I would like to ask the people that are not supporting the ban on horse slaughter if you would send your dog or cat to the horrific death of slaughter? That is essentially what you are doing. These horses are domesticated horses and are often family pets that happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. I adopted the most beautiful palomino (like Roy Roger's Trigger) that had been pulled from the slaughter pen. There is absolutely nothing wrong with Cowboy. He is well-trained, young and the most loving and sweet horse I have ever had. If it had not been for Another Chance For Horses, he would have been on someone's dinner plate.
Padme (Lyn Gilbert)
January 4, 2008, 7:09pm (report abuse)I am writing to support this bill. Horse slaughter is a brutal practice that needs to stop. People who irresponsibly breed horses and then "throw away" the horses they don't want need to find another way to make a living. Horses helped build this country - they are NOT a commodity. The scare tactics of the pro-slaughter groups would have you believe that we would be overwhelmed by unwanted horses. Maybe a little long-term planning would help - reduce the breeding, take care of the horses you DO have or become a therapy/rescue facility to take care of the "overload" instead of treating horses as a disposable commodity. With all due respect, look at yourselves and see if you are solving the issue instead of contributing to it.
Healing,Love, Peace
ONS
Padme (Lynette Gilbert)
HorsesArePetsNotFood
January 4, 2008, 7:12pm (report abuse)Americans don't eat horses, so why should our horses be food for foreigners?
laura
January 4, 2008, 7:28pm (report abuse)The horse slaughter industry PROMOTES over breeding and neglect. Pay to euthanize your old horse. Why should a horse owner have the right to sell the horse to slaughter if the dog and cat owner don't have it?
Horses in AMERICA are not a managed agricultural resource. THEY ARE NOT RAISED FOR FOOD.
Sharon
January 4, 2008, 7:32pm (report abuse)I have seen this go on long enough. The horses deserve justice and there are horses that are pets, show animals, and racehorses that are going to slaughter. I think it is about time that we end this once and for all. We need to step up for the horses and be their voices because they are unable to speak. We need to do this for Ferdinand, Exceller, and all the other horses out.
Verna
January 4, 2008, 7:39pm (report abuse)Lyn,Wonderful statement from you.This bill must be passed and those who think that slaughter IS humane better get down off their soapbox and go watch a few videos of this so called humane process for themselves.If they can sleep at night after that.Well,that tells me all I need to know about them.Also from some of the comments I have read,some seem to think the meat from their dear departed horse is going to feed the masses of starving.WAKE UP FOLKS and do your homework.The meat is going to high priced diners and butchers where it sells for as much as $20Lb. This is all about money and nothing more,and to make it worse,for those of you who are too blind to see,NONE of that money is coming INTO the U.S. It is ALL kept overseas.Now,where is the real benefit.There is none except for the lame excuse of not being able to care for something you got,don't want it anymore and now you won't just be able to throw it away.You will have to actually take care of it.
B. Sario
January 4, 2008, 7:45pm (report abuse)Slaughter is about big money made by foreign companies for foreign consumption. It is not about "helping out" an "unwanted horse" situation. If demand ceased tomorrow the slaughter houses would pack up and leave in a second. The number of available horses for slaughter is directly proportional to the demand for horsemeat by European consumers.
Karen Madison WI
January 4, 2008, 7:46pm (report abuse)It is time that this bill is passed. What a travesty to the American public to have pro-slaughter lobbyist win over Larry Craig. Now there is a great statement of honesty and integrity.
These are not old, worthless animals. Many are merely a pet that a child has outgrown. If they only knew the horror that they go through.
Beth Hellyer
January 4, 2008, 7:55pm (report abuse)They are not humanely treated...the worst part is the transportation and grouping with other horses where they are often injured, trampled,killed, legs broken etc. If they were dogs and cats this would never be happening. Put your horse down, like you put down a dog or cat....thats your obligation as a horse owner.
kathyb
January 4, 2008, 7:55pm (report abuse)If you think sending an old sick horse to slaughter is kind and humane then you should watch the slaughter videos. That should change your mind. Please pass this bill!
MULEKIST
January 4, 2008, 7:59pm (report abuse)Not too worry you Pro-Slaughter Idiots, no one or no law is going to take away your right to kill and eat your own horse if you want to,....we just dont want our government (tax dollars) SANCTIONING it. Guess you would think it a good idea to send/sell all our unwanted cats & dogs to places like China & Korea also? Whats the dif? NONE.
gAIL
January 4, 2008, 8:04pm (report abuse)To Our Congress,
HR 503 and S. 311 are supported by both the majority of American citizens as well as the majority of Congress.
