Also see our link   What do we rescue them from?                                                   _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________  

So.... What is going on? 

A hearing has been set on Feb. 2, 2010 before a Congressional subcommittee on H.R. 503, the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act, a bill that would stop the export of American horses to foreign slaughter houses for human consumption and basically end the commercial trade and transport of American horses for slaughter for h...uman consumption. Go here for more information and how you can take action to help pass this bill:
http://www.animallawcoalition.com/horse-slaughter/article/567See More

Congressional Hearing Set for Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act | Animal Law Coalition

State regulations shut down the US Slaughter plants.  However, the horses have always been exported to Canada and Mexico for slaughter for human consumption and they are looking to open slaughter houses in the USA AGAIN!  State by state.....

Pending Legislation - you can type in the word "equine" for information pertaining to horses. PA's Electronic Bill Room - http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/session.cfm

Have you heard the recent stand the Arabian Horse Assoc. has taken on horse slaughter????  http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/2009/06/040.shtml   The board of directors of the United States Arabian Horse Association has passed a motion in support of re-establishing horse slaughter plants in the US. Please let them know you don't agree with this email them at Contact Us link on their website.

  Your ok with this????? This mare didn't get help but JFK Kharbons Finale out of Kharbon Kopy and Kyrie was saved from slaughter by AC4H http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/jef+kharbons+finale - Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-YbRmhsi3o Responsible horse ownership is to the end... slaughter doesn't qualify.  It's NOT ok

 
The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act (H.R. 503) was introduced in the U.S. House on January 14, 2009 by Congressman John Conyers (D-MI) and Congressman Dan Burton (R-IN).  An identical version (S. 727) was introduced in the Senate on March 26, 2009 by Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and veterinarian and Senator John Ensign (R-NV) along with 13 original bipartisan cosponsors.
 
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5684918392470250286  Video of Senator Mary Landrieu introducing horse slaughter ban. S. 727, the Landrieu-Ensign "Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act"
 
~~ Senator Landrieu and family visits New Holland Auction   
 
AC4H Visits Senator Landrieu in Washington DC Washington DC pictures March 08  
 
 
Thank you Senatory Landrieu!
 
 
 
 
It all started in ND -  unopposed!! 
North Dakota State Rep. Rod Froelich, a Democrat, and State Sen. Joe Miller, a Republican, are sponsoring ND House Bill #1496, a bill introduced in the state House that would authorize a $100,000 study by the state's Commerce Department to determine the feasibility of a privately owned horse slaughterhouse in the state.  Rep. Froelich himself is a breeder of Quarter-Horses.   It is well known that registered Quarter-Horses make up over half of all horses slaughtered, yet, The American Quarter-Horse Association (AQHA) is one of our greatest FOES in that they are lobbying hard against us in Washington DC to keep horse slaughter & their exportation for slaughter legal.

The state measures were prompted by a resolution submitted into the National Conference of State Legislatures' (NCSL) Agriculture and Energy Committee in December 2008 by Wyoming State Rep. Sue Wallis and then South Dakota State Rep. Dave Sigdestad.   The NCSL is a bipartisan organization that advocates for state governments interests before Congress and other federal agencies.  The resolution encourages legislators in rural states to promote horse processing on the basis of generating jobs and addressing the issues of the "unwanted horses:.

Twelve state legislatures are now considering measures to express their support of or actively encourage the reestablishment of U.S. horse processing plants. 

Resolutions indicating opposition to HR 503, the federal Conyers-Burton Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act, which would eliminate horse slaughter nationwide and prohibit the export of horses to slaughter are either under consideration or have already passed in:
  • Arizona (SCM 1001)
  • Kansas (HCR 5004)
  • Minnesota (SF 133)
  • North Dakota (HB 1496)
  • South Dakota (SCR 2)
  • Utah (HJR 7)
  • Wyoming (HJR 8)
Bills amending state laws to promote private investor plant development are pending in:
  • Arkansas (HCR 1004)
  • Illinois (HB 0583)
  • Missouri (House, HCR 19 House; Senate, SCR 8)
  • Montana (HB 418)
  • Tennessee (HB 1361)

