Cattlemen's Capitol Concerns: Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act debated in House

TSCRA Daily News Update, August 1, 2008

Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act debated in House

The House of Representatives held a hearing on Thursday, July 31 on the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act (H.R.6598), a bill which would criminalize the humane slaughter of horses.

The hearing was generally favorable towards passage of the bill, and Wayne Pacelle of the Humane Society of the United States provided testimony.

The bill was introduced under the guise of protecting horse welfare, but it will produce unintended and inhumane consequences. Since state laws have banned horse processing, the number of abandoned, neglected, and starving horses has drastically increased.

The majority of horses processed for slaughter in the United States are no longer viable for their intended use, unmanageable, or simply unwanted by their owners. These horses are sold at auction with some going to horse processing plants.

The plants, when in operation, provided humane euthanasia as dictated by the Humane Slaughter Act.

This bill would severely limit the rights of owners to manage their private property and subject horse owners to criminal prosecution should they sell their horses for processing.

NCBA continues to oppose this legislation, and has created a template for members to use when contacting members of Congress regarding this issue: http://capwiz.com/beefusa.