These bills deserve the right to legislative due process. American citizens (who I might remind you are the VOTERS who put you in office) deserve the right to legislative due process!
Please allow our respective Congressmen & Congresswomen to cast our vote on this important issue.
Let the will of the People be done! The majority of Americans want our horses protected from slaughter. Lets get the bills to the Floor and get this important legislation passed!
Gail Vacca
Thoroughbred Racehorse Trainer
Wilmington, IL.
Shelly
January 4, 2008, 8:05pm (report abuse)Our horses deserve, and have earned so much more than we give them. They deserve to live, not be cruelly slaughtered. Hurry up and pass H.R.503 and S.311. Horses are being tortured and killed while we wait!!
Jean Gross
January 4, 2008, 8:08pm (report abuse)Protect our horses. Do not ship them across borders to be slaughtered!
D
January 4, 2008, 8:29pm (report abuse)It’s time the 110th congress does the right thing. As an American, we must protect an American Icon. The Slaughter of our Horses has gone on far too long and the TRUTH is out… Our slaughter bound horses are NOT the old and infirmed but young and healthy horses slaughtered for the sole purpose of human consumption overseas.
How can the greatest Nation on this earth continue to turn away? It’s time to do the right thing.
Susan
January 4, 2008, 8:36pm (report abuse)Horses, dogs and cats are all pets in the United States of America and this nation chooses to protect them as we do our families. So why should we allow foreign corporations to enter our sovereign nation, knowingly buy stolen and swindled horses, terrorize and butcher them for foreign gourmet diners. I don't owe France a thing, certainly not my horses which will NEVER be safe as long as our horses can be slaughtered or shipped for slaughter. This is a reasonable step to protect American horses and horse owner's rights.
Susan
January 4, 2008, 8:39pm (report abuse)By the way, I am from a farm family, my Mom rode her horse to school, my grandfather worked horses in the field, my grandmom drove the wagon and they never ate their horses, but they did eat the cows, pigs and chickens. That's a farmer. If you betray your work animals, you are NO FARMER.
MJNYC
January 4, 2008, 8:41pm (report abuse)Anyone who thinks that horse slaughter is necessary or humane, truly needs to visit a horse slaughter plant. And now that there are none in the United States, you will have to visit Mexico, where they stab the horse to sever his spine and then they continue to stab the horse to death.
Horses are not food! Horses have not been used in dog food in our country for 20 years. We don't eat horses.
We use horses for our military, police, therapy, and we and our children ride them. They are our companions.
Dogs are used for military, police, and therapy. Why don't we slaughter dogs too?
It's time for Americans to stand up and speak out, end this atrocity. It is morally wrong.
Those that would sell their companion to face a heinous journey and then barbaric death, have their 30 pieces of silver snug in their pockets.
We no longer want this going on in the United States; the majority has spoken time and time again. Let's get end this barbarism in 2008!
Stop the torture!
January 4, 2008, 8:44pm (report abuse)Vote for the bill. They are not all old horses. They are tortured not done humainly.. Do the research before you comment
STOP THE TORTURE!
January 4, 2008, 8:53pm (report abuse)MR. Gary for your info they are not all unwanted. Some of them are stolen horses. Owners have identified them by their hides. Now say they are all unwanted ,like i said nefore. read before you comment. Know the facts! damn moron! Cheree
barbara
January 4, 2008, 9:44pm (report abuse)this is a very important bill to be passed. horses are NOT someones dinner!!!!
the method that horses are slaughtered and transported to slaughter are horiffic.
new rescue farms are popping up all over the save horses bound for slaughter. horses are stolen for slaughter, healthy horses, mares and foals are sent to slaughter, horses are purchased at auctions by "kill buyers" to send to slaughter for a profit!
this has to stop and Bill HR 503 needs to be passed.
eveangelina t knopp
January 4, 2008, 9:51pm (report abuse)im here to say stop the slauter of our great american hero's horses have carried and still carry our men and women in to battle.horses are more than just an animal.put your self in their place.horses have been around for many years and done many things to make all our lives easier.this is how horses are repaid for the love and hard work that they and their ancesterts have done for us.STOP the killings of the american horses.
