Stop horse slaughter - Chicago horse racing

Home

News

Racing Now

Forums

Chicago racing newsletter sign-up
Upcoming events
Triple Crown
Illinois Derby
Horse slaughter in Illinois

Horse slaughter in Illinois

Listen to the song
How you can help	Links to more info
Supporters
Illinois State Representatives	Illinois State Senators

Contact: Chris Heyde, 202-446-2142

April 3, 2009

Attempt to Overturn Illinois Horse Slaughter Ban Stalled in House

Washington, DC (April 3, 2009) – The Animal Welfare Institute commends the Illinois General Assembly’s House of Representatives for reaffirming their commitment to equine welfare by opposing an attempt to overturn the state’s 2007 ban on horse slaughter on the House floor today.

On April 1, just after the day’s business began, state Representative Jim Sacia called for a vote on his bill to overturn the horse slaughter ban, which closed the last remaining slaughterhouse in 2007. However, when he realized he did not have the necessary 60 votes for passage, he employed a technical procedure called “tabling,” which removes the bill from consideration before failure. He did this so he could have more time to try and gain additional votes. He had until the end of the day today to try and have the bill considered before the House, which proved unsuccessful. However, the General Assembly remains in session until May 31, so we must remain vigilant to ensure this legislation does not come up again.

“It is a real shame to see Rep. Sacia waste so much of his colleagues’ time on an issue advocating horse abuse, with so many pressing issues to consider before the end of the session. The original ban was strongly supported by the residents of Illinois and the majority of Americans. Overturning it would reestablish a cruel industry and only benefit a foreign owned horse slaughterhouse,” said Chris Heyde, AWI’s deputy director of Government and Legal Affair.

During the floor debate, advocates of horse slaughter told tall tales of horses being dumped all over the state and one even said without slaughter, residents would soon see cars hitting horses on highways. Sadly, fear and emotional spin are all horse slaughter advocates have on their side when debating this issue. None of the claims about increased abuse and abandonment have been proven true in Illinois or elsewhere. Certainly, subsisting one form of abuse – slaughter – for another – abandonment – is no excuse. The truth that horse slaughter is cruel and perpetuates irresponsibility is irrefutable, which is why support for ending horse slaughter remains high. The majority of legislators in Illinois realize this is a bad bill and we are sure this sentiment will continue to hold.

“Maintaining the state ban in Illinois is crucial because it closed the last operating horse slaughter facility in the US,” noted Heyde. “This, along with the immediate passage of the federal Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act (H.R. 503/S. 727) will ensure an end to one form of preventable cruelty.”

Contact: Gail Vacca, 815-761-4937

April 2, 2009

Please help us respond to Rep. Sacia's campaign of misinformation!

Many of you probably listened to the floor debate yesterday on IL HB 583 and I'm sure that those of you who did were likely as disappointed and angry as I was with the lies and misinformation offered up in debate by Rep. Jim Sacia and several other pro-slaughter IL Representatives.

We need to get the facts out to the IL General Assembly and we must not allow this misinformation to go unrebutted. Please take the time to draft a letter to email to as many IL Reps and media outlets as you possibly can. I've provided some talking points for you to use in your letters. A contact list of IL Reps and media follows below as well.

Thanks so much to everyone who helped make a difference yesterday. It was YOUR calls, letters, and emails that made the difference. While this battle is not yet over, we did indeed enjoy a minor victory yesterday, and for that I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Please keep up the good fight!

Points we need to rebut:

1) Rep. Sacia stated that there are no vets who disagree that the captive bolt/horse slaughter is humane. As we all know, this is uncategorically FALSE. Please download the letter sent to Rep. Sacia from the Veterinarians for Equine Welfare. Please include a copy of the VEW letter with your letters/emails to IL members and media.

http://www.barntowire.com/reply_sacia_comments.pdf

2) Rep. Sacia claimed that it is illegal to bury your horse in Illinois. This is NOT true. The link below clearly negates this claim. The criteria for carcass disposal/burial are laid out in this IL statute.

http://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/008/008000900001100R.html

3) Rep. Sacia claimed that 60 horses were abused/neglected in Coles County due to Cavel's closure. This 60-horse seizure was took place in August 2007, while Cavel was still operating.

http://www.pet-abuse.com/cases/12449/IL/US/

4) Rep. Sacia claimed that there are currently 185,000 abandoned horses.

He misspoke here. That is the alleged (and UNTRUE) "unwanted" horse number that several pro-slaughter groups have used. I believe this comes from adding up the 2007 slaughter figure, plus Mexico/Canada export numbers that year, plus mustangs in longterm/short-term holding, plus mustangs on the range.