Working on defining horses as Livestock:  Sponsored by Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Delano), HF797 would clarify that raising equines for riding, driving, competition, racing, recreation, sale or as breeding stock, is an agricultural pursuit and they should be considered as livestock for the purpose of financial transactions. Approved by the House Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Committee, it awaits action by the full House.  The definition change could impact the disposal of dead horses and whether they would be covered under federal animal cruelty laws.  Rep. Dave Olin (DFL-Thief River Falls) said the Animal Humane Society had issues with the bill’s language and successfully amended it delet­ing the phrase, “Horses may be used for meat, hides, and animal by-products.  The bill’s companion, SF755, sponsored by Sen. Amy Koch (R-Buffalo), awaits action by the Senate Taxes Committee. For information on these bills and others, log onto www.house.mn.

 
New Radio show focusing on Horse Slaughter

 Please visit the program's resource page and pass the link along to everyone you know who might be interested.

http://wflendangeredstreamlive.org/savingamericashorses.html. This is a wonderful venue for getting the word out and I intend to recommend a lot of people in the movement be considered as guests for future programs on other aspects of horse welfare.  John Holland

                ~~The latest on the anti slaughter issue....

This is the 111th Congress and it will run through December of 2010.   To contact your Senator  http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm 

First Bill introduced in 2009:

Representatives Kirk (R-IL) and Cohen (D-TN) introduced, H.R. 305, the Horse Transportation Safety Act, to ban the use of double decker trailers for all horse transport.

Double decker trailers were not designed for horses.  There have been numerous accidents resulting in injury and death of horses. 

Some articles:

  1. 59 Horses Involved In Accident Likely Bound for Slaughter |

    Young Belgians Jammed in Double Decker ... it took hours of work to rescue the horses from the overturned trailer, half a dozen fire departments, ...
    www.regardinghorses.com/2007/10/31/accident-brings-horse-slaughter-issue-to-forefront/ - 41k -     Cached - Similar pages

  1. US probes how horses injured on boat to Puerto Rico ...

    SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Nearly 20 race horses, packed inside a double-decker ... The president of Optical People, Manolo Gonzalez, declined to comment. ...
    www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080612/us-probes-horse-shipment-to-puerto-rico.htm - 68k -     Cached - Similar pages

HR.305, the double decker trailer ban.  You can reach your Representative and ask for their support through the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121
 http://www.washingtonwatch.com/blog/2009/01/10/double-decker-horse-transport-inherently-cruel/

Pennsylvania signed HB 1139 into law on June 25th 2001 which bans double deckers for transport of horses.

http://www.equineprotectionnetwork.com/transport/transportindex.htm - current information regarding Double Deckers thank you EPN.

H.R. 503 January 15, 2009- The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act  was reintroduced by House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and Representative Dan Burton (R-IN).


~~Information

Rebuttal by John Holland to"Frequently asked questions about unwanted horses and the AVMA's policy on horse slaughter" http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/features/horseslaughter-132.shtml

Are Horses safe to eat???  Here is an article about the toxins that are in horse meat 
 http://www.niagarafallsreporter.com/hanchette182.ht

~~Equine Slaughter Statistics

USDA - NASS Horses slaughtered in the USA http://www.nass.usda.gov/QuickStats/index2.jsp - USA slaughter houses were closed in 2008 due to state regulations.  However, horses have always been exported  to Mexico and Canada for slaughter. 

Note- With a growing number of slaughter houses in Canada and Mexico more USA horses are being slaughtered now than when the US slaughterhouses were open. 

Export of USA horses to Mexico Statistics - http://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/al_ls635.txt  

Weekly Imports from Canada (by region): http://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/WA_LS637.txt

~~Reports, studies and information

The Truth About Abandoned Horses http://www.kaufmanzoning.net/horsemeat/
Report-Deleting the Fiction: Abandoned Horses-Dec 23, 2007,  Report-Deleting the Fiction: Abandoned Horses, Part 2-March 2008 and Report-Deleting the Fiction: Short Paper-Feb,2008-Factual Evidence Against Written Articles on Abandoned horses

