Fight To Stop Horse Slaughter and Restore Protections To Wild Horses Turns To Senate

"Landslide Victories in House Must Be Followed by Victories in US Senate"

Phoenix, AZ - During the last session of Congress, the United States House of Representatives passed by landslide votes an amendment to make the use of federal funds for horse slaughterhouses illegal in this country and a bill to restore protection to all wild horses.

The Sweeny-Spratt amendment, passed by the House last session, would effectively make horse slaughter illegal in the United States by prohibiting the use of federal funds to maintain required USDA personnel in horse slaughterhouses. Also passed by an overwhelming majority last session was the Rahall-Whitfield Amendment restoring protection to all wild horses under federal jurisdiction and reversing the effects of the Burns Act that made legal the direct sale of older horses and horses unadopted after three attempts. The Burns Act already has resulted in wild horses being sold to slaughter in an Illinois facility.

In the upcoming Congressional session, the fight to end horse slaughter in the United States and to restore protection to all wild horses turns to the United States Senate. The Humane Society of the United States reports that they expect a bill to make horse slaughter illegal in the United States to be introduced in the Senate shortly after it convenes. A second bill to restore protection to all wild horses is held up in the Senate resources committee. Equine organizations across the country believe that 10 to 20 thousand older and unadopted wild horses could be at risk of direct sale if the United States Senate does not pass legislation restoring protections under the Wild Horse and Burro Act passed in 1971.

Arizonans and other Southwestern state residents also should seriously consider language on page 95 of the June 10, 2005 report to Congress by the Senate Appropriations Committee on the 2006 Agriculture Appropriations Bill. The report was presented by Montana Senator Conrad Burns who in December inserted language into a 3000 page bill that removed more than 30 years of protections for older and undadopted wild horses and who has been an outspoken advocate of the use of public lands for more leased grazing. The June 10 report instructs the United States Forest Service and BLM in Southwestern States, including Arizona, to use more public lands for leased grazing land, pressure from the Montana Senator, on the Forest Service and BLM in Arizona and throughout Southwestern States to displace horses, burros and other animals in favor of more leased grazing lands.

Advocates against slaughter of American horses and for restoring protection to all wild horses in the United States are being asked to call and write their United States Senators urging their support of this legislation. Arizonans should call and write the Honorable Senator John McCain and the Honorable Senator Jon Kyl.

In Arizona, a two-tier trailer to transport horses to slaughter recently was photographed in Maricopa County with ramp down preparing to load more than 50 horses. These trailers are illegal in Arizona because horses carried in them sustain severe and painful injuries to their necks and legs on the 26 to 28 hour journeys to the slaughterhouses. The use of these trailers is additional evidence of the unregulated nature of the shipping of horses to slaughter. Use of the killer bolt in slaughterhouses does not always properly stun horses and the HSUS and National Horse Protection Coalition have documented conscious horses being sent to the bleeding out and slaughter process.

There are alternatives to horse slaughter. Older horses and ill horses should be humanely euthanized. Reputable rescue organizations may be able to assist with finding homes. Making horse slaughter illegal also will not prevent families from finding homes for horses. In states such as California where horse slaughter is illegal, the incidents of equine neglect have not risen and incidents of stolen horses have decreased.

"Too many people are under the misconception that horse slaughter is a humane end to their beloved horse. We are asking that they educate themselves on the cruel nature of horse slaughter, the lack of protection and oversight for horses transported to slaughter and that they contact their Senators to support the end to horse slaughter in America," said Dr. Pat Haight of In Defense of Animals.