Vote on Horse Slaughter Bill H.R. 503

[_dynamicdems]

Although the Bush Administration argued against this bill, the bill passed!

:woohoo:

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Thank Goodness!!

[_dynamicdems]

3. There is an unfortunate update. They are going to vote to reconsider.

I'm not all that knowledgeable about this, but I believe there is a thread on www.equichat.com. I'm going to find out.

This issue is truly bipartisan. I still can't believe that the Shrub Administration would come out against it just prior to the vote.


Edit: Now I'm hearing that that this wasn't the final vote, that the final vote will be this evening. Can anyone clarify?

[Stewie]

13. Vote to reconsider is common

It's common practice to have someone who voted with the majority, or to have someone in the minority vote with the majority, to immediately move to reconsider and have everyone vote again. All it does is eliminate the chance for someone to do it later for some bizarre reason. Makes more sense when it's a bill that's more controversial or with bigger implications.

No biggie.

[FARAFIELD]

2. my wife is a VET

, so im pretty familiar with the issue for years. and anyone that thinks the bill is a good idea is out of their mind. Its going to be a horrible thing. Another BushCO. moneymaker.

[yankeeinlouisiana]

4. Why? I really don't know much about this issue.

Could you explain a little.

Thanks!

[_dynamicdems]

5. The bill is to stop slaughter of American horses.

Bush is against stopping the slaughter (big surprise there if you think about it).

Are you in favor of slaughterhouses or against? There are "horse people" on both sides of the issue. The majority of horse owners I know are against slaughter and my own veterinarian is.

The foreign-owned slaughter houses have been a very powerful lobby in recent years, so there is political money to be made on the side of pro-slaughter. On the other side, there is the political good will from animal rights organizations.

I'm against slaughter because most of these animals are pets and servants of mankind. They were raised to trust humans and have (in most cases) spent their lives in close relationships with humans. Horses are not livestock in the traditional sense: they are pets and companions, very similar to dogs. I wouldn't want my dog to end up at the "killers" so I wouldn't want my horse to either.

[7P Dude]

6. Terrible Bill

The best way to 'fix' it would have been the defeated amendment delaying implementation until there was confirmation of enough capacity for the 100k+/year horses that would have been slaughtered to live out their lives.

Horses get old.

Horse die.

No amount of concern or sympathy is ever going to change that. This just ensures that they live out those lives to a slow rotting death and that they are simply killed and burned instead of killed and used in cat/dog food.

Now horses that would have been slaughtered in packers that are regulated by the USDA are going to be shipped to other nations. At least American packers realize the importance of treating animals as humanely as possible when slaughtering.

What are zoos going to use for a source of protein for carnivores?

What will this do to the cost of wet dog and cat food?

The people who are going to make out the best in this are cattle producers who just lost competition for the lowest end of their cattle.

[_dynamicdems]

7. Here are the facts.

There are many misconceptions and much misinformation about horse slaughter.


FACTS AND FAQ's ABOUT HORSE SLAUGHTER: www.saplonline.org

Horses get old.

Horse die.

Horses get old.

No amount of concern or sympathy is ever going to change that. This just ensures that they live out those lives to a slow rotting death and that they are simply killed and burned instead of killed and used in cat/dog food.

So do dogs and cats. Yet we do not hang our Golden Retrievers by their hind legs and cut their throats in order to pack their "meat" off for human consumption in other countries where eating dog is legal.Approximately 900,000 horses die annually in this country (10 percent of an estimated population of 9 million) and the vast majority are not slaughtered, but euthanized and rendered or buried without any negative environmental impact. Humane euthanasia and carcass disposal is highly affordable and widely available. The average cost of having a horse humanely euthanized and safely disposing of the animal's carcass is approximately $225, while the average monthly cost of keeping a horse is approximately $200.

Now horses that would have been slaughtered in packers that are regulated by the USDA are going to be shipped to other nations. At least American packers realize the importance of treating animals as humanely as possible when slaughtering.

That just as many horses will still be shipped overseas is a misconception.

