The grand total of horses murdered over the past 24 years to date
is 3,929,426!
Please write your Congress person, Here is a Sample Letter
Stop Horse Slaughter in the United States
AHDF urges everyone to get their two US Senators to cosponsor and
support SB 311, a bill that will end the slaughter of America's horses
once and for all. The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act would
place a permanent ban on horse slaughter in the U.S. States. The late
Trina Bellak, AHDF founder said it best, "the foreign-owned slaughter
industry needs to understand that Americans will never view horses as
dinner. The American public is not about to forget our debt to horses
who are a symbol of freedom and a cherished, significant part of our
country's history. They will not be sent to the slaughterhouse without a
fight."
For those looking to do more, you should also contact your US
Representative and ask him/her to cosponsor and support HR 503 and also
contact Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D, CA) and ask her to ensure that the bill
moves swiftly and safely through the House.
Horse Slaughter in the US
According to the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization, the U.S. currently processes and exports
10,000 tons of horse meat a year from 50,000 domestic horses killed at three foreign-owned slaughterhouses in
Texas and Illinois. Thousands of additional American horses are shipped to foreign slaughterhouses. The industry
preys on riding horses, former race horses, wild horses, and foals born to PMU mares, horses that are kept pregnant
so their urine can be used to make the hormone replacement drug Premarin®. There is nothing humane about horse
slaughter. Horses are treated brutally prior to and during slaughter and because of their highly developed senses,
they suffer greatly.
Horse Slaughter is Unnecessary and Dangerous
In addition to humane concerns regarding horse slaughter, there are also human health concerns regarding the
consumption of horse meat. Horses sent to slaughter are not raised for slaughter and human consumption as are
cows and other livestock. Horses kept as pets are almost without exception, given medications that are illegal
to administer to livestock intended to be a part of the human food supply because of their deleterious effects
on human health. Horse processing facilities themselves create an enormous amount of waste material that can
cause public health hazards. The Dallas Crown horse slaughter plant in Kaufman Texas was recently declared a
nuisance for this reason. City residents had to endure sewer clogs that forced horse blood and waste to back
up into their sinks and tubs.
Supporters of the continuation of horse slaughter in the US claim a ban on horse slaughter will create a
surplus of unwanted horses and would also deny unwanted horses death by “humane euthanasia” at the slaughterhouse.
With no basis or truth to these claims, those who benefit financially, try to defend the heartless and money hungry
horse slaughter industry.
According to the USDA Guidelines for Handling and Transporting Equines to Slaughter, 90% of the horses, ponies
and other equines sent to slaughter, are in good to excellent condition. Many of these are also young, trained
horses. Many can have new lives with, new owners, a variety of nonprofits and in law enforcement. AHDF’s new book,
Alternatives to Auctions and Slaughter: A Guide for Equine Owners (A Better Way), is a resource guide done on a
state-by-state basis listing many alternatives to butchering horses that can no longer be cared for because of
financial or personal reasons. The publication covers how to find everything from Equine Assisted Psychotherapy
programs that do not require horses to be rideable, to park police units and vet schools who take horses.
The horse specialists' group, the American Association of Equine Practitioners, estimated that the minimum yearly
cost to care for a horse is around $1,825, not including shoeing and medical expenses. Boarding, shoeing and
veterinary expenses could raise that to $5,000. If horses become old, sick or for whatever reasons, will no
longer have happy or productive lives, the humane thing to do is have a veterinarian perform euthanasia by
lethal injection. If equine owners pay the costs of care they can certainly afford to give their horse a painless,
peaceful and respectful death. Not one highlighted by fear and brutality which typifies transport to and killing
at slaughterhouses.
AHDF surveyed a number of rendering plants, vets and crematoriums and the costs of euthanasia and disposal
are listed in our book. But the average euthanasia fee for a horse is $66. Fees for burial and rendering range
from $75 to $250, depending on the location. Incineration can cost up to $2,000.
Horse Slaughter is not Humane Euthanasia
Equating death at the slaughterhouse with humane euthanasia is laughable as the slaughter process is anything
but humane. The American Veterinary Medical Association guidelines on humane euthanasia of horses clearly makes
the point that unless horses heads and necks are restrained, the captive bolt pistol or "stun gun", which is to
render a horse unconscious prior to slaughter, is not deemed humane. It is well documented that horses, being
high strung and acutely aware of their environment, not only smell and react to death and blood, but see the
instrument of death being aimed at them for a strike. This drives them into a panic and they frequently make
desperate attempts to evade it as it swings toward their scull. When this happens, the horse is often hit in
another part of the head, badly wounding, clearly terrifying it and causing repeated attempts. This is NOT
humane. Horse slaughter will never be humane.
Both in California, where horse slaughter has already been banned, and in Illinois when a horse slaughter
plant closed some years ago, there was no accompanying rise in neglect or abandonment of horses noted by
authorities. In fact, theft of horses dropped significantly in these areas.
2000:
48,357 + at least 20,000 more slaughtered in Canada and Japan
2001:
56,332 + at least 20,000 more slaughtered in Canada and
Japan
2002:
36,863 + at least 20,000 more slaughtered in
Canada and Japan
2003: 50,564 + at
least 20,000 more
slaughtered in Canada and Japan
2004: 58,736 + at least 20,000 more slaughtered in Canada and Japan
Beltex Corporation
3801 N. Grove St.
Fort Worth, TX
76106
817-624-1136
817-624-4594 (fax)
President-Eric Nauwelaers
Horse Inspector-Ronnie Ober
Beltex processes (slaughters) horse, bison, and
ostrich meat.
The company ships products to France, Belgium, and Japan.
Cavel International, Inc.
International Meat Exporters
108 Harvestore Dr.
DeKalb, IL 60115
815-756-8051
Owner - Luc Van Damme (Belgian)
Plant Manager-Jim Tucker
(re-opened 7 June 2004)
This sign should be posted
at ALL auctions in the U.S.
Few horse owners, and even fewer non-horse owners, realize the extent to which
horses are slaughtered for their flesh.
The horse meat is NOT being used in dog food or to feed starving masses.
Rather, it is an up to $20/lb delicacy enjoyed by humans in Japan and Europe.
A pound of horse meat usually sells for more than a pound of filet mignon!
Horses, an integral part of America's heritage and culture, are favored animals,
just like cats and dogs.
Americans do not eat horses just as they do not eat cats and dogs.
The horsemeat that is being served up in Europe or Japan could very well have been someone's cherished pet.
The way horses are slaughtered is cruel and inhumane.
They ride cramped in a trailer, sometimes a dangerous double-decker, for days at a time without food or water.
Then they are cattle prodded out to be shot in the head with a 'captive bolt pistol' or
'stun gun' which is designed to render an animal unconscious-not dead.
The horse is often still alive as it is hung by its hooves and throat slit.
Humans are the ones who domesticated horses.
Ever since then, horses have helped us in time of war, carried us across the country, plowed our fields,
and helped give chronically ill children hope.
Is slaughter the only thanks they get?
