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S. 311, A bill 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 (2172 comments ↓)
- This item is from the 110th Congress (2007-2008) and is no longer current.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.
S. 311 would 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.
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Visitor Comments 
MJNYC
January 4, 2008, 8:42pm (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!
TerryW
January 4, 2008, 8:53pm (report abuse)Note to Jodi - dog food hasn't used horsemeat as an ingredient in decades.
Humane euthanasia by vet is the alternative to slaughter for human consumption.
Horses are not regulated food animals and routinely receive vet medications that are strictly banned from food animals.
US horsemeat is adulterated and dangerous to human consumers.
Each and every horse would have to be tested before being allowed into the food chain.
The EU has done this through Horse Passports - which designates whether a horse is eligble for human consumption - as per the horse's owner. Those that are will have restricted vet meds for consumer safety. Those that aren't are not allowed into the food chain.
Susan
January 4, 2008, 8:54pm (report abuse)Horses, dogs and cats are family pets, athletes, partners, helpers for therapeutic riding bringing hope to the hopeless. Still want to betray them for their pound of flesh Judas???
Ramona Foxworth
January 4, 2008, 9:12pm (report abuse)I am totally against horse slaughter and every horror that is fed by it. Horses are majestic animals !They are our pets and our precious companions.Hauling horses across the country to Mexico or Canada be,tortured,abused, and murdered is a sin .This atrocity against equine angels should not be happening .It needs to stop now and forever.I want this bill to pass with flying colors! ! This barbaric and inhumane practice is on it's last dying leg. Thank God !
TW
January 4, 2008, 9:15pm (report abuse)www.fda.gov/cvm/Documents/bse2.pdf12-02-2005
Profile of Horse Producers
In 1995, 106,200 head of equine were slaughtered at federally inspected plants (USDA, 1996). The 1995 figures represent a decrease of more than 50 percent from a total slaughter of approximately 244,000 equine in 1992 (Bauer, 1993).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please note this decrease did not result in 137,800 horses:
Being left to starve or abandoned
In need of euthanasia and disposal
In fact - no one even noticed.
The slaughterhouses set the amount of so-called "unwanted" horses. The number they buy equals the capacity they can slaughter. Raise the capacity another 30,000 and the amount of so-called "unwanted" horses would rise accordingly.
Prior to 1993 over 300,000 horses were slaughtered annually in this country, we had HALF the horse population we do now and about 14 horse slaughterhouses. Then slaughterhouses started closing - so the number of "unwanted" horses declined.
Anne
January 4, 2008, 9:24pm (report abuse)This billhas been debated for FIVE years and every time it has the support of the majority of Americans and equine groups. In fact,the American Quarter Horse Asoc. is one of the only pro slaughter horse groups, and that is because more Quarter Horses go to slaughter than any other breed. This bill should have passed three years ago, but because every pig, cow, and chicken lobbyist in America is opposing the bill, it languishes in the Senate.
barbara
January 4, 2008, 9:41pm (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 S.311 needs to be passed.
Gail H.
January 4, 2008, 9:42pm (report abuse)Our Congressmen need to wake up and pay attention to the people that own horses, not the people that are making the money off of slaughtering them. After being medicated all their lives with medicines that are not for "human consumption" they are slaughtered and send to Europe for human consumption. Horse owners need to stop breeding just because they "like having the babies around". Dangerous horses need to be EUTHANIZED So they can not hurt "anyone". Not taken to auction where they might end up in the wrong hands. I belong to a horse rescue and constantly see the horses that are bound for Canada. These are not the old, thin frail horses that are ready to die...these are the young, fat healty horses that people take to auctions because they don't want them any longer for the almight "buck" instead of trying to find them a good home, even if its for free. God forbid they give the horse away for nothing. These bills need to be passed
Diana
January 4, 2008, 9:43pm (report abuse)It is time to pass S311 and end the inhumane transport and slaughter of American horses. Horses are not bred as a food item in this country. The fact that a few special interest groups have held up this legislation for so long is reprehensible. If the AQHA and all of the backyard breeders would STOP BREEDING SO MANY HORSES, the overpopulation problem would decrease significantly. The various breed organizations will act pretty quickly to address the issue of the "unwanted" horses in their registries if slaughter is not an option. And if people can't just throw horses away (and make money on it, no less) they will be more likely to think before breeding their horses.
