Governor Dummer Academy
1 Elm Street
Byfield, Mass 01922

January 13, 2004

Congressman Charles Stenholm
2409 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington , DC 20515  

Dear Congressman Stenholm,          

            I am student at Governor Dummer Academy in Massachusetts .  I am writing to you in regards to the bill H.R. 857 which if passed will ban horse slaughter throughout the US .  This bill will end the transportation of live horses out of the country for slaughter overseas and will close the two slaughterhouses currently running in Texas .  I would like you to help pass this bill through Congress so the cruelty against horses may come to an end.

            For over two decades horses have been slaughtered in the US and transported to foreign countries to be consumed by humans.  In this time over 3 million horses have been slaughtered.  Many of the horses that arrive at the slaughter houses are bought at auction by killer buyers.  Some are stolen from private owners, others are taken out of the wild.  This violates the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burros Act of 1971 which is supposed to protect these wild animals.  There are two foreign, running slaughterhouses in America one of which is located in Fort Worth , Texas the other in Kaufman , Texas .  These have been operating in violation of the Texas Agricultural Code Section 149.  Before reaching the slaughterhouses, the horses are forced into double-deck trailers.  These trailers are designed for short necked animals.  The long ride is very uncomfortable for the horses and many times they go for days without food, rest or water and are unprotected from harsh weather.  Many horses do not survive this trip.

 When they arrive at the slaughterhouses the horses are pushed off and into a holding area.  During this time they are whipped and beaten by callous workers with fiberglass rods in the neck, face, legs and back.  The horses become scared and frantic from the noise in the enclosed area which earns them more beatings.  Then the horses are forced into the “kill box”. Federal law states that animals have to be unconscious before they are killed.  This rarely occurs.  The horses are beaten with captive bolt pistols which are supposed to render the horses unconscious.  The pistols fail most of the time. The pistols cause excruciating pain.  Then, sometimes still alive, the horses are shackled and lifted by one leg and their throats are slit and the heads and legs removed.  The horses experience a long and painful death.

Many horse lovers and animal rights groups are fighting to end this inhumane treatment for these loyal and compassionate animals.  They argue that horse slaughtering is evil and cruel because the horses suffer a great deal.  The people responsible for this should be charged with animal cruelty.  In our society people choose to have their household pets humanely euthanized when necessary.  We want them to experience as little pain as possible. Why is this treatment not the same for horses when slaughtered?  The way these horses are treated is inhumane and immoral.  Also, horses in America have never been raised for human consumption.  They are used as work animals or as a recreational animal.  They are bred to race or to be loving pets.  As they are not raised for consumption and they should be protected from slaughter altogether. 

Those who are associated with horse slaughter say it is just a job.  The “killer buyers” are paid by the slaughter houses to bid on animals at auction.  The workers in the slaughter houses are paid to beat and kill these horses.  The people associated with this cruel business feel that they are no different from people who slaughter livestock such as cows or sheep for human consumption.   They believe that a horse is no different than any other animal and that it is not a crime to kill them.  It is apparent these people have no compassion for these animals and choose to treat them in a barbaric fashion.  

I believe that this practice is wrong and needs to be put to an end soon.  It made me sick when I first discovered this in a magazine article over the summer.  Horses are by far the most intelligent, loving and noble animals alive.   They are more than just a common work animal or pet.  This can be seen with the treatment of race horses by their owners.  The horses are given the utmost care and attention.  Why is it that these animals are submitted to the cruelty of slaughter? 

Some feel that slaughter should be the end for old or retired horses that can no longer work.  This is completely untrue.  Horses that can no longer work or whose owners can no longer afford to take care of them can be humanely euthanized or there are organizations like Blue Horse Charities which can send horses to “retirement homes” or to homes where people can give them care and the necessary medical attention.  This way the horses can live out their lives in peace and comfort. 

This bill if passed can change the future for horses.  The slaughter houses will be shut down and the exportation of horsemeat will end.  “Killer buyers” will no longer work for these houses and it will be safe to sell horses at auction and the wild horses will remain in the wild.  These noble animals will be protected from the cruelty inflicted upon them for over 20 years.  I urge to please help pass this bill through Congress.  What happens to these animals is disgusting and evil.  This inhumanity needs to stop.  Thank you very much.  

Sincerely,

Taylor Cook