The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) Wednesday praised the U.S. Senate for its 68-29 passage of an amendment to the Agriculture Appropriations bill prohibiting the use of any federal taxpayer funds to slaughter horses for food exports.
The bipartisan amendment was introduced by Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.), a veterinarian by profession, and Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.), and was cosponsored by Sens. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), Dianne Feinstein (D- Calif.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), Trent Lott (R-Miss.), and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.).
"Every year, more than 90,000 American horses -- thoroughbreds, family ponies, and others -- are slaughtered for human consumption abroad in countries such as France, Belgium, and Japan," said Michael Markarian, executive vice president of The Humane Society of the United States. "These magnificent creatures have been part of the fabric of American life for centuries. They faithfully plowed our fields, carried our loads, and helped us in war and peace. The House and Senate have both stated decisively that horses deserve better than to be hoisted by a rear leg, cut with a long blade, and bled out for the purpose of being served to foreign gourmands."
The Ensign-Byrd amendment is identical to a measure that passed overwhelmingly by a vote of 269-158 in the U.S. House of Representatives in June, which was led by Reps. John Sweeney (R- N.Y.), John Spratt (D-S.C.), Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.), and Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.). It will effectively stop America's horses from being killed in three slaughterhouses in the U.S. that slaughter horses -- two in Texas and one in Illinois -- or from being shipped live to slaughterhouses in Canada or Mexico, so that their meat can be frozen, packed, and exported to foreign countries.
"The time has come to put an end to the practice of slaughtering horses in America," said Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.). "Horses have an important role in the history of our country, particularly the West, and they deserve our protection. As a senator and a veterinarian I am committed to doing what I can for these magnificent animals," Ensign said. "Many of the horses sent to slaughter are perfectly healthy, and turning them over to slaughterhouses is inhumane and unnecessary."
"Killer buyers" (middlemen for slaughterhouses) deliberately purchase horses from well-intentioned families who believe that their horse is going to a good home and frequently have no idea that their beloved companion animal is slated for slaughter. These animals are often transported with no food, water, or rest, frequently for unbearably long distances, crammed together so tightly under low truck ceilings that they cannot even hold their heads upright. Slippery floor surfaces in the transport trucks, coupled with overcrowding, lead to horses slipping, falling, and being trampled. Once they arrive, horses are often improperly stunned, given their biological flight response, and are sometimes completely conscious when hoisted by a rear leg to have their throats cut.
"The market for horsemeat is not an American market," said Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.). "Horsemeat is shipped abroad. The three slaughterhouses in the U.S. are foreign-owned. Thus, American horses are sold to a foreign company, killed for consumption in a foreign market, and foreign-owned companies profit from the export of horsemeat. Many Americans would be shocked to learn that our animals suffer such a fate, all in order to satisfy the tastes of those living in Europe and Asia."
In supporting the ban on horse slaughter, The HSUS is joined by the National Show Horse Registry, National Thoroughbred Racing Association, National Steeplechase Association, and Churchill Downs, as well as other horse welfare and humane organizations and hundreds of veterinarians across the country. The HSUS placed full-page ads supporting the amendment in The Washington Times, Roll Call, and The Hill -- a copy of the ad is available at http://www.hsus.org/ web-files/PDF/HorseAd(underscore)RollCall(underscore)091305.pdf
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"We applaud Senators Ensign and Byrd for winning this resounding victory for horses," added Markarian. "Senate offices received thousands of calls from constituents who love horses, and we thank lawmakers for acting decisively to end the slaughter of these American icons and trusted companions. The identical language from the House and Senate should put this issue to rest and save tens of thousands of horses from a grim and painful end." The HSUS thanked key legislative leaders who supported today's Ensign-Byrd amendment, such as Sens. Robert Bennett (R- Utah) and Herbert Kohl (D-Wis.), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, and Sens. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) and Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Agriculture Committee.
The HSUS also applauded the Senate today for approving, by voice vote, two additional animal welfare amendments introduced by Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii). One amendment would ensure that "downed livestock" -- animals too sick or injured to walk -- are not allowed into the human food supply by prohibiting USDA inspectors from approving meat from such animals. Downers are known to be at higher risk for transmissible diseases such as BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy or "mad cow disease"), E. coli, and salmonella. The second amendment would prohibit tax dollars from being used for research facilities that purchase animals from "Class B dealers" who traffic in family pets for research. Historically, Class B dealers have been notorious for various unsavory practices, such as acquiring dogs from free-to-good home ads under false pretenses, stealing pets, and housing animals under inhumane conditions.
Sen. Akaka noted, regarding the downed animal amendment, "I do not believe that now is the time to lower our defenses. Stronger legislation is needed to ensure that these animals do not enter our food chain. My amendment will prevent downed animals from being approved for consumption, and will allow USDA and other stakeholders time to continue working on reducing and potentially eliminating the risk of BSE or any other prions from entering our food chain." On his second amendment, he explained, "USDA cannot provide an assurance that illegal acquired pets are not being sold by Class B dealers. This is a problem that is certain to grow in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina with the thousands of animals placed in shelters."
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization representing more than 9 million members and constituents. The non-profit organization is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals and equine protection, disaster preparedness and response, wildlife and habitat protection, animals in research and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy, and field work. The group is based in Washington and has numerous field representatives across the country.
Humane Society website