Melissa in AZ
January 4, 2008, 9:59pm (report abuse)American horses are slaughtered in a brutally painful process for the pleasure of diners in Europe and Asia. Slaughter is not an acceptable replacement for humane euthansia. It is an "easy out" for irresponsible owners and industries. Over 80% of the American public want this barbaric practice to END NOW.
Sally
January 4, 2008, 10:01pm (report abuse)Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup winners and other horses who have earned thousands and even millions for their owners have gone to slaughter. But no horse deserves this horrific ending. Part of the responsibility of owning a horse is providing for a humane end for that horse when its time comes. Contrary to those who say slaughter is a necessary evil--for the horses being shipped for hours in cramped quarters without food and water and facing the horrific terror of seeing and smelling the death of fellow herd animals--it is anything but necessary and humane. Please pass these bill and end horse slaughter for our horses.
CJ BALM
January 4, 2008, 10:05pm (report abuse)THIS BILL SHOULD INCLUDE LANGUAGE THAT PROHIBITS ALL HORSE SLAUGHTER
NOT ONLY PROHIBITING FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION BUT ALL HORSE SLAUGHTER RELATED INDUSRIES SHOULD BE BANNED
Racehorse Rescue Founder
January 4, 2008, 10:24pm (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
Barbara
January 4, 2008, 10:27pm (report abuse)Horses are not farm raised for human consumption. They are not on the American diet. They are companion animals. This legislation needs to be passed and enforced. We also need legislation to stop the indiscriminate breeding of horses.
NM horse owner
January 4, 2008, 10:28pm (report abuse)Banning horse slaughter is BAD for the entire horse industry. Banning horse meat completely will also be bad for all the Zoos who will either have to feed beef or they will have to import the horse meat from out of the country.
Additionally this bill as worded is BAD for all horse owners in general. The transportation part of this bill includes giving the USDA the ability to seize WITHOUT warrant an individuals horse that might be suspected to be sore while in route to or from a horse show.
And for those of you commenting that we don't eat horse meat in this country, that is not accurate. People have eaten horse meat as recently as the 1970's. Horse meat was used as the main ingredient in dog food as recently as the 1980's.
We need to allow the slaughter houses to continue in this country instead of shipping the horses to Mexico for a worse death.
Stop the slaughter
January 4, 2008, 10:44pm (report abuse)Before commenting on keeping horse slaughter. watch this. Here the truth.. Torture!
http://video.hsus.org/?fr_story=af238f6e5ce156726675a947debdeab0ad67005...
Walt C.
January 4, 2008, 10:44pm (report abuse)It is high time that our country quits caveing in to foreign interests. If the French eat horses let them eat their own, not ours. The horse in America has helped make this country what it is today. George Washington, Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, Tonto, The Lone Ranger and Roy Rogers DID NOT EAT THEIR HORSES. Why are we letting foreigners eat them. NO to Horse Slaughter.....NOW
Stop the Slaughter
January 4, 2008, 10:49pm (report abuse)One thing to remeber. we create bad horse.... There are no BAD horses., only bad trainers and riders. Sometimes we train them wrong and thats how they end up in slaughter. People who dont train should not be trainer and bad trainers should get a damn new job.
Shirley Emerson
January 4, 2008, 10:51pm (report abuse)Horses should not be sold for human consumption as in a food product. Horses should be treated humanely. They have provided man with valuable purposes for many years and deserve better treatment.
susan
January 4, 2008, 10:52pm (report abuse)Those who oppose horse slaughter have specious arguments ... Starvation and abuse is independent of the slaughterhouses and not an either or situation ... Owners and breeders with limited knowledge of training and quality breeding should not have an out for their irresponsible and prolific mistakes ... Nor should the AQHA--with its massive encouragement to breed and register either ... Those who can't afford to feed and trainup a horse at least to a basic level, and to prepare for illness, lameness and euthansia, should not own horses ... Those that breed carelessly then cry that stopping slaughter caused the bottoming out of THEIR horse market should reconsider their product... If they were breeding horses that were so close to kill prices, there is a message there ... Poor product... No tru horse lover would consider slaughter an answer on ANY level ...
