Congress Finally Saves Taxpayer Money on Horse Protection

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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.

JayLyn of MT 10:54AM July 27, 2009

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.

JayLyn of MT 10:54AM July 27, 2009

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.

JayLyn of MT 10:39AM July 27, 2009

You're still taking about this?

Bob of VA 10:46AM July 23, 2009

There are people in the US who would love to eat our dogs and cats, but we don't allow this. Why are horses different? It is time the human race accepts its responsibility that if a person PURCHASES a horse (you don't find them wandering around the dumpster...you have to buy them) it falls to that person to care for the horse or dispose of it himself when he is tired of it. Horses live long lives. They are DOMESTICATED animals and no longer can care for themselves if just turned loose. If you want to eat horse, it is perfectly legal to go down to the local sale barn, buy a horse, butcher it up and bar-b-que it in your backyard...invite your friends over. But for HUMAN CONSUMPTION they must have a slaughter line...to slaughter 250 per day. It is impossible to humanely dispose of them on this assembly line. (just like our other meat animals, they suffer) but I eat pork, chicken and beef. I tolerate the cruelty for my ham and steaks. But Americans don't eat horse meat. So if my horses disappear from my paddock, where do I begin searching for them? By the time I get to Canada and Mexico, I might get back a hide or hoof. Not good. Our dogs and big cats in zoos eat beef. No one eats horse except Europe...and I say let them grow and eat their own horses. My horse Joe was slaughtered in 1982 and I had no clue! He did not deserve that cruel death. If this is such a great business for America why is it such a secret? If you want to "humanely euthanize" your horse, have a vet put him down chemically, or put a bullet in his forehead yourself. Have balls enough to look him in the eyes and pull the trigger. Don't put him on the "killer truck" to Mexico and Canada. Cowards! Tell the truth...it is all about money. Breeders breed hundreds of horses every year they know they can't sell, so they get a few bucks by selling them to the killers. After slaughter ended in the USA, I've seen AQHA breeders cutting back on the number of foals they raise each year. Great idea. Now you're thinking! God Save MY Horses. I will NEVER sell them. I'll put them down and bury them in their favorite spot in the pasture. They have been trusted friends and deserve a peaceful end. Slaughter is all about Belgian and French businessmen making American money and sending it all "home". I am a proud member of "Americans Against Horse Slaughter".

Janis Galatas of MS 4:58PM July 21, 2009

Evan Rayl of IA:
you said..."We have more horses in this country now than when they were used for work, delivery, and transportation in the first half of the last century...." Incorrect statement. Please provide statistcal data report of same. This would be very interesting because the Federal Government has only been surveying and reporting for about the last 100 years (and I'm being generous).
..."Trying to protect all horses from slaughter is foolish when there are far too many, besides the French pay a premium for horse meat...." No, the issue is HOW and why they die and that they are not a thoroughly tested meat for human consumption. The French want to eat horsemeat, let them eat their own. And slaughter for nonhuman consumption still exists in the US.
Horses are being dumped now at every bottom end livestock auction in the US....many equines skip the auctions altogether and go direct to killbuyers. $750.00 cost per year for care???? God, I'm glad I'm not your horse.

D. Masters of CA 12:16PM July 21, 2009

We have more horses in this country now than when they were used for work, delivery, and transportation in the first half of the last century. Trying to protect all horses from slaughter is foolish when there are far too many, besides the French pay a premium for horse meat. I live and farm in rural Iowa and we have problems with people dumping dogs on the roads near us. I'm afraid we will soon see horses dumped along the road too. Disposing of dogs is easy compared to getting rid of a horse. Anyone who is favor of horse protection should be willing to stake one out in their own back yard. By the way, feed and etc for a horse costs about $750 per year, which is about half what the government has been paying to keep surplus horses.

Evan Rayl of IA 2:11AM July 21, 2009

We have more horses in this country now than when they were used for work, delivery, and transportation in the first half of the last century. Trying to protect all horses from slaughter is foolish when there are far too many, besides the French pay a premium for horse meat. I live and farm in rural Iowa and we have problems with people dumping dogs on the roads near us. I'm afraid we will soon see horses dumped along the road too. Disposing of dogs is easy compared to getting rid of a horse. Anyone who is favor of horse protection should be willing to stake one out in their own back yard. By the way, feed and etc for a horse costs about $750 per year, which is about half what the government has been paying to keep surplus horses.

Evan Rayl of IA 2:11AM July 21, 2009

We have more horses in this country now than when they were used for work, delivery, and transportation in the first half of the last century. Trying to protect all horses from slaughter is foolish when there are far too many, besides the French pay a premium for horse meat. I live and farm in rural Iowa and we have problems with people dumping dogs on the roads near us. I'm afraid we will soon see horses dumped along the road too. Disposing of dogs is easy compared to getting rid of a horse. Anyone who is favor of horse protection should be willing to stake one out in their own back yard. By the way, feed and etc for a horse costs about $750 per year, which is about half what the government has been paying to keep surplus horses.

Evan Rayl of IA 2:11AM July 21, 2009

Americans are indeed interested to find out which of our elected officials or a member of their family is going to get a payback for this horse stuff! Americans do not want the health reform and energy bills jammed down their throats and you are worried about horses. You fools, if you vote for the health reform and energy bills we won't have the money to take care of horses!

mindy rodriguez of TN 9:30PM July 20, 2009