Archive: Equines

Today, The American Horse Council (AHC) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) held a conference entitled “The Unwanted Horse Issue: What Now?”

Despite constant assurances from USDA organizers that this event would have nothing to do with horse slaughter the meeting turned out to be exactly what the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) had anticipated from the start; a platform for a stacked panel of pro-slaughter representatives to further promote the practice of horse slaughter under the guise of talking about the “unwanted horse” population.

“Having the United States Department of Agriculture endorse an event like this really is a shame. What we need is a truly balanced debate that addresses sound, humane solutions to horse welfare issues. Unfortunately it seems like today’s intentions lie less with the interests of the horses and more with the interest of profit,” said Chris Heyde, deputy director of government and legal affairs for AWI.

What can only be described as a largely one-sided event, proponents of horse slaughter once again used their “unwanted horse” campaign as a way to perpetuate the idea that horse slaughter is a necessary evil without which horses will be subjected to mass neglect or abandonment. During the forum, slaughter proponents offered no solutions or options on how to fix the problem of unwanted horses, but continuously insisted that slaughtering is a humane way of dealing with surplus horses.

What they failed to mention about their supposedly humane solution are the thousands of miles that horses are made to travel without rest, food, or water, in cramped double deck trailers on their way to the slaughter house and the brutal way in which they are killed.

“I came to attend an open forum about caring for horses, and all I heard about is that horses are personal property that can and should be slaughtered if the owners of this property want to do so,” said Dr. John Boyd, President of The National Black Farmers Association (NBFA). “When I tried to inform the audience of our recently announced initiative with AWI, “Project Wanted Horse”, which will help care for America’s horses in need, I was immediately shot down. I thought this was a forum to discuss solutions, not squash ideas.”

In the ultimate act of hypocrisy, the event included a keynote address by former Congressman and current horse meat industry lobbyist Charlie Stenholm announcing a systematic effort to go to county and state associations and legislatures with their campaign in support of horse slaughter. If he can’t mislead the Congress and the American public on the issue he will try on another level.

“It is hard to believe that the USDA and The American Horse Council really expect a “balanced” debate from an industry paid lobbyist. It seems like once again, special interests and profits are being put before welfare,” noted Heyde.

For the first time in the history of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)—the federal agency charged with protecting and managing wild horses in the United States—officials now claim that up to 30,000 horses currently in confinement may have to be “euthanized” to balance the agency’s budget.

The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) vehemently opposes any proposal that would sanction the mass killing of our nation’s wild horses. “To set the record straight, euthanasia is mercy killing. That’s certainly not what’s being proposed here by any stretch of the imagination,” said Chris Heyde, deputy director of government and legal affairs for AWI. “It’s killing pure and simple to balance the books for an agency whose reckless management has caused immeasurable harm to a national treasure at considerable cost to the American taxpayer.”

In the last few years, the BLM’s national wild horse and burro program has changed leadership and direction—and tragically, wild horses have paid the price. To placate the demands of livestock interests and despite protests from wild horse advocates, the agency began rounding up animals from the wild at an unprecedented rate, leaving many herds with so few animals that their long-term health and viability are now in serious jeopardy.

Adoption demand could not keep pace with such drastic removals, requiring the BLM to contract for more and more private long-term holding facilities. Today, this misguided policy has shockingly resulted in more animals being held in confinement than run free in the wild. Now, BLM officials are seeking a magic bullet for the problem that they have irresponsibly created—adding a whole new subtext to the expression “They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?”

The 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act was passed unanimously by Congress to stop the mass slaughter and commercial exploitation of these magnificent animals. “Americans were outraged to learn what was happening then, and they will be even more irate to learn what the BLM is proposing today,” Heyde said. “Public support for the original Act is considered one of the largest grassroots campaigns on animal welfare issues in US history. It is time to reignite this passion if we are to save these magnificent animals from extinction on the range and in the wild.”

The proposal to resume killing the public’s wild horses will be discussed at the next National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board meeting scheduled for September 2008. AWI encourages the public and the US Congress to act swiftly to protect our horses, whose lives are at risk at the hands of the very agency tasked with the responsibility to care for them.