Theresa
January 4, 2008, 10:55pm (report abuse)Anyone even thinking of voting against this bill needs to visit a slaughterhouse and watch these noble animals be put to death in the horrible way they are. If you cannot be more humane to the horse or horses you own, then don't purchase or breed them in the first place. There is not one valid reason in the world to NOT have your horse humanely euthanized by a vet. I lost my home and had to put my 42 yr old mare down because she was blind and deaf. I used my last penny to have the vet out to give my old mare who gave countless children rides throughout her long life a humane end to a long life of service. So don't hand me that.. people can't afford to euthanize their horses. As far as transporting horses, again horses are packed on trucks like sardines and shipped in dangerous numbers, frightened. The NM horse owner should know that horses are killed inhumanely whether they are slaughtered here or out of the country. It's all the same horrible death.
DarrellC
January 4, 2008, 11:01pm (report abuse)This should have been passed well over a year ago if it weren't for "dirty" politics. 65 to 80 of Americans polled are against the commercial equine slaughter. Get with it Congress...you're supposed to represent the people NOT money and special interests!
Cheree
January 4, 2008, 11:02pm (report abuse)Theresa. i put the link upearlier here it is again.. The people that are for horse slaughter need to watch this. With your eyes open not closed..
http://video.hsus.org/ ?fr_story= af238f6e5ce156726675a947debdeab0ad670054&rf=sitemap
KATHLEEN HOFFERTY
January 4, 2008, 11:23pm (report abuse)Equine Slaughter is an abomination and discraceful immoral,unethical travesty that should not be allowed anywhere in the world.Horses are companions and pets.Pope Benedict is against equine slaughter and animal abuse.We should stop this horrific butchering of our american/foreign equines now.We have saved 4518 horses lives.Ipswich Equine Rescue.Say NO To PREMARIN & HORSE SLAUGHTER.Until all horses are safe.The horses thank you.Kathleen
karen
January 4, 2008, 11:23pm (report abuse)Slaughtering horses for any reason should not occur in the United States. Nor should we transport horses to be slaughtered in other countries. There are completely fabricated stories that are not based on factual, historical or statistical evidence but rather on conveniently manipulated and distorted information to support a presumed “need for slaughter”.
Mary
January 4, 2008, 11:28pm (report abuse)Sorry Jodi, the Pet Food industry stopped using horse meat in the 70's....didn't want "pets" fed to pets. As for the Animal welfare site, it is made up by supporters of slaughter, and not factual. Do your homework folks, this is about greed in America. The AQHA makes it's money off registrations, and promotes breeding anything that can breed. Quality, not quantity keeps prices up, and #'s down. Stop slaughter, and the theft and dishonesty that goes along with it!
Stop the slaughter
January 4, 2008, 11:34pm (report abuse)There is another bill to vote on for horse slaughter. please find it and vote or follwing this link.
http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_503.html
kathleen
January 4, 2008, 11:34pm (report abuse)STOP THE CRUEL,SENSELESS MURDERING OF OUR INNOCENT EQUINE FRIENDS.''BUC UP''YOU DISGUST ME.KNOWONE HAS THE RIGHT TO TAKE A LIFE EXCEPT FOR''GOD''HORSES ALSO HAVE RIGHTS AND WE NEED TO BE THEIR EQUINE VOICE.PLEASE PASS 311.THE HORSES WILL THANK YOU.BY THE WAY I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANY LOSE HORSES RUNNING DOWN THE STREETS AS CLAIMED BY PRO-SLAUGHTER CONFABULATORS.GIVE AN EQUINE A VIABLE SECOND CHANCE AT A NEW CAREER, DONATE TO AN EQUINE RESCUE ORG.''JUST SAY NO TO SLAUGHTER''
EDWARD
January 4, 2008, 11:40pm (report abuse)KILLING HORSES IS JUST PLAIN WRONG.AMERICANS ARE AGAINST HORSE SLAUGHTER.HORSES ARE PETS, NOT A COMMODITY FOR PROFIT BY THE HORSEKILLERS.KNOWBODY WANTS TO EAT THEIR PETS, WOULD YOU EAT YOUR DOG,YOUR CAT? I SURE WOULD NOT .LET HORSES LIVE AS INTENDED TO BE FREE REGAL,MAJESTIC,BEAUTIFUL BLESSED CREATURES CREATED BY GOD.SAY NO TO KILLING OUR EQUINE PETS.PASS 311 NOW.
