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Illinois Ends Horse Slaughter
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This is a great day for all of us because Illinois has closed its horse slaughterhouse, the last remaining plant in the United States. Kudos to Illinois’ citizens, leaders and national coalitions for uniting to protect our horses from this cruel practice of horse slaughter and shipment of horsemeat oversees for human consumption. Texas closed their two horse slaughterhouses earlier this year. At this writing there are no horse slaughterhouses in America.
Horses still need our help.
Texas State Senators attempted a deceptive action to attach an amendment that would allow the two foreign owned Texas horse slaughterhouses to reopen but it appears at this writing their maneuvers failed. Chris Heyde, Deputy Legislative Director for the Society for Animal Protective Legislation says, “I hear no amendments made it through Texas. That means horse slaughter is still outlawed in Texas for another two years!”. Thanks to concerned citizens in Texas and the nation for exercising your voice.
Let’s outlaw horse slaughter permanently.
We still need everyone to speak their voice about this issue because national legislation is still pending. Loopholes must be closed to prevent horses from being taken over the borders and subjected to the same barbaric practice that we just stopped in our country.
Democracy and Freedom Unite Us
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 24, 2007
Gov. Blagojevich signs legislation banning the slaughter of horses in Illinois for human consumption.
SPRINGFIELD Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today signed legislation that bans the slaughter of horses in Illinois for human consumption. House Bill 1711, sponsored by State Rep. Robert S. Molaro (D-Chicago) and State Sen. John Cullerton (D-Chicago), bans importing or exporting horsemeat if any horsemeat will be used for human consumption.
“It’s past time to stop slaughtering horses in Illinois and sending their meat overseas. I’m proud to sign this law that finally puts an end to this practice,” Gov. Blagojevich said.
The Governor announced his support for the legislation after hearing from advocates, including Bo Derek, actress and longtime activist for the protection of horses, in April. Violations of the new state law are punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a fine of $1,500.
“People were selling horses not knowing that they were being used and treated like livestock and ended up on the slaughter room floor,” said Sen. Cullerton. “This bill will ensure that using horses for the purpose of human consumption is illegal throughout the State of Illinois just as it is in 48 other states in the nation.”
“I am grateful to my colleagues and the Governor for joining with me in ending this shameless slaughter of these beautiful animals for the sole purpose of ensuring fine dining in European restaurants,” said Rep. Molaro.
“There is no domestic market for horsemeat and, therefore, no need for this practice to continue in Illinois,” Agriculture Director Chuck Hartke said.”Meat from the slaughtered horses is being shipped overseas to places like Belgium, France and Japan.”
Illinois is home to the sole remaining horse slaughterhouse in the United States, Cavel International in DeKalb. Two other horse slaughterhouses in the country, both in Texas, closed earlier this year after an appellate court rejected their appeals of a lower-court ruling that the plants were operating in violation of Texas state law.
“As both a horsewoman and a compassionate person, I applaud the resolve of the people of Illinois to end the cruel, bloody trade in horsemeat,” said actress Bo Derek. “My family hails from the State of Illinois and I know they would be proud of the actions taken on behalf of our horses by Governor Blagojevich, Representative Molaro and Senator Cullerton.”
“With a stroke of his pen, Governor Blagojevich has brought the brutal slaughter of horses in the United States to an end. Hereafter, may we only hear of horse slaughter recounted in history books as a sign of how we have progressed in our treatment of these majestic animals,” said Chris Heyde, deputy legislative director for the Society for Animal Protective Legislation.
“On behalf of our national coalition that includes thousands of Illinois horse owners, we are deeply grateful to Governor Blagojevich, Representative Molaro, Senator Cullerton, and all members of the Illinois General Assembly who have worked so hard to pass this essential legislation to protect horses from the cruel practice of horse slaughter,” said Gail Vacca of Top of the Hill horse farm in Wilmington. “Illinois horse owners are proud today in the knowledge that our state legislature has set the bar in raising the standard for the humane treatment of our nation’s horses.”
Tags: Horses
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July 17th, 2007 at 2:19 pm
[...] following the passage in May of a new Illinois law that makes it a crime to slaughter horses for human consumption, Cavel had filed suit in federal [...]
August 7th, 2007 at 6:31 pm
I currently own 12 miniature horses and three riding horses. I do not condone horse slaughter, yet I have mixed feelings about the last slaughter-house closing. While I cannot imagine eating one of these beautiful creatures, I am concerned about the fate of the thousands of old, sick, or unwanted horses in our country.
Near my home in SW Wisconsin, people have been turning their unwanted horses loose in a state forest preserve, to fend for themselves. There are an estimated 12 to 20 horses now roaming wild. I forsee this action happening in other areas as well. Too many people don’t have enough compassion to give these elderly or ill horses the food, farrier and vet care they need, so without the “kill pens” at our local horse auctions, they instead turn these horses loose.
There are too many irresponsible breeders in the US. There are also too many horses and not enough buyers. What’s to become of all these unwanted horses? While I could never condone the slaughterhouses, in my opinion they at least provided a more humane end to a horse’s life than being turned loose into a forest preserve after a lifetime of having its needs met by humans.
It will be interesting to see the national impact the loss of the slaughterhouses has on the general horse populaton.
December 7th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
Dear Horse Slaughterers,
I want you to take a minute and imagine yourself being a slaughter horse. How would you feel to be treated cruelly and then to be killed? It would hurt wouldn’t it. That’s what you are doing to horses. What did they ever do to you?
First of all you may think that killing horses is a good pastime or a way to get money, but did you know that horse slaughter is against the law? It would be horrible to be put behind bars because you killed a horse.
Secondly, if you slaughter a horse you may also get a fine for it. If you don’t have enough money to pay off a fine then I would SERIOUSLY think about stopping horse slaughter, because it may cost you.
Also if you slaughter horses to sell for people to eat the people you sell it to may get sick. Recent lab tests have shown that horse meat has stuff that humans cannot consume in it. So you are just going to make people sick.
Do not abuse horses, for they are one of God’s creatures just like us. They are nature’s beauty. Do not destroy that.