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End cruel slaughter of U.S. horses
A Times Editorial
Published February 25, 2008
Year after year, the American public has been crystal clear about horse slaughter: Outlaw the barbaric practice. It has taken Congress a while to reflect the public's will, but it has a chance to rectify that wrong.
All three foreign-owned horse slaughter plants here (in Texas and Illinois) have been shut down by state legislation and legal action supported by the Humane Society of the United States. But that hasn't stopped the slaughter of domestic horses.
Thousands of horses are sent on a long, abuse-filled journey to slaughterhouses in Mexico and Canada. What happens in those awful places was recorded in undercover videos obtained by HSUS, and it is even more disturbing than the recently released scenes from a California cattle slaughterhouse. In Mexico, horses have their spinal cords severed by hand with a knife, and are still conscious as the slaughter continues. In Canada, they are shot but don't always die immediately.
Americans long ago stopped eating horse meat, so the final product is shipped to Europe and Asia. American owners often sell horses that had been pets without knowing their ultimate fate. There are better choices. A variety of rescue and adoption organizations will try to find a caring home for unwanted horses, or at least end a suffering animal's life in a painless and humane manner.
More information on the subject is available on the Web at the HSUS site (hsus.org) and the National Horse Protection League(horse-protection.org).
This is where Congress needs to step in to end the cruelty. Pending legislation (House bill HR 503, Senate bill S 311) would prohibit the export of domestic horses to foreign countries for slaughter. Americans who disapprove of this practice should urge lawmakers to act decisively, and quickly.
[Last modified February 24, 2008, 20:37:35]
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Comments on this article
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by BROOKE
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03/12/08 11:06 AM
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I think congress should pass a law that will not pemit anyone to cross into mex with horses unless they have papers and state there buness.
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by Brooke
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03/12/08 10:59 AM
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I be live its bad enuff that they kill cows,pigs,and sheep the way they do but horses?I also think Congress should pass the bill because if some of them could see the way they kill them they would of allready pass the bill years ago.I they see reason
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by Lisa
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02/28/08 05:40 PM
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It makes absolutely no sense to reward someone for irreponsible behavior. Last time I looked, no one was forced to own a horse. Slaughter has always been an easy out for irresponsible owners. It's time for Congress to pass this legislation.
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by Dawn
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02/28/08 07:10 AM
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People ask if those of us that want slaughter stopped are willing to step up to the plate and take these horses in. The answer is yes - if we are able to. I've adopted 3 rescue horses. But it comes down to owner responsibility to solve this problem
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by Terri
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02/28/08 05:28 AM
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Congress needs to step up to the plate and get HR503/S311 passed to end horse slaughter for good but a mere handful of Congressmen have put holds on these bills and continue to hold both hostage in order to kill them (keep them from being voted on).
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by Cheryl
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02/25/08 09:41 PM
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Recently an overloaded truck of horses being shipped out of country toward this gory fate capsized near the Illinois/Wisconsin border and it brought attention to this horror. Congress MUST step in and stop this cruelty.
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by Wolf
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02/25/08 04:49 PM
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At the very least, bring the slaughter houses back to the USA and put them down humanely - which is possible. Next, there should be an income IQ test for anyone wanting to own a horse. They are NOT pets for spoiled children. They are work animals.
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by John
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02/25/08 03:57 PM
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Shut down the American plants, then complain about the foreign ones.... real smart. Soon you'll tell us how inhumane it is to eat any meat.
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by Jim
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02/25/08 01:50 PM
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This is ridiculous. Why don't you speak up for the poor cows and pigs, that many people keep as pets. How do you think they die? In their sleep? Puh-leeze...
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by JIM
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02/25/08 01:11 PM
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I'd rather my taxes go to feed horses than to pay for a war built on lies and into the pockets of Cheney's friends
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by Ron
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02/25/08 11:42 AM
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I have but one question. Are any of you willing to pay for the feed and other upkeep of a horse that someone cannot afford to keep and that no one wants? Is THAT what you want to do with tax dollars? You are allowed to put down a dog but not a horse?
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by Tracy
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02/25/08 11:22 AM
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This cruelty must be stopped now!
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by BonnieO
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02/25/08 09:56 AM
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YzKfvkigsw
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by Lionel
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02/25/08 09:07 AM
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Those who kill horses for profit should be thrown in jail.What happen to the caring american way?
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