IPSWICH EQUINE RESCUE
January 4, 2008, 11:47pm (report abuse)WE THE RESCUED HORSES FROM IPSWICH EQUINE RESCUE ARE HAPPY TO BE ALIVE AND THANKFUL WE WERE GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE. WE KNOW WE HAVE A SAFE HAVEN AND SECURE HAPPY FOREVER HOME.WE DO NOT WANT OUR EQUINE FRIENDS GOING TO THAT DARK DIRTY UGLY DEMISE AT THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE. WE DESERVE THE RIGHT TO LIVE.WE ARE GRATEFUL AND HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT 311 WILL PASS AND FREE OUR SLAUGHTERBOUND EQUINE FRIENDS.WE AS THE RESCUED EQUINES KNOW THAT THEIR ARE MANY WONDERFUL EQUINE RESCUE FARMS THAT WILL PROTECT US AND CARE FOR US UNTIL WE COME TO THE RAINBOW BRIDGE.
Nancy G.
January 4, 2008, 11:51pm (report abuse)I currently have eight horses. Six of those eight are rescues. They can't be ridden, they can't work and they can't show, but they can love. They can teach, they can comfort and they can heal. One of my rescues is a 27 year old Registered Quarter Horse. She is registered with the AQHA. This association TOLD the previous owner that it was perfectly fine to breed her, at that age, in poor health and no matter that she had mis-carried three years earlier, when she was breed at 24 years old. The AQHA is telling false hoods, half truths and flat out lies. Thats why I'm no longer a member. The AQHA cares only about money made from horse registrations and the sale of the SURPLUS horses to the slaughter industry which they whole heartidly support. No TRUE horse lover would put their horse into that situation. These bills need to pass, stop giving the AQHA, the APHA and the back yard breeders an easy out that they can still make money on. End the slaughter pass the bills.
KEEVA
January 4, 2008, 11:54pm (report abuse)IF IT WERE NOT FOR EQUINE RESCUE GROUPS I WOULD NOT BE ALIVE TODAY AT 7 AND A HALF MONTHS OLD.MY MOM WAS IN A TEXAS KILLPEN AND BOUGHT BY AN EQUINE RESCUE WHICH DELIVERED ME SAFE AND SOUND.I AM FREE AND THANKFUL TO BE ALIVE .WITHOUT EQUINE RESCUERS I WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE CHANCE TO TAKE MY FIRST BREATH.THANK YOU FOR SAVING MY MOM AND ME FROM THE UGLY HORSEBUTCHERSHOPS AND MEAN NASTY KILLERS.'KEEVA'' SAYS '''NO MORE KILLING OF MY EQUINE FRIENDS'WAHOOOOOOOOOO FROM KEEVA.I AM A HOLSTEINER/THOROUGHBRED SPORTHORSE.WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO FROM ME,KEEVA.
GOTTA DANCE
January 5, 2008, 12:01am (report abuse)JUST SAY NO TO THE KILLING OF ALL OF OUR EQUINE FRIENDS.PASS 311 AND PROTECT ALL OF US EQUINES GLOBALLY FROM HARM.PLEASE MAKE ALL OF US EQUINES SAFE FROM THE BUTCHERSHOPS AND MURDERERS.??????PASS 311 NOW.
