Horse
bill a winner
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
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I'd like to thank Jonathan Friedman for
writing his recent editorial "Horse Slaughter is Un-American." I have
been involved with trying to get the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act
(AHSPA) made into law for three years. There are a few additional points to be
made about the horse slaughter industry in the United States; it is unnecessary
for horse welfare, horses are not regulated as food animals in this country,
and HR 503 must be passed as written by its sponsors.
The slaughter industry has nothing to do with saving
"unwanted horses" from neglect. In the 1990s the number of U.S.
horses slaughtered declined sharply. According to USDA records, 345,700 horses
were slaughtered for export in 1990; ten years later that number was 50,400.
During this time frame the number of horses slaughtered per year dropped by as
many as 79,000, with no rash of "unwanted" horses.
Last year almost 7,100 horses were imported from Canada for
slaughter in the United States. How can there be an "unwanted horse
problem" if the slaughterhouses have to import them? Practically every
horse owner routinely treats his or her horse with products such as phenylbutazone
(the aspirin of the horse world) and/or Zimectrin (a de-wormer). These products
are clearly labeled "Not For Use On Animals Raised For Food." Meat
tainted with these products can cause nasty side effects in human consumers,
such as cancer, which is why federal regulations forbid they be given to beef
cattle, poultry or hogs. Since no such regulations exist against these products
being given to horses, it's likely that tainted horse meat is being shipped to
Europe and Asia as you read this.
While it is true that the AHSPA will be going before Congress
for a vote soon, there is the possibility that a Congressional opponent will
try to attach an amendment to weaken or nullify the bill. Such underhanded
moves have been made in the past. While I know Representative Waxman will
support the bill, it needs to be made clear to him that this bill needs to be
passed with no such amendments attached to it.
Duane L. Burright, Jr.