KLTV Channel 7 Tyler

7/5/06-Whitehouse
East Texas Woman Pushes For Anti Horse Slaughtering Bill To Pass Congress

Horses being slaughtered for their meat,  the issue will be facing congress as early as next week.   House Resolution 503 would protect horses and prohibit the shipping, transportation and slaughtering of horses for human consumption.   Currently, there are 3 plants in the United States that slaughter horses, including one in the Kaufman community.  The meat is transported to Europe, where it's considered a delicacy.  

One East Texas woman who says the practice is inhumane.  Some East Texas are fighting to put a stop to American horse slaughteringhouses.  

"We are trying to get it passed that they don't do horse slaughter here anymore," says Lori Motlagh, rescues horses.

Motlagh is the owner of Full Circle Farms in Whitehouse. She has rescued horses like "Dancer" from being slaughtered.  

"Dancer is an ex race horse and he is in a very prominent blood line.  He won six figures for the people that had him and then they decided to get rid of him," says Motlagh.

She is hoping East Texans will call their congressman in support of the anti horse slaughter bill. Representative Louie Gohmert says he is unsure which way he is going to vote. He says ranchers tell him the bill would hurt their business.  

"They are against the consumption of horse meat but at the same time they are going to hurt their ability to make money and stay in business.  I love horses, I love riding horses.  I think they are a noble animal but I must look at the big picture and that's what I'm trying to do," says Representative Gohmert.

According to the group Habitat For Horses, 93,000 horses are slaughtered every year.  

"They basically stun them and they are still alive, that's all I really want to say to that nature but it extremely inhumane," says Motlagh.

She has rescued seven animals from being slaughtered.  

"I have always loved horses and it's important to me and I knew that I could make a difference by helping them," says Motlagh.

She hopes her efforts will give more horses like "Dancer" a second chance at life.

Karolyn Davis, reporting.  kdavis@kltv.com