BALDFACE
January 5, 2008, 12:11am (report abuse)HEY '"BUC" DID YOU FLUNK ENGLISH???IT IS BORDERS NOT BOARDERS.LOL.WHAT KIND OF WILD RANTING AND DRUNKEN RAVING ARE YOU DOING NOW.???''END ALL THE EVILNESS OF KILLING OUR EQUINE COMPANIONS"ANYONE THAT BELIEVES IN SLAUGHTERING OUR AMERICAN EQUINES IS A COLDHEARTED COMMODITY FOR PROFIT KILLER AND SOMEDAY WILL PAY FOR ALL OF THE SENSELESS BUTCHERING THEY HAVE CAUSED UNJUSTLY TO THE MAJESTIC REGAL EQUINE.PASS 311 NOW. BUC FIND A NEW CAREER.
HORSE
January 5, 2008, 12:22am (report abuse)I AM A HORSE. I DO NOT DESERVE TO DIE A HORRIFIC HORRIBLE DEATH IN A FOREIGN SLAUGHTERHOUSE TO BE FED TO EUROPEANS AND ASIANS FOR DINNER. I AM A HORSE. I HAVE PAID MY DUES. I LET YOU RIDE ME AND WIN MANY BATTLES UPON MY BACK. I AM A HORSE. I TRUSTED YOU, I GAVE YOU MY UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.I AM A HORSE.I NEVER ASK FOR MUCH,JUST A WARM BED SOME HAY,GRAIN AND A PLACE TO RUN FREE. I AM A HORSE. I DESERVE TO DIE WITH DIGNITY.I HAVE SERVED YOU WELL, PLEASE RESPECT ME AND TREAT ME KINDLY. I AM A HORSE.ALL I WANT IS A SCRATCH ON MY NECK,A HUG AND A PLEASURABLE RIDE.I AM A HORSE.I WANT TO LIVE WELL AND PASS ON WHEN MY TIME IS CALLED UPON ME. I AM A HORSE. ALLOW ME MY DIGNITY,PLEASE DO NOT BUTCHER ME. I AM YOUR FRIEND, COMPANION. I AM A HORSE.KATHLEEN,IPSWICH EQUINE RESCUE.
J Snyder
January 5, 2008, 12:28am (report abuse)Slaughtering horses will not end neglect and will not end the plight of "unwanted horses." Ending overbreeding will eliminate unwanted horses.
If a horse is dangerous or sick, have it euthanized. We don't slaughter unwanted dogs and cats, we euthanize them.
The slaughter process is inhumane. A captive bolt pistol, designed for bovine, is used to shoot a metal bolt into the horse's skull. Many times, the bolt misses the mark because the horse doesn't hold its head still and the horse has to be shot several times before it is rendered unconcious. The slaughter process in Mexico, where many US horses are now shipped, is even more inhumane. Oftentimes, a knife is used to sever the spinal cord prior to using the captive bolt.
UNKNOWN
January 5, 2008, 12:28am (report abuse)I AM THE UNKNOWN HORSE THAT WANTS TO LIVE SOMEDAY, TO RUN FREE IN GREEN FIELDS,FROLIC IN THE SNOW,GALLOP THROUGH THE MEADOWS FILLED WITH BLACKEYED SUZIES AND BUTTERCUPS.I AM UNKNOWN. I WANT THE CHANCE TO LIVE, I DESERVE THAT CHANCE AS DO MY MANY THOUSANDS OF FRIENDS LIKE ME.PLEASE DO NOT SEND ME TO SLAUGHTER. I DO NOT WANT TO GO.PLEASE PASS 311 TO PROTECT ME AND OTHER UNKNOWN HORSES JUST LIKE ME. I AM UNKNOWN.
Lynn I Am
January 5, 2008, 12:44am (report abuse)How many of you experts have ever BEEN inside of a slaughter house and saw the horror that goes on? The horses hear the screams, they smell blood, they become hard to handle because they KNOW that death is coming. Their instinct is to flee, though many of them have trusted humans all of their lives. If you think their death is quick and painless, you are WRONG. Horses end up with a bolt through an eye or a cheek, or with their throats slit and hung up to bleed out, if you think that's quick and painless you should have to witness it! It's one of the most awful things you'll ever see smell and hear. If you have ANY compassion at all you could not agree that this is okay. If educated at all you would know that horse slaughter is NOT necessary, horse meat does NOT go to poor people it goes to markets where it's high-priced. Do you even know how much a horse sells for per pound at auction? It's all cruel and baseless. We MUST shut these archaic and barbaric houses down!
