LAST HOPE FOR HORSES - PLEASE ACT NOW! 

Equine welfare organizations across the nation, including SFSPCA Horse Rescue, denounce the outrageous actions of three legislators (Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA), Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI), who in a closed door process stripped the language from the Agriculture Appropriations bill that prevented equine slaughter for human consumption in the U.S.  President Obama signed the bill into law on Nov. 18^th 2011, thereby legalizing the practice for the first time since 2005.
 
Three states (Texas, California and Illinois) already have an outright ban on the slaughter of horses for human consumption.  Florida has very strong horse protection laws (Ivonne Rodriguez and Victoria McCollough Horse Protection Act of 2011), but not an outright ban.  This will have to change unless we can force Congress to pass a Federal ban on horse slaughter and transport to slaughter once and for all.

THE ISSUE

  Those who support horse slaughter would have us believe it is a humane option for horses that are old and sick.  It is not.  The only humane, dignified option for these end-of-life horses is euthanasia administered by a qualified veterinarian.  The vast majority of American horses being sent to slaughter are not old or sick.  The majority are Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds, UNDER THREE YEARS OLD.  They are the product of outrageous overbreeding. 
 
Question:  Who is behind this push to re-open horse slaughter processing plants in the U.S.? 
 
Answer:  Cattle breeders in Western States, who do not want to share land and water with the American mustang, and large-scale horse breeders represented by an organization called United Horsemen.  The president of United Horsemen is Dave Duquette, a Quarter Horse breeder (surprise, surprise), and Wyoming State Rep. Sue Wallis, a cattle breeder (you had to see that coming).  To read the propaganda spewing from Mr. Duquette and Ms. Wallis, one would have to believe that to be slaughtered is the best single thing that could ever happen to a horse.  That, really, horses would be lining up to crowd themselves onto double-deckers to get themselves to “Ye Little Neighborhood Slaughter Factory” to be killed in a horrific, brutal and terrifying way. 
 
Question:  Are horse rescues overwhelmed with horses due to the closing of the horse slaughter houses in the U.S.?
 
Answer:  NO.  We are overwhelmed.  It’s NOT because the horse slaughter plants have closed.  SFSPCA is one of the largest, oldest continuously operating horse rescues in the United States. The same number of horses are coming to us as before.  They are just staying longer because the economy is preventing responsible adopters from adopting at the rate they were before the economy tanked.  Responsible adopters are also looking at the incredible increase in the cost of feed.  This is due to the increase in the cost of fuel to bring feed to market and a severe, years-long drought in the Mid-West.

HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE 

THE AMERICAN HORSE SLAUGHTER PREVENTION ACT
 
Support a Federal ban on the slaughter of American horses on American soil and a ban on the transport of American horses to slaughter in Mexico and Canada.  The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (S. 1176/HR. 2966) does just that and is pending in Congress.  Demand action by contacting your two U.S. Senators and U.S. Representative to urge co-sponsorship of The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.  For information on how to contact your legislators, go to:
 https://secure.humanesociety.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=5095&s_src=fbtakeaction5095
 
LIGHT A CANDLE ON DECEMBER 15^th
 
December 15^th, 2011 is the 40^th anniversary of the Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act.  Plans that have been underway to celebrate this anniversary with a candle lighting ceremony have now been expanded to show support for The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.  To participate, simply place a candle in your window the evening of December 15^th.  Or, even better, organize a candle ceremony at your barn.  Needless to say, if you are going to organize at your barn, flameless candles only!
 
DO NOT BE DRAWN INTO THE MEAT EATERS VS. VEGANS ARGUMENT
 
Unlike Mr. Duquette and Ms. Wallis, who should know better but apparently do not, a horse is not a cow.  If you personally choose not to eat meat, that is your decision.  However, that is not the issue here.  The issue is horse meat.  70% of the American people, even those who eat meat, oppose the slaughter of horses for human consumption.  Please do not be drawn into this specious argument.
 

THE BOTTOM LINE

  Americans by a wide margin do not want six years of policy reversed to allow their tax dollars, up to $5 million per year, to subsidize foreign owned companies that produce a product (horsemeat for human consumption) that we despise. It is a step backward for America’s horses and a waste of tax dollars.
 
Please do not be misled by half-truths, lies and damn lies promulgated by the pro-slaughter lobby.  Please do not allow YOUR TAX DOLLARS to underwrite an industry that you abhor. 
 
Please do contact your legislators and let your feelings be known that the horse is an iconic, noble, loyal and loving animal that deserves better than to be killed in the most egregious manner to line the pockets of those who are creating the problem in the first place.
 
Please share this with everyone you know…………and then go hug your horse!
 
Sincerely,
 
Jeanette