The alleged horse abandonments have nearly all been investigated and proven to be false. The documentation debunking this pro-slaughter propaganda can be found here:

http://www.kaufmanzoning.net/DeletingtheFictionPart2.pdf

5) It was stated during debate that the only IL horseman's group opposed to horse slaughter was the IL HBPA. This is also UNTRUE. The overwhelming majority of IL professional horsemen, horsemen's groups, and horse owners oppose horse slaughter and Rep. Sacia's HB 583. These groups include:

The IL Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Foundation, IL Thoroughbred Horsmen's Association, IL Harness Horsemen's Association, IL Horsemen's Benevolent Protective Association, Arlington Park, Hawthorne Racecourse, Fairmount Park, Maywood Park, Balmoral Park

6) It was stated that the IL equine rescue group HARPS strongly supported horse slaughter as a humane method of ending the life of a horse, and that HARPS believed that abuse and neglect have drastically increased since Cavel was closed. What they did not mention was that HARPS is the ONLY equine welfare group in IL that supports this position. All other IL equine welfare groups strongly oppose horse slaughter, as do all major national humane organizations. Those opposed to horse slaughter include:

Illinois Equine Welfare Groups:

Illinois Equine Humane Center (Wilmington, IL), Hooved Animal Humane Center (Woodstock, IL), Mid America Horse Rescue (Millstadt, IL), Crosswinds Equine Rescue (Tuscola, IL), Field of Dreams Horse Rescue and Adoption (St. Charles, IL), Society for Hooved Animal Rescue and Emergency (Champaign, IL), C.A.N.T.E.R. (Northern IL).

National Animal Welfare Groups:

Animal Welfare Institute, Humane Society of the United States, ASPCA, Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, CANTER-National, ReRun, Exceller Fund, Habitat for Horses, Homes for Horses Coalition, National Horse Protection League

7) It was stated that figures from the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA)indicate that equine abuse and neglect have drastically increased since Cavel closed in 2007. There is no evidence to support this claim. The 2008 humane investigations audit forms have only recently been sent out to the state's investigative agencies and agents. Therefore, the data from 2008 has not yet even been collected by the IDOA. Furthermore, from 2002-2004 when Cavel was closed due to a fire at the plant, cases of abuse/neglect in IL actually declined!

8) In what was perhaps the most egregious of Rep. Sacia's claims, he stated that USDA inspections ensure that federal regulations with regard to the slaughter of horses in the United States are followed which results in the process being far more humane here in the States than in Mexico or Canada. Countless documents obtained via the FOIA from the USDA itself, clearly indicate that this is not the case. You can download a copy of the most recent USDA FOIA document here (WARNING: Contains graphic evidence of equine cruelty)

http://www.kaufmanzoning.net/foia.htm

Also, please be certain to point out that should this bill pass and Cavel be allowed to reopen, federal legislation is in place that prohibits the USDA from participating in the inspection of horsemeat! This FACT alone should be enough to convince IL members that horse slaughter plants can no longer legally operate within Illinois or anywhere else within the United States.

Contact information for IL House Members and IL Media:

Please visit this link for a full listing of IL media outlets

http://capwiz.com/compassionindex/dbq/media/

http://www.barntowire.com/stophorseslaughter-Illinois-reps.html

Contact: Chris Heyde, 202-446-2142

March 26, 2009

BILL TO BAN HORSE SLAUGHTER INTRODUCED IN UNITED STATES SENATE

Washington, DC (March 26, 2009) – 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), 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 U.S. 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.

"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," said Senator Mary Landrieu.

While horse slaughter no longer occurs on U.S. 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 U.S. 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. To take action on this important bill visit AWI's Compassion Index.

###

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.

For over 57 years, the Animal Welfare Institute has been the leading voice for animals across the country and on Capitol Hill to reduce the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by humans. To learn more about us, please visit http://www.awionline.org/.

KEEP-ing it Real: Putting the Cart Before the (Exsanguinated) Horse
Horse Race Insider, 6/18/2009

Endgame often depends on luck
Daily Racing Form, 6/10/2009

Finding a nice retirement home for a Thoroughbred
The New York Times, 6/6/2009

We can't slaughter our way to horse welfare
Harnesslink.com, 5/26/2009

Is Montana the new home of horse slaughter?
Harnesslink.com, 5/20/2009

Real Sports takes another look at horse slaughter
Thoroughbred Times, 5/19/2009

A Thoroughbred idea: Program would give racehorses, inmates new purpose
Decatur Herald & Review, 5/18/2009 New bill could help Illinois inmates care for retired horses, learn skills
Chicagoist, 5/17/2009

>Illinois considering plan to pair horses, inmates
Chicago Tribune, 5/16/2009

Prison program would give retired Illinois race horses new lease on life
Belleville News-Democrat, 5/14/2009

Horse slaughter dream a financial nightmare
Harnesslink.com, 5/13/2009

Program would benefit race horses and prisoners
Belleville News-Democrat, 5/11/2009

Governor Schweitzer's slaughter bill
Harnesslink.com, 5/7/2009