Should the Slaughter of Horses Be Banned?
Dear EarthTalk: What is the status of horse slaughter in the U.S., which is done primarily to export the meat to Europe? — J. Worden, Monroe, CT Much to the delight of horse lovers everywhere, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill (H.R. 503) in September 2006 outlawing the sale and transport of horses for slaughter for human consumption. A related bill, S. 1915, is currently under review by the Senate’s Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, which will recommend whether to send it up for debate and a vote. Animal advocates are optimistic that the Senate will follow the House’s lead and make the bill the law of the land in 2007. The Relationship of Horses and People Long a revered symbol of the American West, horses have enjoyed special status among domestic animals for many decades. The horse in North America was once considered just a form of livestock to be utilized for farm work or transportation, but today it stands as a status symbol for those wealthy enough to
Should the Slaughter of Horses Be Banned? Tuesday January 22, 2008 Tens of thousands of horses are slaughtered every year in the United States and Canada, and the meat is either exported to Europe and Asia or fed to zoo animals domestically. Many of the horses are mistreated prior to slaughter and killed in ways that are pointlessly cruel. What is being done to end the needless and inhumane slaughter of horses? Photo courtesy of Getty Images More about: ???–>Comments (22)See All PostsShare
