'Brutal and Dangerous': Bill to End Horse Slaughter Reintroduced to Congress
The Save America's Forgotten Equines Act seeks to permanently prohibit the commercial slaughter of horses within the US and put an end to their export for such purposes.
Animal advocates are celebrating the reintroduction of federal legislation that would permanently prohibit the slaughter of American horses for human consumption.
Reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla, and Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill last week, the Save America's Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act represents a significant step forward in safeguarding these animals.
“The slaughter of horses for human consumption is a barbaric practice that has no place in America,” said Buchanan. “As co-chairman of the Animal Protection Caucus, I look forward to continuing to lead the effort with Congresswoman Schakowsky to protect these majestic creatures.”
This proposed legislation aims to broaden the scope of the Dog and Cat Meat Prohibition Act - which was passed as part of the 2018 Farm Bill - to include equines, effectively prohibiting the commercial slaughter of horses within the US and putting an end to their export for such purposes.
“Horses have a special place in our nation’s history and in many Americans’ hearts. They embody the spirit of America, and it is time to end the brutal and dangerous practice of slaughtering these creatures for human consumption,” said Schakowsky. “As a proud animal lover, we owe it to our horse companions to protect their welfare,” said Schakowsky.
Credit: Kathy Milani/The HSUS
A Legal Loophole
Although the US banned the slaughter of horses for human consumption back in 2007, a significant number of horses have been sent from America to slaughterhouses in Mexico and Canada. These facilities serve as suppliers of horse meat to other markets in China, Italy, Japan, Russia, and more. 2022 saw around 20,000 horses sent across US borders to be killed for their meat.
"Even one horse sent to slaughter is too many. We have been fighting horse slaughter for years not only because it disregards the special connection that humans share with horses, but also because there is simply no way to kill horses humanely in a slaughterhouse,” said Kitty Block, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), said in a statement. “Congress must pass the SAFE Act so no horse from the US is ever subjected to a grueling trip that only ends with a terrifying and inhumane death.”
Horses sent from the US to Canada and Mexico endure consistent suffering and cruelty leading up to their “painful and terrifying” deaths, according to HSUS. The animals are often crammed together without adequate shelter in auctions, feedlots and export pens, where they often experience injuries and inhumane treatment.
Horses from all backgrounds end up in the slaughter pipeline, from those used in racing and show rings to those kept as companion animals or on farms, according to a report by the Center for a Humane Economy, Animal Wellness Action (AWA), and Animals’ Angels.
Kill buyers – those who buy horses to ship to slaughter in Canada and Mexico – attend auctions and often outbid rescue groups trying to help vulnerable equines. They have also been known to pose as good homes in response to ads from horse owners who can no longer care for their animals.
The harrowing ordeal for the horses caught in the slaughter pipeline persists during long-distance transports until they finally reach the kill box. Earlier this year, a field investigation of horse slaughter in North America by AWA found downed horses dragged from trailers, foals freezing to death outside, and the withdrawal of help and relief for horses with significant injuries.
The SAFE would permanently ban the transport of horses bound for slaughterhouses across state lines, essentially closing any legal loopholes that allow for this practice to continue.
Credit: Kathy Milani/The HSUS
Public Opinion
According to a nationwide survey, 83 percent of Americans oppose slaughtering horses for human consumption. Additionally, the ASPCA's Equine Transition and Adoption Center's operations in Texas and Oklahoma have shed light on the fact that nearly 75 percent of horse owners tend to keep their horses for a longer duration than anticipated due to concerns about slaughter, highlighting how slaughter can compromise good welfare.
"More than 80 percent of Americans oppose horse slaughter for human consumption, and despite robust partnerships between the equine industry and animal welfare groups to support rehoming horses, a legal loophole still allows tens of thousands of American horses to be shipped to other countries for slaughter each year," said Nancy Perry, senior vice president of Government Relations for the ASPCA.
Meanwhile, research published in 2017 revealed that 2.3 million Americans have both the strong interest and resources to adopt a horse. Compare this figure to the approximately 23,000 horses who were exported for slaughter last year – and trending even lower this year – there will be homes and good care for these horses for decades.
What Can You Do?
The SAFE Act received strong bipartisan support last Congress, with more than half of the U.S. House of Representatives signing on as cosponsors and the full House voting in favor of an amendment to ban horse slaughter.
The best thing you can do to help ensure this important bill finally passes is to reach out to your members of congress. Just type your address in the search bar on this page and you will be shown your United States Senate and House representatives. Each one will have a link to contact them below their photo.
In addition, the Species Unite community has been ramping up support for the Senate version of the bill by coming together to urge the Senate Judiciary Committee to pass the SAFE Act, with more than 12,000 of you speaking out. You can sign the petition here.
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