Jennifer G.
January 5, 2008, 1:18am (report abuse)Horses are a symbol of American Freedom, our National Heritage. They are our companion animals. They don't deserve to be cruelly butchered to end up
on the dinner plates in foreign countries. This is
horrific and barbaric. Most of America's horses sent to slaughter are NOT unwanted animals. They are beautiful, majestic and healthy; many stolen from loving owners. Please support HR 503/S 3ll and put an end to this grisly
practice.
Deb G
January 5, 2008, 1:36am (report abuse)Slaughtered horses are NOT used in dog food anymore. Their meat is shipped to other countries where the population finds them tasty. This is disgusting. No different than thinking we sould allow excess dogs and cats to be sent to other countries where the people eat them. Many slaughtered horses are young, healthy animals that are the result of irresponsible breeding of them by people. This Bill must pass. The manner in which horses are slaughtered is extremely inhumane.
Sheila
January 5, 2008, 3:34am (report abuse)I have heard people use the excuse that we have a God given domain over animals, so we can do as we please without a thought to their pain and suffering. Domain does not translate to the right to be cruel and cause suffering, we have the responsibility to care for all creatures and to treat them the way we would like treated.
Lisa Lehman
January 5, 2008, 3:52am (report abuse)Ban the slaughter of any and all horses and demolish all horse slaughter houses!!! Human's inhumanity has gone way too far and the brakes must be put on now!
Cheri
January 5, 2008, 4:27am (report abuse)Stop the slaughter NOW!!!
There is no reason to slaughter horses & it's inhumane. Get right with your morals. Stop it" Stop it" Stop it"..
anja zagreb
January 5, 2008, 5:11am (report abuse)please save thic cute animals i show that you are human after all!!!!!
veganbiotch
January 5, 2008, 5:45am (report abuse)Which part of Thou Shalt Not Kill don't people understand? Stop the slaughter of horses, but why stop there? Why do we eat pigs and chicken but we don't want to eat horses or dolphin? They are all God's creatures and they all feel pain and fear. So I ask you to stop animal abuse everywhere.
Dawn Mancina
January 5, 2008, 6:18am (report abuse)I have 3 wonderful pets - all of which were destined for slaughter and NONE of which deserved such a fate. Horses are not bred and raised to be eaten - the unlikely ones are merely betrayed by greedy humans at some point. I would no more advocate the slaughter of my dogs and cat than I would my horses. They are all the same ... PETS, FREINDS, SENTINENT BEINGS. People who can't see this are just plain ignorant.
Hkaya209
January 5, 2008, 6:38am (report abuse)"A Civilization is judged by the way it treats its helpless members" STOP THE ABUSE
Karen Johnson
January 5, 2008, 6:38am (report abuse)Horses are not a food species in this country and Americans don't eat them for good reason. Slaughter is a cruel process and financially benefits only a few greedy organizations. Cruelty is not justified by profit to any individual or group.
Deidre Sharp
January 5, 2008, 6:48am (report abuse)I operate a non-profit horse rescue/sanctuary - I know first-hand about the horse slaughter indusrty - it is not humane, it is barbaric, it is not necessary, it is cruel - all sentient beings deserve to die with dignity
Grandma Bea
January 5, 2008, 6:51am (report abuse)This bill needs to get passed to STOP THE SENSLESS SLAUGHTER of God's beautiful creation of horses. Please have mercy on these animals and all animals that have no voice & are being abused.
Vicki
January 5, 2008, 6:52am (report abuse)Please stop all aspects of 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!