“Every five minutes an American horse is slaughtered to fill the demand of high-end European and Asian diners,” Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) federal policy advisor Liz Ross said today, testifying before the House Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security in support of a new bill to end the cruel transport and slaughter of America’s horses.

The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2008, H.R. 6598, carries criminal penalties for the purchase, sale, delivery or export of horsemeat intended for human consumption including fines and prison time. Introduced on July 24, 2008 by House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and Representative Dan Burton (R-IN), the bill would amend Title 18 of the US Code, providing US government officials and law enforcement officials with the tools necessary to ensure that American horses are protected from the brutal trade for their meat.

The bill has already garnered tremendous bipartisan support. “This issue has been vetted in Congress on multiple occasions and every time any measure to prohibit or restrict horse slaughter comes up for a vote the tally is overwhelming in favor of ending this form of animal cruelty,” Ross stated in her testimony.

“I am proud to be a co-sponsor of H.R. 6598,” said lead co-sponsor Representative Burton. “We must treat these magnificent animals with the respect and dignity they deserve.”

Not only is there legislative precedence for taking the Judiciary route to address the issue of horse slaughter via an earlier incarnation of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act that allowed for penalties to be assessed under Title 18 but horse slaughter, in every respect, is a form of animal cruelty and ought to be recognized and treated as such, Ross explained.

“We thank Representatives Conyers and Burton, who have afforded the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2008 a fair opportunity to proceed, as well as Chairman Bobby Scott for his co-sponsorship and commitment to moving this important bill,” said Chris Heyde, deputy director of government and legal affairs for AWI. “Now that H.R. 6598 has moved from subcommittee, we hope the Speaker and the Senate will provide similarly swift consideration for a policy that is supported by the vast majority of Americans.”

Testifying before the Subcommittee in favor of H.R. 6598 were, in addition to Liz Ross; Dr. John Boyd, President of the National Black Farmers Association; Wayne Pacelle President and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States and Dr. Nick Dodman of co-founder of Veterinarians for Equine Welfare. The full text of their statements is available as a PDF by clicking on their names above.

Issue background:

Each year, more than 100,000 horses are purchased at auction by killer-buyers for export to Canada and Mexico, where they are brutally slaughtered for human consumption. In some cases, the killing method involves activities such as knife stabbing.

In the last Congress, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a bipartisan bill banning horse slaughter for human consumption by a vote of 263 to 146. The bill was not taken up by the Senate before the end of the congressional session.

A 2006 national poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies found that almost 70 percent of Americans already support a federal ban on horse slaughter.

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of horseman and humanitarian John Hettinger, the nation’s leading advocate for the humane treatment of horses. John was the first person to join the Animal Welfare Institute’s national campaign to end horse slaughter in 2001. Since that time he never wavered in his commitment and only grew stronger in his desire and determination to end horse slaughter.

“I can honestly say no other person was more dedicated to horse welfare than John,” said Chris Heyde, deputy director of government and legal affairs for AWI. “We would talk almost every day about how we could pass the ban on horse slaughter and how we could improve the lives of horses. John’s death is a tremendous loss.”

Owner of Akindale Farm in New York, John was a leading Thoroughbred industry figure who never shrunk from his stand on animal welfare. He always stated that “his best friends have four legs.” Over the last few years he created a sanctuary for horses in need on his beautiful 800 acre farm. The stalls were always filled with enrichment items and music was pumped through the barn. The horses were always his priority.

“I was very lucky to have known him as a supporter of AWI’s efforts and as a friend. He was unique,” noted Heyde. “He is to be congratulated for awakening the industry to the abuse of horse slaughter. We look forward to working with the Thoroughbred industry to fulfill his dream.”

The Animal Welfare Institute sends its deepest condolences to his lovely wife Betty and loving family who always shared John’s deep respect for animals and nature.

“With John’s passing, AWI calls on everyone redouble their efforts for enactment of federal legislation banning horse slaughter. While it didn’t happen in his lifetime, John was certain it would happen. Now it is up to us to do just that.” said Heyde.

Despite three weeks of stonewalling by horse slaughter proponents on the House Judiciary Committee, H.R. 6598, the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act passed by a voice vote after the majority rejected several poison pill amendments.

The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) commends committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) and subcommittee Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA) for their swift shepherding of this crucial legislation through the committee, which was achieved with bipartisan support.

