Horse slaughter

[Paulette Kaplan]

Isn't this a form of animal cruelty? I know we have stopped here in the USA, but now the creatures are trucked to Mexico and Canada for slaughter in horrid conditions. I know a law concerning this has been discussed in Congress, but why can't the current animal cruelty laws in place take care of this problem?

[Dr. Randall Lockwood]

Problems associated with interstate transport need to be addressed at the federal level and new legilsation regarding horse slaughter and transport has been proposed, but in a season where all focus is on elections, there may be little movement. Be sure to check in regularly with the Legislative parts of aspca.org and, if you have not already done so, join the Advocacy Brigade to get the latest alerts and info.

[Cordelia Jones]

Dear Paulette.

I think the laws against horse slaughter in the US are against the slaughtering taking place in the US in order to ship the horse meat to other countries for human consumption. (Dr. Lockwood can better answer this.) Anyway, yes, these magnificant, beautiful and gentle creatures are being shipped in overcrowded trucks, with not even enough room for them to stand up fully and for hundreds and hundreds of miles to Mexico and Canada for slaughtering. It is most inhumane! If the poor horses even survive the grueling trip, then they are killed in a most cruel fashion, which is to horrid to even write on this MB. I do know that the HSUS is working overtime to have legislation passed to stop this cruelty, so we can write our congressmen and senators to have legislation passed to stop this. Cordelia

[Paulette Kaplan]

Thanks for your reply! I believe they have added a section to the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act to prohibit the transportation of horses for slaughter to Mexico, Canada, and any other country. The thing is, it is taking forever to set everything into motion. I have called and emailed my senators and congressman. It is just taking too long and I was hoping there was a way around this to get faster action. Looks like there is no way.
Pimlico Race Track is closing this month. Not only will this put huge numbers of grooms and other caretakers of horses out of jobs, but there will be 400 horses without homes. This is what I understood in the Washington Post. I am so afraid most of the horses will be slaughter. Hopefully, many of the horse sanctuaries can accommodate them. It makes me sick.