~~Links

Veterinarians For Equine Welfare http://www.vetsforequinewelfare.org/

Washington DC pictures March 08 - American's Against Horse Slaughter

Please help end the inhumane slaughter of America's horses for overseas human consumption:
http://humanityforhorses.blogspot.com/
The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears. ~Arabian Proverb  ~Lor in PA

www.marynash.org

http://www.commonhorsesense.net/

Review of 2008 ~

 AC4H on HBO investigates horse slaughter -http://www.hbo.com/realsports/stories/2008/episode.134.s1.html.  Few casual horse racing fans are aware that many former racing horses are slaughtered for profit. When a thoroughbred race horse reaches the end of its career or is simply no longer profitable on the track, it is often taken directly to auction and sold for meat. Because horse slaughter is no longer practiced in this country, these thoroughbreds are now being shipped by "killer buyers" to slaughterhouses abroad, which are frequently less regulated and less humane than former U.S. slaughterhouses. Correspondent Bernard Goldberg, who recently won the 2008 Sports Emmy(r) for Outstanding Sports Journalism for his 2007 REAL SPORTS story on the NFL concussion crisis, traces the disturbing journey many of these young and healthy horses take from the track, to auctions, to slaughterhouses, and finally to the plates of European and Japanese diners who pay top dollar for the delicacy.
 

IAC4H on Inside Edition  Thank you John Holland for all of your hard work, dedication and direction.  Thank you Inside Edition for giving the horses air time!  Also, I would like to thank the Horse Rescue Coalition who assisted in getting permission for Inside Edition to attend the auction, who drove from far distances to attend and help the horses as they do every day and thank you to the people who donated to save lives and a special thank you to the FOB's I did make special mention of you for all you do in the interview that I did. Unfortunately, it didn't make it to the finished product so I am thanking you all again personally here.

Christy Co-Founder AC4H interviewing with Matt from Inside Edition

Inside Edition interview airing 11-26-07 click here to see exclusive pictures and watch the interview on photo bucket. 

       Video by Laura YouTube - The Journey Of The Inside Edition Horses

We have also heard that now that the USA slaughter houses are closed that there are more horses than ever being abandoned or starved.  As I just stated when a followup team actually investigated the reports of abandonment there was actually no proof... or it happened when slaughter houses in the USA were open so basically it has nothing to do with the USA slaughter houses shutting down.  Just a quick reminder the USA horses are still going to Canada in higher numbers to date than when the USA slaughter houses were open and running... so pro -slaughter side... if you are reporting starvation don't try to link it to the USA houses being closed... first they don't slaughter skinny horses - no value and 2nd once again let me drive the point home... to date there is a higher number of USA horses being exported (we have always exported) for slaughter than when the USA slaughter houses were over.... THERE IS NO CONNECTION BETWEEN SLAUGHTER AND STARVATION OR ABANDONMENT.
 
A ban on horse slaughter in the US is looking likely. What fate will befall the 100,000 animals that have headed for slaughter each year? John Holland suggests there is no evidence the US will end up awash with unwanted horses. Read more
                    

                                                                                                                        THERE WILL BE NO "UNWANTED HORSE" CRISIS!

 Slaughter in no way helps with unwanted horses.  In my white paper prove there is no relationship:

 Each horse in America is the responsibility of its current owner.  The only thing that is going to change is that those owners will not have the option of abandoning their horses to this cruel fate for a few pieces of silver.  As rescuers (and yes I rescue too), it is not our responsibility to save every horse an owner wants to get rid of.   It is there responsibility.  Abandoning their horses or neglecting them are not legal options. 

Many horses are sent to slaughter because it is marginally lest costly than treating them right.  For example, a string of camp ponies can be replaced each season slightly more cheaply than it can be wintered over.  The same goes for other horses.  If a race horse has an injury that keeps it from racing for a few months, it is often sold to slaughter, etc, etc.  It is all about money folks!  It is also about whether horses are nothing more than property that can be discarded at will. 

Finally, horse slaughter rewards bad behavior.  When you reward bad behavior you just get more bad behavior and a sense of entitlement on the part of the abusers. 

John Holland

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Politics of Horse Slaughter

By: John Holland  November 5rd, 2006

 

Here's a link to the CBC's report on horse slaughter in Canada:  http://www.cbc.ca/canada/
This is a story on reactions to the report:  http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/06/10/horses-slaughter.html