The Humane Society Halts Opening of Horse Slaughterhouses

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Horse-lovers across the nation can sleep a bit more soundly tonight. As of yesterday, a federal appeals court stopped the plans of two U.S. companies to begin slaughtering horses. Although Congress officially lifted the ban on horse slaughter two years ago, public outcry and health concerns have become huge obstacles to companies wishing to benefit from this practice.

Plans to open horse slaughterhouses in New Mexico and Missouri were first put on hold when The Humane Society and other animal rights groups filed a lawsuit claiming that proper environmental studies had not been conducted before the slaughterhouse permits were issued. A federal judge in Albuquerque dismissed the lawsuit last week, but The Human Society was able to file an immediate appeal and win a temporary injunction.

Wayne Pacelle, The Humane Society President, said “Horse slaughter is a predatory, inhumane business, and we are pleased to win another round in the courts to block killing of these animals on American soil for export to Italy and Japan. Meanwhile, we are redoubling our efforts in Congress to secure a permanent ban on the slaughter of our horses throughout North America.”

Although it is illegal to sell horse meat for consumption within the U.S., horse slaughterhouses, if allowed to being operating, would make huge profits by selling the meat overseas to be used in human and animal food.

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