Racehorse Rescue Founder
January 4, 2008, 10:21pm (report abuse)The vast majority of the American public expect the passage of HR 503 and S. 311. Please act swiftly so our borders will be closed and our horses do not suffer the transport and horror of death in foreign slaughterhouses.
Jo Anne Normile
Founder, CANTER
www.canterusa.org
Valerie
January 4, 2008, 10:24pm (report abuse)Slaughtering horses has nothing to do with recycling. Horses are social and considered companion animals. If one were to inflict the "process" of slaughter on a dog or cat, they would be charged with cruelty.
More succinctly, "if one person is unkind to an animal it is considered to be
cruelty, but where a lot of people are unkind to animals, especially in the name of commerce, the cruelty is condoned and, once large sums of money are at stake, will be defended to the last by otherwise intelligent people."
Enough said?
Stop The Torture!
January 4, 2008, 10:32pm (report abuse)Lynn Finnerty watch this:
http://video.hsus.org/?fr_story= af238f6e5ce156726675a947debdeab0ad670054&rf =sitemap
Then keep saying they are euthanized. I bet you wont even watch it.. See What really happens. Open your eyes my dear. Lets string you up and coat your throat and cut off your legs while your still alive.. Another miss know it all...
Stop the Slaughter
January 4, 2008, 10:36pm (report abuse)ms. finnerty
Another thing. if you were smart you would know that a euthanized horse cant be eaten..
Sharon Crumb
January 4, 2008, 10:46pm (report abuse)We as Americans do not eat our horses, they are our companions not our food source.
We owe it to them to make sure they are safe from slaughter for foreigners to eat.
The act of slaughter and transport can never be deemed "humane". An old horse, sick or lame horse has suffered enough and should never be made to stand on their hooves for hours upon hours in a trailer and a young and healthy horse should never be put in a position to be slaughtered, they should be retrained and given a chance to life.
An owner who takes their horse to slaughter, or sells their horse to a kill buyer should never be rewarded with money for doing the most irresponsible act a person can do to their animal.
Congress should listen to all their constituents who call on a daily basis 80% to 20% against slaughter. The people have spoken, this is not about special interests, this is about Americans standing up for the American Icon called the horse.
Stop the Slaughter
January 4, 2008, 10:56pm (report abuse)Bravo Sharon! I agree with you totally.. Good Job
Concerned horse owner
January 4, 2008, 11:05pm (report abuse)Banning horse Slaughter is BAD for the horse industry and for the general economy. Horses have been eaten by humans here in the USA as recently as the 1970's and was still in dog food as recently as 1980's. Horse slaughter in Mexico is Horrible I agree, so let the USA horse slaughter facilities continue under more humane conditions and lock down our southern Border.
We need to keep the horse slaughter facilites here and keep them well inspected instead of sending horses out of the country to worse conditions.
Me
January 4, 2008, 11:10pm (report abuse)Banning horse slaughter is good for the horse industry. Horse breeeders and bad trainers will stop making bad horses. One women I worked for did nothing but breed her broodmare even after she new she was breeding retarded horses... Slaughter is always the answer to get rid of their unwanted foals. No money for retarded babies or ugly babies as they would call them.
Stop rescues from importing horses
January 4, 2008, 11:20pm (report abuse)Shelters and Humane societies kill hundreds to thousands of healthy dogs and cats every year dogs and cats that might be adoptable but have to go because the shelters don't have the room for all of them. However Rescue organizations for horses won't resort to the same practice. Additionally some rescue organizations continue to import "rescue" horses from PMU farms in Canada all the while horses here in the US go uncared for. Rescues who do this are as much a cause of the problem. We need to stop the importing of "rescue horses" from other countries if we ban slaughter here.
Carole
January 4, 2008, 11:44pm (report abuse)Allen L - "There is nothing imhumane about selling an old horse and having them transported and put to death in a humane way at a slaughter plant."
Nothing is wrong except for the fact that "death in a humane way at a slughter plant" DOES NOT EXIST.
Stop the Slaughter
January 4, 2008, 11:49pm (report abuse)Allen L
I am glad i am not a horse. Sure the hell glad not yours! humaine.. Please .. Far from humaine. Watch the damn video already
http://video.hsus.org/ ?fr_story= af238f6e5ce156726675a947debdeab0ad670054&rf=sitemap
Mary
January 5, 2008, 12:08am (report abuse)Garry, you are wrong. My 10 year old was forced to bid against kill buyers at a large sale (Kalona IA) for a 2000 pound horse they "missed" for the sale. Jerk ran the horse up to over $600 after saying to a 10 year old "let's go lil missy".
