Memphis Horses- What Can You Do About Horse Slaughter?

"So much that is good, that is decent has come out of Barbaro's tragic accident. Although the good will never place him back in the starting gate it will give rise to the awareness that we must be more responsible for our horses. Not only because veterinary medicine has progressed but also to stand up to cruelty towards them and to the untimely, brutal death awaiting them in slaughter houses."

- Gretchen Jackson, owner/breeder of BARBARO, winner of the 2006 Kentucky Derby

How can any true horse lover advocate the atrocoties of slaughter? Is it a humane end... ABSOLUTELY NOT! I'll spare the gory details (including transport horrors), but I refuse to believe that good-hearted, ethical, humane, animal-loving individuals believe horse slaughter is necessary. Regardless of opinion differences re: horse slaughter, I don't see how ANYONE can condone the way it occurs. CHANGE IS NEEDED! It continues because people don't know what happens; because people aren't educated about it. The best way to derail horse slaughter is to EDUCATE Horse and animal-lover's about this issue!

If the concept of Horse Slaughter makes your stomach churn, and gets you all fired up like me, there is a lot that YOU can do about it. You can make a difference! As I see it, this whole debate boils down to money and greed. Those who truly love horses, will be opposed to slaughter. Those who are greedy and place more value on Money than ideals and ethics will be pro-slaughter.

Please Take Action!

Please write, email, call or fax your Representative and Senators and urge her or him to cosponsor this important legislation. To find your member click here.

U.S. House of Representatives

• H.R. 503, The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (AHSPA)
  To amend the Horse Protection Act to prohibit the shipping, transporting, moving, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donation of horses and other equines to be slaughtered for human consumption, and for other purposes.
• UPDATE: On September 7, 2006, the House of Representatives voted 263 to 146 in favor of H.R. 503, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, to end the slaughter of horses for human consumption.

U.S. Senate

• S. 1915, The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (AHSPA)
  To amend the Horse Protection Act to prohibit the shipping,transporting, moving, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing,selling, or donation of horses and other equines to be slaughtered for human consumption, and for other purposes.

You can make a difference!

• Many of the horses sold into slaughter have been abused and neglected.Be sure to report all instances of cruelty and neglect to your local animal control office and law enforcement office.

• Please report stolen horses to local and state authorities. The Internet has numerous websites for reporting and looking for stolen horses. These sites allow individuals around the country to share information and photos.

• Do not sell your horse at an auction; many of the horses at auctions are bought by killer-buyers.

Consider the following options:

• Donate your horse to an equine rescue organization; making arrangements with a retirement farm- make sure you have proper references and an agreement that the horse will never be neglected, or sold to slaughter!

• Donate, sell or lease your horse to a therapeutic riding program!

• Sell the horse privately to an individual with proper references and a detailed agreement that the horse will never be sold to slaughter.

• As a last resort, even humane euthanasia by a licensed veterinarian is preferable to cruel transport and slaughter!
  

Please write the Secretary of Interior opposing the Bureau of Land Management’s overzealous wild horse round-up policy. Thousands of wild horses continue to be removed from their traditional range, and now many of them will be slated for slaughter. Write to:

Secretary of the Interior
US Department of Interior
1849 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20240

SOURCE: Society for Animal Protective Legislation