“By moving this bill, Chairman Conyers, lead cosponsor Representative Dan Burton and Representative Scott are acting in line with the more than 70 percent of Americans who oppose the senseless slaughter of our nation’s horses,” said Chris Heyde, AWI deputy director of government and legal affairs. “But opponents of this legislation persist in their attempts to mislead the public, and make horses pawns in their political games.”

Despite the claims of horse slaughter supporters, horse slaughter is neither humane, nor a necessary evil. The horses—of which more than 92 percent are deemed to be healthy, adoptable and “in good condition” by the US Department of Agriculture—suffer terribly from start to finish.

“Our opponents love to suggest that horse slaughter is a necessary evil, without which the country will be overrun with a 100,000 horses annually,” notes Heyde. “That’s ludicrous. At most, a few dozen may be confiscated during a criminal investigation, and AWI will work to ensure any such horses are cared for. This isn’t a humane disposal service for sick and old horses; it’s a predatory business that is making a profit off the death of healthy horses.”

AWI urges House leadership to follow through on the Judiciary Committee’s decisive action, and bring the legislation up for a vote before the full House before adjourning at the month’s end. Every five minutes Congress fails to act, another horse is slaughtered.

Issue background:

Each year, more than 100,000 horses are purchased at auction by killer-buyers for export to Canada and Mexico, where they are brutally slaughtered for human consumption. In some cases, the killing method involves activities such as knife stabbing.

In the last Congress, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a bipartisan bill banning horse slaughter for human consumption by a vote of 263 to 146. The bill was not taken up by the Senate before the end of the congressional session.

A 2006 national poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies found that almost 70 percent of Americans already support a federal ban on horse slaughter.

The Animal Welfare Institute commends Magna Entertainment Corp’s (MEC) adoption of a policy directly aimed at ensuring horses stabled and raced at any of Magna’s countless racetracks don’t end up in slaughterhouses. MEC owns and operates racetracks across the entire United States.

In a statement recently released, MEC wrote “any trainer or owner stabling at an MEC facility who directly or indirectly participates in the transport of a horse from an MEC facility to either a slaughterhouse or an auction house engaged in selling horses for slaughter will be prohibited from having stalls at any MEC facility. The policy also applies to any actions related to the transport of a horse from an MEC facility where the ultimate intended result is the horse’s slaughter.”

Magna’s announcement comes on the heels of several actions within the racing industry in relation to horse slaughter. In June, Suffolk Downs of Massachusetts, a long time supporter of the Animal Welfare Institute’s campaign to end horse slaughter instituted the first policy banning those involved in horse slaughter from their track. Soon after this policy went into effect, a trainer was caught sending a horse to slaughter and was immediately banned by Suffolk Downs. Later in the month while Congress was considering legislation to ban horse slaughter, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) surprised many by issuing a letter flipping on their long time support of legislation to end horse slaughter. The letter prompted a counter letter signed by 40 of the racing industry’s leading owners, trainers and jockeys expressing their support for all legislation aimed at banning horse slaughter.

“Magna and their Chairman and CEO, Frank Stronach are to be congratulated for this monumental humane stand. For years Magna has supported our efforts to ban horse slaughter and now they join the growing ranks of organizations such as Suffolk Downs who will no longer tolerate irresponsible individuals operating on their tracks,” noted Chris Heyde, deputy director government and legal affairs for the Animal Welfare Institute.

The Animal Welfare Institute calls on other organizations and horse industry leaders to join with Magna Entertainment Corp. and Suffolk Downs by barring those who wish to profit from the abuse and neglect of horses. “Nobody, including the racing industry, should turn a blind eye to the abuse and cruelty of horse slaughter. The racing industry can help by supporting federal legislation banning horse slaughter and by prohibiting those who supply the horse slaughter industry from racing anywhere in the United States, like Magna is doing,” said Heyde.

The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) honored Greg Fett of Arkansas on Tuesday with the Albert Schweitzer Medal for outstanding achievement in the advancement of animal welfare. Fett successfully detained the drivers of a livestock trailer at his tire shop while awaiting authorities to seize the 11 malnourished horses being transported.