Turns out the horse had pulled the mayor, senators, govenor, and who know who else in parades. His mate had to be euthanized due to an injury, and this fine horse was traded inpart for another matched team. Owner put a new halter on the 16'2 hand draft, and said a prayer. We answered that prayer 5 days later when he ended up in the loose horse pen. He was 7 years, old, and my 10 year old walked him thru the chaos, and rode him barback with a twine string out back. Do NOT ever tell me these horse aren't wanted....I have HUNDREDS of first hand stories like this. And of STOLEN horses be slaughtered too.
Stop supporting the greedy few. Promote responsible breeding (AQHA cannot grasp this idea BTW) and sound training methods.
J Snyder
January 5, 2008, 12:38am (report abuse)The slaughter process is not humane and anyone who thinks it is should watch the video on hsus.org website. A captive bolt pistol, designed for cattle, is used to shoot a metal bolt into the horse's skull. Most horses do not stand still and thus are shot with the bolt multiple times.
End unwanted horses by ending over breeding by AQHA, APHA and other breed registries. Don't support these organizations and don't support backyard breeders. Please encourage your senators and representatives to bring HR 503 and S 311 to the floor for a vote and end the inhumane transport of horses to slaughter.
Patience O'Dowd
January 5, 2008, 12:41am (report abuse)Folks, The Humane Slaughter Act passed back in the fifties is NOT enforced and NOT monitored. Please see the GAO Report to Congress 2004. Livestock are conciously slaughtered. Pneumatic bolt does not knock them out often, punches them,knocks em down, then hung by back leg, skinned alive, feet cut off. Senator Byrd/others trying to get this act funded. Wild animals and pets should not have to go through 28 hrs of transport in mechanized horror to another mechanized horror. Shooting, euthanazia, OK. Vets might offer free euthanasia clinics if they are truly concerned. BTW, this includes Kosher slaughter. Cats/dogs truly over populated, most all cities euthanize 20K/yr. PZP immuno contraception is $33/horse for wild animals. Lets GET IT DONE (though wild horses are NOT overpopulated, rather almost gone with the Bush administration.)
S. Jurpik
January 5, 2008, 2:48am (report abuse)STOP THE MADNESS! America should be ashamed it ever let this tragic and barbaric practice evolve in this country...especially when the horse is largely responsible for helping us settle here. BAN HORSE SLAUGHTER IN AMERICA.
Lynn I Am
January 5, 2008, 4:16am (report abuse)I can't believe how WRONGLY 'informed' the pro-slaughter people are on here. Get educated before you show your ignorance. Slaughtering horses is archaic and barbaric. There's another poll/vote here, please vote FOR the horses! http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_SN_311.html#commentform
Karen Johnson
January 5, 2008, 6:29am (report abuse)Horses aren't raised as a food species, Americans don't eat them (for a number of good reasons), and slaughter is an inhumane process with serious cruelty as its hallmark and greed as its motivator.
Vicki
January 5, 2008, 7:16am (report abuse)Please stop all aspects of slaughter and transportation to slaughter! American horses are given a number of vaccinations and medications that are absolutely not meant for human consumption! Not one other animal has served humans in the manner in which the horse has! Without the horse, we would have no country! They plowed our fields to feed us, carried our pioneers across the frontier, and our soldiers into battle. They deserve a more dignified end of life. "History was written on the back of a horse" and horses were a complete necessity for survival until the last century!
Jan
January 5, 2008, 7:37am (report abuse)Make no mistake about it - slaughterhouses are in the meat packing business. They do not want old, sick, unwanted horses, the want young, healthy, meaty ones that they can make a profit on.
ERIKA
January 5, 2008, 7:56am (report abuse)As a lifetime advocate of horses; am deeply in favor of ending slaughter forever. If you can't afford to feed and take proper care of them you do not deserve their company and companionship. 12/24/07 my 25 year old quarter horse was put down had serious medical issue. I let a vet humanely end his life and buried him in his pasture. My two other rescued ex-racehorses saved from killer buyers will never see the inside of a slaughterhouse! Vote for the horses and against slaughter....
