A Brief History of Horse Slaughter
About the Cruelty of Horse Slaughter
The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act
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A Brief History of Horse Slaughter in the United States
1930's--Wild horses first begin to be captured, branded, harassed, and abused by humans. 1950's--Velma Bronn Johnson "Wild Horse Annie" takes action to protect wild horses from slaughter. 1971--Congress recognizes wild horses and passes the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act. 1972-2003--Lull in wild horse activism (most people think of wild horses as adequately protected because of the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act of 1971). December 2004--Senator Conrad Burns adds to an existing bill that it is legal to sell (at any price) horses that were more than ten years old or had been offered up for adoption more than three times. 2005-2006--Various legislative actions occur (such as bills introduced) to help horses sent to slaughter, but nothing physically changed. March 2007--U.S. District Court decides that horse slaughter plants are no longer allowed to pay the United States Department of Agriculture for health inspections. This effectively shuts down all three slaughter plants. June 2007--The slaughter house based in Illinois requests to remain open. This last slaughter house was owned by a Belgian-owned company called Cavel. September 2007--The State of Illinois ruled that "banning horse slaughter for human consumption is constitutional," which closes down the Illinois slaughter house permanently. January 2009--The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act (H.R. 503) i s introduced in the U.S. House by Congressman John Conyers (D-MI) and Congressman Dan Burton (R-IN). March 26, 2009--S. 727 was introduced by Senator Mary Landrieu and Senator John Ensign. This is the Senate companion bill to H.R. 503. Note: There is not yet a federal law against horse slaughter in the U.S. However, some states have laws against it.
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Copyright © 2009 Valerie Feerer. All Rights Reserved. |