One horse, too ill to stand, was lying trampled beneath the hooves of the others on the trailer floor. The equines were traveling from Tennessee to slaughter in Mexico, where killing horses for the consumption of their meat still occurs. Since the destination was death, no hay or water was provided during the trip, nor any time to rest or much needed veterinary care.

“It was pure animal cruelty,” Fett says, “and I wasn’t about to let it pass me by.”

For Fett, the day’s events were history repeating. Astonishingly, two years prior, he staged a similar intervention when a trailer of 19 horses broke down en route to slaughter. While authorities ultimately rendered Fett’s rescue efforts unsuccessful that year, his above-and-beyond commitment to animal welfare has garnered accolades from AWI.

“Greg Fett’s efforts prevented the certain death of those horses,” said Cathy Liss, president of AWI. “He is an example to us all that we can make a difference and ensure no animal is treated inhumanely.”

Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) bestowed Fett with AWI’s prestigious Schweitzer Medal at a ceremony in the nation’s capital on Tuesday. In 1951, Dr. Albert Schweitzer gave his permission to the organization to strike the medal in his honor. Schweitzer is heralded today as the 20th century pioneer of animal welfare.

Each year, more than 100,000 horses are purchased by killer-buyers for export to Canada and Mexico, where they are brutally slaughtered for human consumption in Europe and Japan. While killing methods involve activities such as knife stabbing, it is the deplorable conditions in transport leading up to slaughter that constitute some of the most horrific abuses.

AWI has been the champion of ending horse slaughter, urging Congress to pass legislation that makes both the transport and slaughter of American horses a federal offense. The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2008, HR 6598, carries criminal penalties for the purchase, sale, delivery or export of horsemeat intended for human consumption including fines and prison time. Introduced on July 24, 2008 by House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and Representative Dan Burton (R-IN), the bill would amend Title 18 of the US Code, providing US government officials and law enforcement officials with the tools necessary to ensure that American horses are protected from the brutal trade for their meat.

A 2006 national poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies found that almost 70 percent of Americans already support a federal ban on horse slaughter.

Joining with a growing public chorus of outrage at a recent proposal by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and their Wild Horse Advisory board to euthanize up to 33,000 wild horses, several leaders in the US House of Representatives sent a letter to the agency stressing their strong opposition to any such effort.

Today, Congressman Nick Rahall, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee and Congressman Raul Grijalva, chairman of the National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee sent a letter to James Caswell, director of the Bureau of Land Management.

The chairmen said, “We continue to be concerned about your agency’s proposal to deal with problems facing the Bureau of Land Management’s Wild Horse and Burro Program by defaulting to a policy of mass euthanization of thousands of healthy horses. As recently as November 17, the Wild Horse Advisory Board and the BLM continue to support mass euthanization, even considering options to expand sale authority in ways that will lead to the extermination of more horses. The policy is not a solution it is a failure.”

This powerful letter comes on the heels of an announcement by Madeleine Pickens in which she as stepped forward to provide a permanent and safe home to those horses in BLM holding facilities to ensure they are not killed as the agency tries to balance its books. “Mrs. Pickens is one of the most generous and compassionate individuals I have ever known,” said Chris Heyde, deputy director of Government and Legal Affairs for the Animal Welfare Institute. “Mrs. Pickens is acting out of pure selflessness. She has been a long time fighter for America’s horses and her commitment to protecting these national treasures is historic.”

In 1971, the American public and US Congress had to come to the rescue of America’s wild horses who were being wiped out by the BLM by enacting the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. Thirty-seven years later, they are both coming to aid of them again from the mismanagement by the very same agency. There are many other options in dealing with wild horses on public lands and AWI will be working closely with Congress and other organizations to ensure the Agency is fixed so our horses and the public are not in this situation in a few years.

The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) announced today the establishment of the “Animal Welfare Institute Abandoned Horse Reward Fund.”  Under the program, individuals providing information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone who abandons a horse in violation of state law will be rewarded with up to $1,000 by AWI.

“We’ve heard time and time again from those defending horse slaughter that the fight to end this cruel practice has led to an increase in abandoned horses. The truth is that the number of American horses going to slaughter now is the same or higher as before the domestic plants closed under state law. In fact, killer buyers seem to be buying more horses than when the plants were open,” said Chris Heyde, AWI’s Deputy Director of Government and Legal Affairs.