Lin
January 5, 2008, 7:17am (report abuse)Open your eyes horse loving Americans...you are believing in the BS to keep the horse slaughter business going, because their is big bucks in it. our own USDA is involved. The majority are being bred for slaughter just like cattle. Instead of opening your mouth...search the facts...go to an auction where their standing in kill pens getting sold by the pound. Horses are demesticated companion pets and have been for century's. They should be named a National Tresure not butchered for money. I am a do gooder and when this law gets passed the next thing is laws for responsible ownership and breeding. I will help save horses until they are safe.
Patricia A. Cornell
January 5, 2008, 7:30am (report abuse)Many reasons exist for stopping horse slaughter; My first question is: Why should Amercian horses be slaughtered to feed wealthy foreigners? 2nd question: Why would wealthy foreigners want to eat meat very likely full of worm medcine and vaccines and other unkown medicines???
Cari
January 5, 2008, 7:35am (report abuse)I feel slaughtering horses for any reason reflects what kind of society we are living in. It is not done humanely. It makes me sick that people want to eat horses anyway. I don't think people should be allowed to overbreed their horses. We need to find a way to help breeders and average horses owners be more responsible, thereby reducing the number of unwanted horses. Keeping slaughter legal to reduce the horse population is like saying abortion is okay, instead of taking preventative measures.
Christine Jubic
January 5, 2008, 7:42am (report abuse)EDUCATE YOURSELVES PEOPLE before sounding an opinion. Nothing like UN-EDUCATED opinions to discredit a point of view: THERE is ABSOLUTELY NO NEED for equne slaughter! l
http://www.equineprotectionnetwork.com/ presentations/UnwantedHorseMay2005.pdf
http://www.freewebs.com/mulekist/ horselaughterfacts.htm
Marge
January 5, 2008, 7:44am (report abuse)Wherever man has left his footprint
In the long ascent from Barbarism to Civilization we will find the footprint of the horse beside it.
{ John Trotwood Moore }
Rhonda
January 5, 2008, 8:06am (report abuse)I agree with the euthenasia because the horses are not going to feed the hungry they are going to feed the well-off.
Why can't the horses who are no longer useful be euthenized and then they won't be horrified by the horrific slaughter
methods. They will then be buried and will become a useful asset for replenishing the earth and people won't have to
spend alot of money on chemicals to fertilize the ground so they can grow some of their own food. God intended for every
thing to be done decently and in order. 1st Coninthians 14:40
Marge
January 5, 2008, 8:06am (report abuse)Our adversaries set up phony
"welfare" organizations and use the offices of organizations like the AVMA and the AQHA to project an agenda that has no motivation but greed.
Since their position has no morally acceptable justification, they simply create one.
Playing defense in this game has no upside for us, it is merely damage control. We need to make these organizations pay for their hypocrisy and deceit. We will do the same with the AVMA. When we are done, no veterinarian will want the AVMA decal to deface his or her door.
lisa white
January 5, 2008, 8:25am (report abuse)this is a senseless slaughter of animals that have served man for thousands of years. to treat them with such disrespect apaulls me.
Pamela Bertsch
January 5, 2008, 8:36am (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.
Sherry Hansen
January 5, 2008, 8:41am (report abuse)The bills to prevent the slaughter of horses is a step towards improving our humanity towards other living species. This animals were never intended for food. We should also think before we breed animals thoughtlessly, as they easily can end up unwanted.
Patricia H
January 5, 2008, 8:59am (report abuse)Have any of you seen the footage of our exported horses slaughtered in Mexico? If not, I assure you that you would change your mind being against this bill. There is nothing humane about the slaughter of any animals, be it horses, cows, pigs, anywhere in this world. People like to ignore what goes on behind closed doors.
This bill is important must be passed.
Judy W.
January 5, 2008, 9:10am (report abuse)The senseless inhuman slaughter of the American horse for European consumption is applauding. Slaughter is a cruel process and financially benefits only a few. This type of barbarism is not justified by profit to any individual or group. It is not something Americans want associated with our country. We have more than enough international issues to over come. Please put an end to horse slaughter in the United States.
Bud Ferillo
January 5, 2008, 9:21am (report abuse)America must become a more civilized country, one that cares for and protects man's best friends in the animal world from the food purveyors of other nations. Pass the ban of slaughter.
