Anti-horse slaughter bill passes House vote

[CathyBogart]

I guess I find the social taboos and biases towards certain types of animals stupid, not necessarily the law....as was said, it IS being passed to try to end some of the suffering, I just don't like the reasons I percieve behind it. Maybe I'm wrong and more research would tell me so, but as far as I can see right now, I don't like the WHY behind this bill.

[critter crazy]

Ok... time to dig myself a hole I guess. Everyone needs to re-read exactly what was banned. The only thing banned is "horse slaughter for human consumption". There are still rendering plants, rendering has not been banned so there will still be horses sold for "slaughter" it's just got a different name. I ask you to take a good long hard look at this bill and tell me what good it has done? What difference does it make what happens to the animal AFTER it's dead? By that point it no longer cares, heck when I'm dead send me to the pygmys in New Guinea for a meal! I wont care, I'll be DEAD! Just don't torture me before then. THAT is what needs to be changed and regulated, not the actual slaughtering itself. I would much rather know a minute or two of fear before I died than spend weeks, sometimes months being abused and tortured without food or water. I am not against horse slaughter. Do I want my equines sent off to the rendering plant? NO! Would I do everything in my power to stop that from happening? YES! But as long as there are those in the equine industry overbreeding just to have one slim chance of getting that "perfect" foal and making a buck there will be the need for rendering. Think about what will happen to all those foals that weren't "perfect" and all the brood mares too old to breed if this option wasn't available. They'd be left out in a pasture/dry lot somewhere to die a slow and painful death by starvation. Which is worse?

What the american people need to do is stop worrying about the fact that "Flicka" might end up on some Europeans dinner table and start worrying about HUMANE REGULATION BEFORE slaughter/rendering. What happens after the fact is just that, after the fact. Let's do something about the treatment our beloved animals get BEFORE.

[K9soul]

Yes I read the bill.

The law would "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."

Also read here for more facts on horse slaughter. HSUS on horse slaughter

I also just have to say, I'm surprised and disappointed that it seems there is nothing but criticism here for something finally being done on a federal level to help protect animals from cruelty and pain. I realize it is just one species, horses, and not all animals, but it's a step in the right direction, it's raising more awareness, opening more doors for more to be done if it passes. I thought people would see this as a landmark and a positive thing.

[lizbud]

K9soul,

I agree with your interpretation of the bill. As I understand it, passing this
bill through both houses would shut down the slaughter houses for horses.

Most agri-business are against this bill for financial reasons. I also think this
bill would be a huge step forward for animals in this country.