Under the program, individuals with evidence should first contact their local police department, provide as many details as possible about the horse abandonment situation and let the department know about the Animal Welfare Institute Abandoned Horse Reward Fund. In such cases, eligibility for rewards and specific reward amounts will be determined by AWI. For complete terms and conditions of this reward fund, please go to www.awionline.org.

“If horses are being neglected or abandoned and the law is being violated, individuals need to be held accountable. Caring for a horse or any animal is a lifelong responsibility and not something you toss aside when inconvenient. We hope our reward fund will assist in bringing criminals to justice,” said Chris Heyde.

The Animal Welfare Institute has been at the forefront of efforts to pass a federal law to end horse slaughter. While the few remaining horse slaughter plants operating in the US were shut down in 2007 under state law, the absence of a federal law means that American horses are still at risk of being slaughtered for human consumption, and more than 100,000 horses were exported to Mexico and Canada in 2008 for that purpose.

In Canada, horses are often shot to death while in Mexico some plants still use the “puntilla” knife to stab the horse into a state of paralysis prior to being slaughtered while still fully conscious. The meat is then sold to high-end consumers in Europe and Asia. Congress is currently considering the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act (H.R. 503), which will protect American horses from this brutal trade.

A bill to ban horse slaughter was introduced in the United States Senate today. Sponsored by Senators Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and John Ensign (R-NV), S. 727, the Landrieu-Ensign “Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act” will end the slaughter of American horses here and abroad. The sponsors, who have long championed the cause, have the bipartisan support of 14 colleagues who are co-sponsoring the bill.

The legislation comes at a time when horse slaughter no longer occurs on US soil, but each year tens of thousands of American horses continue to be hauled to Canada, Mexico and further abroad. Reports show that horses regularly travel for hundreds or even thousands of miles to the slaughterhouses on double-deck cattle trucks without food, water or rest. At some Mexican slaughterhouses horses are stabbed repeatedly in the spine until they are paralyzed, after which they are butchered while still fully conscious. This country’s three remaining horse slaughter plants—two in Texas and one in Illinois—were shut down in 2007 under state law. Since then, the pro-slaughter camp has led a concerted and disingenuous effort to resurrect the industry domestically, and has used scare tactics in an attempt to defeat the federal ban. The federal legislation is desperately needed to stop the slaughter of American horses, irrespective of where the killing takes place.

In her statement on the Senate floor, bill sponsor Senator Mary Landrieu said, “America’s horses are being beaten and dragged across the border into Mexico and Canada so that they can be inhumanely slaughtered for food. I will continue to fight in Congress to end this brutal practice and ensure that American horses will no longer be savagely slaughtered for human consumption.”

While horse slaughter no longer occurs on US soil the absence of a federal statute means that horses are shipped out of the country for slaughter. Reports show that horses regularly travel for hundreds or even thousands of miles to the slaughterhouses on double-deck cattle trucks without food, water or rest. At some Mexican slaughterhouses horses are stabbed repeatedly in the spine until they are paralyzed, after which they are butchered while still fully conscious.

“The time to put an end to the practice of slaughtering horses in America is long overdue,” said Senator John Ensign said. “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.

“The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act will amend Title 18 of the US Code to acknowledge horse slaughter as a form of animal cruelty. The legislation includes stiff civil and criminal penalties and gives law enforcement officials the authority to apprehend and charge violators.

“We have great confidence that the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act will move quickly. The bill, which has had strong support from a majority of Congress and the American public, is long overdue. For years I have pleaded with the pro-horse slaughter camp to stop misleading the public but they are more concerned with wringing a few bucks from a suffering animal than doing what is right. Thankfully we have the majority of Congress advocating for change and this is the year that will happen,” said Chris Heyde, Deputy Director of Legislative and Government Affairs for the Animal Welfare Institute. “AWI commends Senator Landrieu, Senator Ensign and their colleagues for introducing this very important measure.”

An identical version, HR 503, was introduced earlier this year in the House of Representatives by House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and Representative Dan Burton (R-IN). There are currently 112 bipartisan cosponsors of the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act in the House of Representatives.