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Texas Considers
Slaughter of Horses for Dinner
AUSTIN, Texas, May 12, 2003 (ENS) - Legislation
to overturn an existing Texas law which outlaws the
slaughter of horses for human consumption was introduced
earlier this year, but it may not go very far. A new
opinion poll shows that a majority of Texas voters, 77
percent, are opposed to the slaughtering of horses for
human consumption.
Texas has the two remaining horse slaughter houses in
the United States. Both are foreign owned, and the meat
is shipped to Europe and Asia where it is considered a
delicacy.
The survey was conducted May 4 to 6 by Mason-Dixon
Polling & Research for Blue Horse Charities and the
Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, the largest equine
rescue organization in the country.
In response to the question, "Do you favor or
oppose changing state law to legalize the slaughter of
horses and foreign export of horsemeat for human
consumption?" 77 percent of those polled said they
were opposed.
"The horse holds a unique place in the lives of
Americans, so we weren't surprised to learn that 77
percent of Texans oppose the legislation pending in the
state legislature," said John Hettinger, executive
committee, Fasig-Tipton Co., Inc., which conducts
auction sales of thoroughbred horses.
The survey also revealed that horse slaughter is an
unknown industry to most Texans. Eighty-nine percent of
those questioned said they were previously unaware of
the practice.
Because horses are not raised for human consumption
in the United States but in Europe and Asia,
slaughterhouses and their middlemen known as
"killer buyers" have to travel throughout the
entire United States from auction to auction to fill
their quotas, often buying from owners who are unaware
that their animals will be killed and their flesh served
in European restaurants.
Diana Pikulski, executive director of the
Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation says, "There are
ample, quality sanctuaries across the United States that
can take in horses in need of homes. We have four major
farms at correctional facilities where inmates and
juvenile offenders derive emotional as well as
educational benefits while helping care for the horses.
Additionally we have seven other satellite farms around
the country caring for horses."
A federal bill, the American Horse Slaughter
Prevention Act (HR 857), was recently introduced by
Representative John Sweeney, a New York Republican. This
bill would ban the slaughter of horses for human
consumption, and the export of live horses for slaughter
abroad.
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