Anti-horse slaughter bill passes House vote

[K9soul]

The title of the article seems a bit misleading as it has only passed the first step to becoming law (I hope), but it talks about the vote taken today in the House of Representatives. A lot of people have been fighting very hard to lobby this bill getting through this time around. I hope and pray it does.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599...5-1702,00.html

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US bans horse slaughter for meat

From correspondents in Washington

Article from: Agence France-Presse

THE US House of Representatives has overnight voted to ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption, which could bring an end to a $US40-billion industry exporting horse meat to Europe and Japan.

By a vote of 263-146, the House voted to amend the Horse Protection Act, yielding to animal rights activists and average American horse enthusiasts for whom the animals are best enjoyed at the racetrack or on the riding trail.

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."

The legislation was co-sponsored by more than 200 members in the 435-member House.

Opponents fear that the bill could make it more difficult to humanely dispose of thousands of aging or infirm horses each year.

Some 90,000 horses were slaughtered last year in three US plants which the legislation, if also passed in the Senate, could force to be shuttered. Almost all of the meat is for foreign consumption, as most US states have outlawed the sale of horse meat.

Most of the horse meat is shipped to Europe and Japan, where it is seen as a lean alternative to beef.

The bill will go to the Senate for consideration, but probably not before Congress recesses for November's midterm elections.

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A site that goes more into horse slaughter: http://www.equineprotectionnetwork.c...ses/index.html

I personally feel if a horse must be put down for some reason, it should be humanely euthanized the same as a dog or cat. That's no way to reward a lifetime of service and devotion to man.