Kathy
January 5, 2008, 9:31am (report abuse)The shipment and the slaughtering process is one of the most inhumane acts....pregnant mares have delivered healthy beautiful foals on the slaughter room floor - is this fair? THIS BILL MUST BE PASSED AND THE INHUMANE SHIPMENT AND SLAUGHTERING OF OUR NATIONS HORSES MUST BE STOPPED. Give a horse a second chance - support a rescue.
Pam Shreeves
January 5, 2008, 9:32am (report abuse)Please pass this bill. The slaughter must be stopped!
Britt
January 5, 2008, 9:41am (report abuse)Horse slaughter is no different than slaughtering a cow, a pig, a sheep, or a goat for human consumption. I believe it is a necessity, just put limits on it, and reopen the slaughetr houses in the US so they can be monitored, and it can be done properly
Gloria N.
January 5, 2008, 9:43am (report abuse)Sending American horses to slaughter, an inhumane and horrible end to life, is just beneath us as a people, period. We are better than that, or should be! Horses are not raised as a food source, and we betray them and ourselves by allowing slaughter for human consumption, and by allowing profit from this grisly practice. Please act on the will of the majority of Americans, get this bill to the floor, and pass it now.
Peggie
January 5, 2008, 9:43am (report abuse)Stop the inhumane slaughter of stolen, healthy, and neglected horss for foreigners that can produce their own. Owning horses is a responsibility that includes proper disposal of deceased horses. Thieves and money hungry livestock marketers have been getting by with this barbaric cruelty for years and their bank accounts are suffering. Support this bill.
Prohorse
January 5, 2008, 9:52am (report abuse)I love horses and do not understand how people can think they are food. That said, if the Europeans want horse meat for their tables, let them slaughter their own.
Lisa
January 5, 2008, 9:53am (report abuse)To the NM horse owner who commented that people have eaten horse meat as "recently" as the 1970's... do you know what year it is? It's 2008, my friend. Times have changed, whether you choose to see it or not. Time to pass this legislation into law NOW.
Debbie
January 5, 2008, 9:56am (report abuse)S 311 needs to pass now.
Horses are not raised as a food source.
Christina
January 5, 2008, 10:04am (report abuse)Horse slaughter is a disgrace. It wasn't long ago that horses were the backbone of our beautiful country.
Kimberly
January 5, 2008, 10:05am (report abuse)The slaughterhouses have run a spectacular misinformation campaign! There are NOT 100,000 'unwanted' horses sent to slaughter each year. Many of those horses sent were simply bought at auction, taken from private sellers (without sellers knowing the destination) or stolen. There are 100,000 horses sent to slaughter each year to MEET DEMAND FOR HORSEMEAT IN FOREIGN MARKETS- there is ZERO data concerning how many of these horses were truly 'unwanted'.
Dale
January 5, 2008, 10:24am (report abuse)Prohibiting the transport, moving, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donation of any horse to be slaughtered for human consumption is an extremely important bill to pass because the horse slaughter industry is corrupt and breeds more corruption. It exists to satisfy the greed of a relatively few individuals, not for animal welfare or even human welfare.
Ondine
January 5, 2008, 10:26am (report abuse)Britt, how is it a 'necessity' to continue slaughtering healthy American horses so their meat can be sold at $18 a pound to upscale foreign diners?
The foreign-owned horse slaughter industry pays no federal income tax and is a burden on our economy, not a benefit. They take all of their product (horse meat) and almost all of their profits back to their home country. They are laughing all the way to the bank. They are laughing at you and other uninformed Americans who defend them.
The only "necessity" of horse slaughter is for the horse owner who wants to make money off the death of their horse and for the slaughter companies who want to keep their profits rolling in to their foreign bank accounts.
Suzanne
January 5, 2008, 10:43am (report abuse)Those who write in favor of horse slaughter are some of the most uninformed, uncompassionate, stupid people I have ever had the chance to read comments from. They post and have no idea what they are talking about. It is bad enough that people are telling lies about this horrific practice, but these idiots actually believe them. If you are too stupid or lazy to have any idea of what you are writing about then stay off the blogs.
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