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South Dakota Horse Slaughter Bill Defeated
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Pierre, S.D. (January 29, 2008) – The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) today praised the South Dakota Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee’s rejection of S.B. 170, a bill that would have pumped up to $1 million of state funds into the construction of a horse slaughter facility. AWI submitted testimony opposing the legislation, urging legislators to consider the environmental, fiscal and social impacts the establishment of a horse slaughtering facility would have on the state.
The organization also encouraged members of the public to state their opinion about this harmful legislation. A resulting flood of calls and emails into the State Capitol of Pierre from concerned citizens across the country likely influenced the bill’s demise. South Dakotans voiced their opposition, too; some residents traveled in sub-zero temperatures to testify before the committee in opposition to the bill.
“In light of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (AHSPA), a hugely popular bill to ban horse slaughter that is currently before the US Congress, it would be fiscally foolhardy for South Dakota to enter into such a venture,” said Chris Heyde, AWI’s deputy director of government and legal affairs. “It would also be completely out of step with American values, which have resulted in the closure of all domestic horse slaughter plants.”
While some members of the committee may have objected to what they perceived as “outside interference” from concerned citizens calling from other states, residents of other states also have a right to care whether South Dakota establishes such a facility, Heyde explained. The overwhelming majority of horses slaughtered at such a plant would have come from other states, so the impact of S.B. 170 would have gone well beyond South Dakota’s state lines.
AWI continues to work with federal legislators to obtain passage of the AHSPA, introduced as S. 311 and H.R. 503 in the US Senate and the US House of Representatives, respectively. The non-partisan bill, which currently has 38 cosponsors in the Senate and 193 cosponsors in the House, will prohibit the domestic slaughter of horses for human consumption, as well as their export for the same purpose.
Contact:
Liz Ross, (202) 497-6780
For over 56 years, AWI and its legislative arm, the Society for Animal Protective Legislation, have been the leading voice for animals across the country and on Capitol Hill. Please join us in our ongoing campaigns to reduce the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by humans. Sign up for AWI eAlerts to receive the latest news on what you can do to help us protect all animals: http://www.awionline.org/joinus. © AWI 2008
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Christopher J. Heyde
Deputy Director, Government and Legal Affairs
Animal Welfare Institute
PO Box 3650
Washington, DC 20027
Tel: (703) 836-4300
www.awionline.org
www.compassionindex.org
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February 2nd, 2008 at 5:45 pm
amen 2 that!!!
February 3rd, 2008 at 4:44 am
Bravo, South Dakota. Thanks to John Holland and Chris Heyde for their tireless efforts on behalf of our horses.
February 5th, 2008 at 7:16 am
What’s next?”"? Cattle–swine–fish. A horse is an animal the same as a cow or pig. Who is going to feed all of these animals when the owners no longer can. I can tell you;; the American taxpayer. Just because we don’t eat horses anymore does not mean someone else can’t buy and eat them. I think everyone should butt out. They don’t eat cows in India do they–think about that the next time you eat a hamburger!!!!!!!
February 5th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
This e-mail is aimed at Buck Curtis. No, people in the USA don’t eat horse meat. Horses are considered pets in this country. I don’t eat dogs and cats either but in China they do. In China dog and cat stew are considered a delicacy. Just go to Google to find out. Horses are intelligent, this is why your able to train them. I have never seen anyone throw a saddle on a milk cow yet.
February 6th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Barbara Griffith - you must live in the City because cows, bulls and many other animals can be trained just like a horse! We have a brahma bull that we can ride around just like a horse. Open your eyes and look around there is more to this that what you are seeing. Take a trip out of the city and come to the country and see what is really happening.
February 21st, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Barbara–I’ve seen some very highly trained dogs as well as assorted species of bovine animals that have been trained to ride. Since when did our Lord give animals the same rights as humans? They were created to serve us–in whatever form is needed. Yes, they need to be treated with respect, but things are getting out of hand. Do you want unwanted horses to be turned loose in your backyard? There comes a time when one is no longer able to physically care for an animal when slaughter is the most humane way of dealing with the dilema.
February 22nd, 2008 at 10:53 am
I am not a proponent of slaughtering horses in the way that it has been done for so long, with the animals being shipped hundreds to thousands of miles in a cramped cattle truck for days, suffering injury and torment, then to have some incompetent, callous jerk miss his forhead with the captive bolt, getting his shoulder, eye, neck, whatever. But honestly, I’ve seen a veterinary euthanasia go just as bad as a botched captive bolt job, how’s 10 minutes for a horse to die by a vet’s hand? that’s what happened to one of ours when the vet missed the vein. That horse suffocated to death and it took 10 minutes while we watched.
In the old days, when Trigger was done for and couldn’t plow the field anymore or was too old or lame to be ridden, the owner shot the horse himself or took him to the town butcher where the horse was instantly killed and provided food for the farmer’s family, too. No lingering misery or torture, just death. Over time, larger processing facilities replaced the local butcher, then people started riding horses for pleasure rather than necessity. Horses are no longer considered livestock by most owners, they are a family pet to be pampered and enjoyed. Unfortunately, with the change in function came a change in how horses were viewed and valued, which in turn lead to an increase in prices.
Somewhere around 30 years ago, many rank amateurs decided to get into breeding horses, an apparently hard habit to break because in spite of the freefall of horse prices, they’re still pumping them out faster than they can be absorbed into a saturated market. Even in the horse market, basic laws of economics apply… too much supply leads to reduced demand and excess inventory. The breeders aren’t going to be stuck with that inventory, that’s for sure, so many horses are moved via “dispersal sales” and auctions and lead onto a cattle truck bound to hell.
I hate the idea of slaughtering horses. But the slaughter plants aren’t the real CAUSE of the problem, are they? If you want to stop the flow of blood, start with the breeders.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:29 am
Unfortunately now that we have banned slaughter we have many horses starving and neglected, far more than prior to the ban. Where are all the bleeding hearts that wanted them saved??? Where are your $$$ for hay, grain, vet care, etc. Just this morning more horses were found DEAD here in West Michigan. My cousin who is a police officer in Kentucky has reported there are folks stealing hay and grain to feed their own horses that normally would have been gone to slaughter as well. So …again..where is the SOLUTION for this problem???? Maybe all you bleeding hearts could provide an address and we will bring all the excess horses to your place!
April 9th, 2008 at 4:31 am
If these people knew what we put in these animals they would never eat the horse are any other animal.I do not think God meant for the animals to suffer from the abuse we put on them I think man takes great pleasure in the agony of an animal and that my friend is sick. We stop this over breeding from these people who keep looking for the perfect animal and this will stop. There is no perfect animal. GREED is the word and lets face it man has plenty.We always try to justify our actions truth is we can not justify torture. Listen to the word SLAUGHTER does that sound like a good word? Buy the way the taxpayers are the problem. It should not be cheap to own a horse anymore.