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| ©istock |
American horses are slaughtered for
human consumption abroad. |
Today, an Illinois Senate Committee voted 7-0 to pass a bill banning the slaughter of American horses for human consumption overseas. The Humane Society of the United States applauded the Senate Committee and urged the full Senate to quickly pass this legislation.
The bill, H.B. 1711, passed the Illinois House last month and now moves to the full Senate. Governor Rod Blagojevich strongly supports the bill and has lobbied in favor of its passage.
"Horses are an integral part of American history," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS. "They are our companions, not food animals. Horses should not be brutally killed to end up on a dinner table overseas. They deserve our protection. Lawmakers in Springfield recognize this. The Humane Society of the United States is grateful for their support."
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Take Horses Off the Menu Forever |
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U.S. Residents: Tell Congress to permanently ban the slaughter of American horses for human consumption and the export of live horses to Canada and Mexico for slaughter. |
The Cavel International horse slaughterhouse in DeKalb, Ill., is the only active plant in the country killing horses for human consumption. After a federal court ruled that the U.S. Department of Agriculture could not provide inspections of horses about to be slaughtered, the plant was shut down.
Last week, an appeals court stayed the ruling, temporarily allowing the DeKalb plant to resume operations until an appeal could be heard.
On the federal level, U.S. Rep. Janice Schakowsky (D-Ill.) is a sponsor of a separate bill, H.R. 503, which would ban horse slaughter for human consumption nationwide.
