Congress Finally Saves Taxpayer Money on Horse Protection
By Bonnie Erbe, Thomas Jefferson Street blog.
Late Friday the U.S. House of Representatives passed an incredibly important bill: H.R. 1018, which protects wild horses and burros from commercial sale and slaughter. Unlike most other programs Congress is approving these days, this one actually saves money for taxpayers by, according to the Humane Society of the United States, "diminishing the need for costly roundups and large-scale housing of captive wild horses. The bill, if adopted by the Senate and signed by the President, is expected to save millions of tax dollars each year, directing [the Bureau of Land Management]to use fertility control more widely and allowing the agency to let horses to occupy more of the public lands they once inhabited."
Wayne Pacelle, who heads the Humane Society, says until now the Bureau of Land Management has been rounding up wild horses and keeping them in federal holding pens. It's hugely expensive and incredibly cruel to the helpless equines. Let's hope the U.S. Senate follows suit.
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U.S. House of Representatives passes H.R. 1018
It is true that this bill passed the House.
It is also true that no such legislation was introduced in or is pending in the Senate. Both houses have to approve legislation before it could be sent to President Obama for consideration.
Perhaps more significantly, on July 7, 2009, when Senator Mary Landrieu offered her S. 727 legislation as an amendment to the Ag Appropriations Bill, it was rejected. The Senate Appropriations Committee directed the General Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct an investigation into the impact that banning U.S. horse slaughter has had on the welfare of horses.
From the Senate Ag Appropriations Committee, regarding Horse Welfare: The Committee is aware of reports that since the closing of a number of horse slaughter plants in the United States in recent years, there has been a decline in the overall welfare of horses. The Committee has been made aware of anecdotal evidence that the number of abandoned horses has increased and an increased number of horses are suffering from neglect. The Committee therefore believes that information relating to the consequences of all recent actions regarding horse slaughter should be gathered to ensure that any continued action or change in policy actually improves the overall welfare of these animals.
As a result, the Committee directs the General Accountability Office to conduct an investigation on the status of horse welfare in this country as it relates to the cessation of horse slaughter operations. In particular, the Committee believes that GAO should consider, at least, how the horse industry has responded to the closure of U.S. horse slaughter facilities in terms of both the numbers of horse sales, exports, adoptions, or abandonments; the implication these changes have had on farm income and trade; any impacts to State and local governments and animal protection organizations; how the Department oversees the transport of horses destined for slaughter in foreign countries, particularly Canada and Mexico; the manner in which the Department coordinates with the Department of the Interior and State governments to assist them in identifying, holding and transporting unwanted horses for foreign export; and general conclusions regarding the welfare of horses as a result of a ban on horse slaughter for human consumption. The Committee expects a report in this investigation by March 1, 2010.
U.S. House of Representatives passes H.R. 1018
It is true that this bill passed the House.
It is also true that no such legislation was introduced in or is pending in the Senate. Both houses have to approve legislation before it could be sent to President Obama for consideration.
Perhaps more significantly, on July 7, 2009, when Senator Mary Landrieu offered her S. 727 legislation as an amendment to the Ag Appropriations Bill, it was rejected. The Senate Appropriations Committee directed the General Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct an investigation into the impact that banning U.S. horse slaughter has had on the welfare of horses.
From the Senate Ag Appropriations Committee, regarding Horse Welfare: The Committee is aware of reports that since the closing of a number of horse slaughter plants in the United States in recent years, there has been a decline in the overall welfare of horses. The Committee has been made aware of anecdotal evidence that the number of abandoned horses has increased and an increased number of horses are suffering from neglect. The Committee therefore believes that information relating to the consequences of all recent actions regarding horse slaughter should be gathered to ensure that any continued action or change in policy actually improves the overall welfare of these animals.
As a result, the Committee directs the General Accountability Office to conduct an investigation on the status of horse welfare in this country as it relates to the cessation of horse slaughter operations. In particular, the Committee believes that GAO should consider, at least, how the horse industry has responded to the closure of U.S. horse slaughter facilities in terms of both the numbers of horse sales, exports, adoptions, or abandonments; the implication these changes have had on farm income and trade; any impacts to State and local governments and animal protection organizations; how the Department oversees the transport of horses destined for slaughter in foreign countries, particularly Canada and Mexico; the manner in which the Department coordinates with the Department of the Interior and State governments to assist them in identifying, holding and transporting unwanted horses for foreign export; and general conclusions regarding the welfare of horses as a result of a ban on horse slaughter for human consumption. The Committee expects a report in this investigation by March 1, 2010.
NOT TRUE: "No one eats horse except Europe"
Janice, your statement, "No one eats horse except Europe," is incorrect.
Horse meat is popular in Europe and Japan, where it is served both as a delicacy and a daily staple of the working class.
It is consumed in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chili, China, France, Germany, Iceland, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malta, Mongolia, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. In Sweden, it outsells mutton and lamb combined. Italy consumes more horse meat than any other country in the European Community.
Registered breeders are not the only source of horse production.
Backyard pet owners and amateur horsemen contribute significantly to the problem, producing grade (unregistered animals). Such uneducated/unethical owners fail to neuter males, allowing sons to breed their mother and/or sisters. Such pairings result in all sort of problems from inbreeding.
Consider this giveaway posting: I got a 9 yr old Mustang mare last week. She is blind in one eye and very skittish. If you have good strong fence and would like her, she's yours if you can catch her. She has torn down my electric fence twice and broke a tie rope today. I can't keep her up and my neighbor has been catching her and returning her. I would love to see her go to a good home. She's an excellent brood mare.
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