Houston Chronicle

March 12, 2006, 11:16PM
Horse slaughterhouse closing ordered

Associated Press

KAUFMAN - An East Texas horse slaughterhouse must shut down by Sept. 30 because of concerns about public health and safety.

Kaufman's zoning board unanimously voted Thursday night to order Dallas Crown Horse Slaughter Plant to close.

"They have been having to live a very long time with overwhelming noxious odor and dead animal parts being dragged around their yards," said attorney Don Feare, who represents 15 area residents.

The board found the business to be a nuisance in November, identifying public health and safety issues, but delayed a decision on a closing date.

The slaughterhouse's owners believe the board's ruling was illegal and plan to appeal, said attorney Mark Calabria.

Dallas Crown is one of three U.S. slaughterhouses that process meat for human consumption abroad and finds itself part of a congressional fight to stop federal live animal inspections.

Congress had halted funding for the inspections.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/3718995.html