Horse slaughter
The abduction and slaughter of Grand Prix jumper Phedras De Blondel in Palmetto is an outrage, and we hope the perpetrator will be found and held responsible.
But we also hope this heartbreaking incident serves as motivation to protect thousands of American horses from suffering a similar fate.
It’s unacceptable that each year, more than 100,000 American horses are shipped across the border to be slaughtered for human consumption.
The horses snatched up by “kill buyers” at auctions are often the larger, heavier horses who will bring in more money per pound, not the skinny, sick horses.
They are former show horses, race horses and beloved pets who were never intended to wind up as dinner.
The slaughter pipeline is a torturous and undignified end for these horses that deserve better.
That’s why Congress must pass the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act, S. 1214/H.R. 1942, to outlaw the slaughter of American horses on U.S. soil and abroad.
Holly Gann, horse slaughter campaign manager, The Humane Society of the United States, Washington, DC
This story was originally published October 31, 2015 at 1:00 PM with the headline "Horse slaughter."