1. Approximately 90,000 American horses of all ages and
condition are slaughtered annually for foreign consumption. In 1996 38
million pounds of horse meat were exported with 76% going to Belgium. An
estimated 4-5 million horses have died since 1980. This is the work of a
small number of lowlifes making profit from the almost indescribable
suffering and abuse of horses, the vast majority of which were trusting
pets and companions.
2. Horse slaughter is inhumane and cannot be made
otherwise despite USDA claims. Videotapes taken in 1994 and 1996 at the
Texas plants confirm that repeated blows were necessary and the horses
were seen writhing in agony. One bleeding animal required repeated blows
to the head to render it unconscious. The "captive bolt" method of
stunning may work well on feeder livestock but not on agile horses where
an absolute minimum of 10% are tortured and require repeated
bludgeoning. The only humane method for horses is lethal injection which
renders the meat illegal for human consumption. Such meat is suitable
for pet food and fertilizer.
3. By law horses destined for human consumption abroad
cannot be slaughtered in the same facilities as feeder livestock. There
are currently 3 US equine slaughterhouses; one of which in DeKalb, IL
has announced plans to relocate to Canada after a year long citizen
protest. All equine slaughterhouses are foreign owned and operated by
Belgian companies such as "multimeat" and "Chevideco." These foreign
owned slaughter houses are parasitizing America.
4. About 1/3 of the horses slaughtered are purebreds
with about 10%-15% being former racehorses. Foals as young as 6 months
have been sold to "killers" at auction. The majority are neither old or
decrepit. Tens of thousands of foals of "Premarin" mares are sold to
slaughter at 2-4 months of age. There is absolute proof from rescue
groups that about 95% of these horses if given proper nutrition and
veterinary care are rehabilitated and make excellent pets and
recreational animals.
5. Horse meat brings $15-$20 on the foreign markets.
This combined with fears from "mad cow" disease has fueled the US horse
"slaughter pipeline." This has also produced an almost exponential
increase in stolen horses which is fast becoming a major national
problem. Many horses sent to slaughter are obtained by fraudulent means.
6. Regulation of horse auctions is a travesty rife with
corruption and bribery. Dead, dying, sick and gravely injured animals
are accepted into auction daily in violation of state laws.
Veterinarians have been documented as certifying animals fit to travel
that were so infirm that even the "killers" declined. Despite claims of
the USDA hundreds of rescue groups are weekly documenting and
photographing widespread abuse and animal cruelty at these livestock
auctions and in transport.
7. The US horse community is divided on the issue. Some
groups either actively or passively support slaughter. These "rotten
eggs" include the following: The horse racing industry; many western
"cowboys;" some veterinarians; the American Horse Council, blabber for
the slaughter industry; a number of so called "humane" (lame) societies
especially but not limited to those in the South and Midwest. Those
opposed to equine slaughter include all people of conscience and ethics
and about 90% of informed Americans.
8. Equine transport cannot be effectively or efficiently
regulated by the states or the Federal Government. Condemned horses are
forced to travel tremendous distances (sometimes 2-5 days) without food,
water or relief) to the 3 (soon to be 2) US equine slaughterhouses or to
Canada. Transport
is done often in illegal double-decker cattle trucks where the upper
level urinates and defecates on those below. These are unsafe and
totally unsuitable for horses to be transported any distance. The
infamous Temple Grandin report endorsed these cruelties and was so
outrageous and irrational that it resembled a report by Shirley Temple.
Horses unlike feeder livestock tolerate long-distance transport very
poorly. State regulation of equine transport to slaughter is pathetic.
9. The "Commercial Transport of Equines to Slaughter Act
1996" is a Federal abomination written by the horse killers which
legalizes the inhumane transport and slaughter of horses. Besides,
whatever the Government regulates it screws up royally. NO MORE
GOVERNMENT REGULATION OF EQUINE TRANSPORT TO SLAUGHTER...THERE MUST BE
ERADICATION OF THE INTERSTATE AND INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT FOR SLAUGHTER
OF EQUINES.
10. Horses are not regarded or bred as a food source in
America where consumption of horse meat is overwhelmingly condemned and
outlawed by statute in TX & IL. Horses are taxed as nonfood animals.
Horses are domesticated companion animals used for recreation, sport,
work, entertainment, and pleasure. Polls indicate that anywhere from
80%-93% of Americans oppose horse slaughter for any reason. California
outlawed horse slaughter for human consumption in 1998.
11. THE US IS EXPORTING HORSE MEAT WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN
PROVEN SAFE FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. On this point alone the USDA should
be sued and the exportation of US horse meat stopped. Trichinellosis
outbreaks in Europe from consumption of horse meat are not uncommon. An
indeterminate amount of exported horse meat and horses sent to slaughter
in Canada are diseased. All of these horses have been exposed to
veterinary pharmaceuticals unique to equines whose safety for
human consumption has never been proven or evaluated. Despite meat
inspection the potential health risks to the international community are
a very compelling reason to prohibit the export of any horse meat from
the United States.
12. Citizen protest and petitioning and not legislative
initiative are responsible for the closing of 11 equine slaughterhouses
in America which numbered 14 less than 10 years ago. Citizen initiative
also enacted California's Proposition 6 outlawing as a felony horse
slaughter or the transport of horses for that purpose. The PA State
Legislature almost passed a "Three Legged Horse" bill (HB 590) last
year, once again proving that horses are smarter than politicians. The
bill may be reintroduced this year by these brain-dead politicians.
13. The temptations of money and the presence of
foreign-owned slaughterhouses pillaging the American economy are
responsible for triggering a cascade of abuse from "stable to table"
refractory to legislative regulation or intervention. Continuation of
foreign exploitation of our resources is economically stupid and
immoral. All Belgian imports, especially chocolates, candies, household
appliances should be boycotted.
14. The abuses and cruelties will only increase as more
and more US equine slaughterhouses are forced to shut down or relocate.
No one except the equine slaughterhouse owners, "killer" buyers, the
criminal auction owners, and the USDA dispute the facts. All else having
failed miserably, Federal action is mandatory and the sooner the better.
The interstate and international transport of horses for slaughter
should be expressly forbidden, as well as the export of horse meat from
these foreign-owned companies since the disease potential to humans is
ever-present and cannot be dispelled.
15. There are no reasonable or compelling justifications
for equine slaughter. It is both unchristian and un-American. Almost all
the official studies on the topic have been funded and supported by the
proslaughter degenerates.
HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO: Write your US congressmen and
Senators and demand a federal law prohibiting the interstate and
nternational transport of all equines for slaughter under felony
penalties. Send letter snail mail or fax to the attention of the
"Administrative Assistant"
in your senators' or congressman's office. Write letters to the editor
of your state's online newspapers, exposing horse slaughter and
demanding publicity and state and federal action. Lobby your respective
state representatives to support a bill criminalizing horse slaughter
like California Prop. #6. Check out the following website for
information applicable both to PA and your area:
http://members.tripod.com/~SueE/index.htm#MASTER
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Equine Placement Network
P. 0. Box 232
Friedensburg, PA 17933
Ph & Fax- 570-345-6440
[email protected]
Equine Advocates, Inc:
Susan Wagner, President and Founder
P.O. Box 700
Bedford, NY 10506, U.S.
Phone: (845) 278-3095
Go on to Rusty Little
Hand Saw
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