I saw this online today and wanted to send you all an update.
The U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee has passed H.R. 6598, a measure known as the "Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2008."
This bill prohibits transport, sale, delivery, or export of horses for slaughter for human consumption. It also criminalizes the purchase, sale, delivery, or export of horsemeat intended for human consumption. Supporters praise the bill for banning the export of horses to processing plants in Canada and Mexico.
"The bill passed by voice vote on Sept. 23," said Judiciary Committee Communications Director Jonathan Godfrey. "The next step is introduction on the House floor."
This is the AQHA action alert email on H.R. 6598
This appears to be just pure information on H.R. 6598 from Thomas - legislative information from the Library of Congress.
H.R.6598 Title: To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit certain conduct relating to the use of horses for human consumption.
Sponsor: Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [MI-14] (introduced 7/24/2008) Cosponsors (105)
Latest Major Action: 9/23/2008 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
SUMMARY AS OF: 7/24/2008--Introduced.
Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2008 - Amends the federal criminal code to impose a fine and/or prison term of up to three years for possessing, shipping, transporting, purchasing, selling, delivering, or receiving any horse, horse flesh, or carcass with the intent that it be used for human consumption. Reduces the prison term to one year if the offense involves less than five horses or less than 2,000 pounds of horse flesh or carcass and the offender has no prior conviction for this offense.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
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3 comments:
It's about time that we realize the value of horses!! They have gone to war, worked the fields, been loyal companions, parts of our family; been caretakers for our children as they ride around the show ring, pulled goods between towns, help build the infrastructure of this country and others for thousands of years.
It's time that we say that it is unacceptable to load them into horrible trucks and ship them off to be slaughtered like useless pieces of meat. The majority of horses at slaughter plants today are healthy young to middle aged horses. How sad is that!! What have we come to?
Many horses associations don't want this bill to pass because it will hurt their breed numbers. If breeders can't get meat money for unwanted horses then it forces them to keep care for them. This might force the horse industry to take a look at its breeding practices once and for all. Overpopulation of horses is a terrible problem today. With hay shortages and the economy, horses should not be bred. I personally own two rescues and they are the lights of my life. Talented and beautiful!
Let this be a lesson to us all that the horses we buy are our responsibility not the slaughter plants. When horses outlive there so called "usefulness" then it is up to us to care for them. The same that we would want to be cared for in our old age. They deserve it!
In response to the last comment on 9/30/08...
Nice IDEAL thought. Problem is that people aren't taking care of their horses like they should. Hay is extremely expensive, not to mention multiple related costs of upkeep. So would you rather see them turned out onto public land to try to survive on their own? Being savagely attacked by wild animals they have never known how to escape? Or starved to death because they have no idea how to find food for themselves (assuming there is any). What about the greater good of people that might truly benefit from their meat as a last gift to humankind? People, most recently, have been unable to GIVE away their horses, let alone sell them. What do you think this does to costs (hay for instance) to the rest of us that ARE, in fact, still caring for our horses? More horses = more demand = higher prices.
I agree that regulations should be in place that keep the treatment of slaughter horses humane. I believe God put animals here for our use (not abuse). When their usefulness has expired, it should be up to us,individually & personally, to decide how to deal with the situation so that no suffering is involved. Keep 'em for yard art if you can afford it. But if people can't or won't care adequately for their horses, don't take away the option of utilizing all that can be. More government control we don't need.
Seriously, until people stop breeding unwanted horses, there needs to be SOME form of control to the population.
I'd rather see a horse slaughtered than left to starve in a pasture. Which is more humane in the long run?
The real issue here is that horse owners need to start being responsible and only breeding horses that are needed. Pasture breeding and breeding just "because" is flat out irresponsible. Just look at the huge number of horses on craigslist and dreamhorse. Really, is it necessary to breed your mare just because you want a chocolate baby instead of a sorrel?
I think it's all of us that have caused this issue and until it's solved, the unwanted horses need to go somewhere.
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