House of Representatives Votes to Restore Horse Slaughter Ban

A permanent ban on horse slaughter has advanced in Congress.

On April 26th the U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to restore a 34-year-old ban on the commercial sale and slaughter of America's wild horses and burros. On April 25th the bill to ban the sale and transport to slaughter of all American horses cleared a critical Senate committee by a 15-7 vote.

However, Texas U.S. Representative Kay Granger voted no on the wild horse bill. Citizens were urged by the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) to call Granger at 202-225-5071 and express their disappointment. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson voted no on the horse slaughter bill and those interested were also urged to call her office at 202-224-5922 and let her know they hope she will reconsider her position on this bill.

You can urge support on these bills by going to hsus.org.

On April 23rd, HSUS said that week would be a make-or-break time in Congress regarding horse slaughter. As of last week the last three horse slaughter plants were shut down for now. On April 24th a National Call-In Day was held where citizens could contact Congress to ask them to end horse slaughter.

On April 25th the Senate Commerce Committee was scheduled to vote on S. 311, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.

A recent investigation by HSUS documents the abuses of American horses quietly funneled to slaughter plants in Mexico, Canada, and three foreign-owned plants in the U.S.

Since 1971 wild horses were protected from slaughter until a 2005 midnight rider to the omnibus budget bill allowed them to be commercially sold and sent to slaughter, according to the HSUS.

"Hundreds have already been sold to slaughter and turned into European entrees," stated an HSUS rep last week.

In other animal news, some greyhounds that used to race at the dog track are getting a new lease on life in North Texas.

A Carrollton kennel is bracing for a surge as track season ends in the valley.

It's the Greyhound Adoption League of Texas' busiest time of the year.

"It's sometimes overwhelming getting that many dogs in at once," said a co-founder Susie McQuade.