Question: If there is a ban on horse slaughter in the United States, will there be an increase in the export of horses for foreign slaughter? Will horses suffer from longer transport for slaughter in countries where there may be weaker welfare laws?

Answer: Horse slaughter has declined dramatically in the United States over the past decade, but there has been no correlating increase in the number of American horses exported for slaughter abroad. Further, the AHSPA prohibits the export of horses for slaughter abroad, and contains clear enforcement and penalty provisions to prevent this from happening. Risk of federal prosecution and the high costs associated with illegally transporting horses long distances for slaughter abroad are strong deterrents. www.saplonline.org

As for as humane treatment goes: there is nothing humane about how American horses are slaughtered.

How are the horses killed?

Under federal law, horses are required to be rendered unconscious prior to slaughter, usually with a device called a captive bolt gun, which shoots a metal rod into the horse's brain. Some horses, however, are improperly stunned and are conscious when they are hoisted by a rear leg to have their throats cut. In addition, conditions in the slaughterhouse are stressful and frightening for horses.
http://www.equineadvocates.com/hs/inside4.html

What are zoos going to use for a source of protein for carnivores?

What will this do to the cost of wet dog and cat food?

The people who are going to make out the best in this are cattle producers who just lost competition for the lowest end of their cattle.

There is no horsemeat in pet food. This practice stopped decades ago following enactment of protections for America's wild horses in 1971. The US public and Congress were outraged to learn federal agencies were rounding up and allowing the exploitation and slaughter of these national treasures for items such as pet food. Some by-products of the horse slaughter industry are used in various consumer items, but they are derived from the rendering (a different process than slaughter and not affected by the AHSPA) of dead horses and other animals. www.saplonline.org

[LWolf]

11. Thank you.

My horses and I thank you for providing this information to those who need it.

Having grown up with horses, I've said goodbye to many. My horses don't "rot away." They live comfortable lives as retirees, and when necessary, they are painlessly, euthanized with no stress. A backhoe does the rest, since there are no regulations banning horse burial in my area.

The horses out in my pasture are 4th generation, with the 5th on the way, of horses that have faithfully served my family since before I was born. I would no more send them off to slaughter than I would my grandmother.

[MoonRiver]

8. I'm so glad!

Another animal gets SOME protection against human predators. :toast:

[HuffleClaw]

9. horses? they waste precious legislative time on HORSES???

seriously? when there are far more pressing matters to be dealt with? whats next? the 'cute kitty and puppy protection act' ?

[bklyncowgirl]

10. OK,let's butcher cute kitties & puppies and sell the meat to China.

The Chinese feel it's ok to eat cat and dog so why not give our animal shelters a viable income by allowing them to dispose of their unwanted pets in a manner that pays proper tribute to the great spirit of capitalism.

Horses in this country are companion animals, sport and work animals. They are conditioned to trust and even love humans. Americans for the most part are repelled by the idea of eating horse just as they are nauseated at the thought of dining on puppy dog stew.

[_dynamicdems]

12. This has been an ongoing battle for 5 years. And just before the

vote the Shrub Administration came out strongly against the bill. One of the three slaughterhouses we have in this country is located in Texas. You can bet they called upon Dubya big time.

If you don't care about the humane aspects of the bill then perhaps you will see the less obvious aspects: Shrub was deprived of something he wanted and more Repugs voted against his will than voted in agreement with their POTUS. This is a small victory, but the more we get these Repugs used to stepping out of lockstep with Shrub, the better. There are more important issues for Congress to tackle but there is a huge problem: they aren't. The Repugs are in lock step and little gets done no matter what progress the Democrats work hard to achieve.

This was a victory because it brought together people who would not ordinarily have agreed. THAT is a first step. Not all Repugs are war-mongering thugs. Right now they are examining their consciences and trying to believe that there is some justification left for Iraq. That is slipping away day by day. The Repugs who have any semblance of a conscience are starting to question themselves. Psychologically, any bill that gets them to vote with Democrats brings them one step closer to being able to stand back and see the forest for the trees.

As for the "Cute Kitty and Puppy Protection Act" you facetiously ask about: we already have legislation to protect these animals from slaughter.