Last year, approximately 80,000 American horses were trucked over our borders (to Canada and Mexico) to be slaughtered for human consumption. Until this practice is banned and Congress passes a law against slaughter here in the U.S., no horse is safe. 

 

The term “horse slaughter” refers exclusively to the killing and processing of horses for human consumption. Horse slaughter is NOT humane euthanasia.

 

While “euthanasia” is defined as a gentle, painless death provided in order to prevent suffering, slaughter is a brutal and terrifying end for horses.

 

The methods used to kill horses rarely result in quick, painless deaths for these animals

 and sometimes they even remain conscious during dismemberment.

 

Horses bound for slaughter (who may include pregnant mares, foals and horses who are injured or blind) are commonly shipped for more than 24 hours at a time in crowded trucks without food, water or rest.

 

Horse Slaughter in the United States

The last three U.S. slaughterhouses—two in Texas and one in Illinois, all foreign-owned—were shuttered in 2007. In 2006, these facilities killed and processed more than 104,000 horses for human consumption, shipping the meat overseas.

Slaughterhouses are not clean or green enterprises and these facilities have proved to be environmentally damaging as well as economically draining to the communities that have housed them. It is clear that states with experience hosting horse slaughter facilities do not want them back: Texas and Illinois have implemented laws that specifically ban selling, giving and possessing horse meat intended for human consumption.

Horse Slaughter Abroad

Looking at data from 2012 to 2016, an average of 137,000 American horses were trucked over our borders each year to slaughter facilities in Mexico and Canada. In 2017, that number dipped to just under 80,000. Reopening slaughterhouses in America is not the answer to ending this form of cruelty.

In fact, even when horse slaughter facilities operated in the United States, tens of thousands of American horses were still exported to other countries for slaughter.

Additionally, long-distance transport is an inherent aspect of this industry. Given the vast geography of the U.S., any transport of American horses to slaughter—within or outside the U.S.—will be long and brutal.

The Future

Until a ban is in place, every American horse is at risk of meeting this fate. Fortunately, in January 2019 the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act (H.R. 961) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill would prohibit the slaughter of horses for human consumption in the United States and ban their export abroad for that purpose—but we need your help to ensure Congress passes this important legislation.

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.

T-SHIRTS IN SUPPORT OF HORSE RESCUE FUND 

LIMITED TIME OFFER FREE SHIPPING CANADA & USA 

CANADA SLAUGHTERS HORSES FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION

It may be hard for some to believe that tens of thousands of horses, including pets, are routinely slaughtered in Canada, for human consumption.

Some of the meat is consumed in Canada and much of it is shipped to the European Union and other markets, including  Japan.

The barbaric slaughter of horses is currently not legal in the United States, BUT  horses, including pets and ex-racehorses, from the United States are shipped to Canada and to Mexico to be slaughtered.

In addition Canada allows for the transportation of live horses to Japan,  to be slaughtered for human consumption, and unfortunately the transportation of horses destined for slaughter within Canada, and by air, is far from humane. 

SURVEY EQUINE CODE

SURVEY EQUINE CODE

NATIONAL FARM ANIMAL CARE COUNCILTHANK YOU TO ALL WHO TOOK THE TIME TO FILL OUT THE SURVEY.  IT IS NOW CLOSED. May 6, 2024: Thank you to BCSPCA for making us aware of this survey. They write:Are you passionate about the welfare of equines in Canada? Now is your chance...

read more
APRIL 9, 2024 BOUVRY SLAUGHTERED HORSES

APRIL 9, 2024 BOUVRY SLAUGHTERED HORSES

AND HERE WE GO AGAIN... April 9, 2024: We continue to hear that Bouvry in Fort MacLeod has closed.   That rumour, a misinterpretation of a post by a well known and much respected by us group persists.  The main FEEDLOT - which is a seperate property from where the...

read more
BOUVRY UPDATE

BOUVRY UPDATE

THE MAIN FEED LOT AT BOUVRY UPDATED MARCH 30, 2024: The main FEEDLOT  belonging to the Bouvry slaughter plant in Fort MacLeod, Alberta, Canada -- which for years has been used to fatten up horses before slaughter --  has been empty for some months now. BUT horse...

read more

BAN HORSE SLAUGHTER

FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION OR ANY PURPOSE
DONATESHOP TO SAVE HORSES

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This