LISA WHITE
January 5, 2008, 8:28am (report abuse)A SENSELESS KILLING OF WHAT STANDS FOR WHAT A AMERICA WAS BUILD ON.DONATING THEIR SWEAT AND BODIES TO BUILD THIS COUNTRY ONLY TO BE SLAUGHTERED. SENSELESS!
Pamela Bertsch
January 5, 2008, 8:32am (report abuse)Horses are a very important part of our American culture. In fact on December 13, 2004 (S.Res. 452)the Senate designated that day as the NATIONAL DAY OF THE HORSE and encouraged the PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES TO BE MINDFUL OF THE CONTRIBUTION OF HORSES TO THE ECONOMY, HISTORY AND CHARACTER OF THE UNITED STATES. (108th Congress) --- Being that horse slaughter consists of 1% of the entire U.S. Horse population it is ridiculous to think that we can't absorb these horses back into our horse infrastructure.
RO
January 5, 2008, 9:01am (report abuse)Pass the bill!!!!!!!!! Horses helped build our Country, they are majestic animals and SHOULD NOT be sent to slaughter so Europeans and Asians can eat them.
Ann Marini
January 5, 2008, 9:19am (report abuse)The majority of the American people want horse slaughter to end.
We must take back our country and restore true democracy. The people have spoken. Why haven't HR 503 and S311 passed? Organizations who pay big bucks to lobbyists control representatives and senators. Tell your representative and senators that their constituents VOTE them in or out. Congress MUST pay attention to the people (the many) not the lobbyists (the few).
Call your representative and senators. Tell them to get off their duffs and PASS HR503 and S311 or run the risk of getting voted out of office.
We must change the culture in Congress. Only through active participation through the voting process will those in Congress finally understand that they must listen to the PEOPLE!!!!
Judy Dodds
January 5, 2008, 9:42am (report abuse)Anyone that thinks slaughter is a way to keep an older (any) animal from suffering is sadly uninformed. Until folks research and watch what actually happens in a slaughterhouse, they shouldn't vote against it. It's a heinous act - the bloody floor, the screams, the bolt in the head.. go watch for yourselves, then tell me it's humane.
Cora Adelizzi - IL
January 5, 2008, 9:43am (report abuse)I am very much in favor of this bill.
There is nothing humane about horse slaughter...from the way they are transported, crammed into double decker trailers designed for cattle, deprived of food, water and rest, to the way they are brutally treated at the slaughter houses themselves.
A vast majority of Americans, including me, want slaughter and transport for slaughter permanently banned in this country.
Horse meat is not eaten in this country, nor is it used in pet food. These animals are being slaughtered to feed the appetites of wealthy Europeans.
Americans do not eat horse meat. What people in other countries do is their business, but American horses are OUR business and they should not be slaughtered in order to wind up as the dinner of some wealthy person overseas.
Christina McAdam
January 5, 2008, 9:55am (report abuse)Horse slaughter is a disgrace. These animals were the backbone of our beautiful USA.
Ondine
January 5, 2008, 10:01am (report abuse)A "Concerned Horse Owner" who is concerned about the horses would never support horse slaughter and opt for truly humane vet administered euthanasia.
A "Concerned Horse Owner" who is concerned about losing money off of selling their horse to the foreign-owned slaughter industry would not want to see the end of that blood money option.
The foreign owners of the horse slaughter industry take all of their product and the overwhelming majority of their profits overseas to benefit their economy, not ours.
They have created an inflated demand for horses that has predictably generated an inflated supply. Stop the demand by banning horse slaughter and the supply will adjust.
Is there something about the concept of basic supply and demand that the supporters of horse slaughter just cannot understand? Apparently so...
Suzanne Marienau
January 5, 2008, 10:27am (report abuse)Horse slaughter is a grisly, horrific business that must be stopped, NOW! Our horses have done nothing to deserve this terrible fate. It is way past time to send the foreign horse meat traders and their terrible palates home with the message, "Don't come back!!"
RSS Feeds for This Bill
Keep yourself updated on user contributions and debates about this bill! (Learn more about RSS.)
From the Blog
Here’s a New Bill About Horses
Horses are one of the site’s most passionate subjects, as illustrated by this discussion. Here’s a new bill: H.R. 503, which would prohibit “certain conduct” relating to the use of horses for human consumption. The text of the b...