Debunking the "Unwanted Horses" Myth
Horse slaughter proponents have consistently fought the passage of federal legislation that would make the slaughter of American horses illegal. One of their main justifications is that there is a huge “unwanted horse” population in the United States.
Those who advance this unsubstantiated claim, including the American Association of Equine Practitioners, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Quarter Horse Association, and the Livestock Marketing Association have lobbied Congress to block passage of the federal ban. Their premise is that slaughter improves horse welfare, offering a “humane” way to dispose of these animals—a “necessary evil” without which horses would be subjected to neglect, abandonment and abuse.
In truth, no hard data exists to back up claims about a burgeoning population of “unwanted horses.” What is clear is that killer buyers working for the slaughterhouses are outbidding other buyers at auction because they have the financial incentive to do so. The market for slaughtered horses is set by the international demand for their meat in other countries, not by the number of supposedly unwanted horses.
Horse slaughter proponents claim that shutting down U.S. plants has depressed the market for horses, resulting in over 100,000 unwanted horses in the United States and a concomitant increase in abuse, neglect and abandonment. Yet, more horses are slaughtered now than before the U.S. plants closed. According to the Government Accountability Office, nearly 138,000 American horses were exported to slaughterhouses in Canada and Mexico in 2010. How can closing U.S. facilities depress the market for horses when demand from killer buyers continues to rise? Such numbers directly undermine the argument put forth by slaughter proponents.
2019 Federal Legislation
In March of 2019, The Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act was introduced. If passed into law, The SAFE Act would ban horse slaughter facilities within the USA, end the current export of American horses for slaughter abroad, and protect the public from consuming toxic horsemeat.
We urge to join the effort to pass The SAFE Act by reaching out to your federal legislators. The horses need your voice. |
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