SAFE Act Would End International Export of Horses For Food Slaughter - National Humane Education Society
Paws Up!
To Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S. C.), Robert Menendez (D-N. J.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R. I.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) for introducing the S.1706 S.A.F.E. Act, which would outlaw the international export of horses for human consumption and classify horse parts as an unsafe food additive for humans under the Food and Drug Act.
On the whole, Americans do not eat horses. Horses are revered in the United States as champions of the Old West, friends on the farm, and 
companions on the trail. The bond between human and horse is cherished by those of us who share our lives with horses, and envied by many among us who aren’t so lucky to have a horse of our own!
Due in part to this reverence for horses, there has not been an equine slaughterhouse in the United States for over a decade. The USDA shut down the last remaining horse slaughter “plants” and banned horse slaughterhouses in 2007. However, about 100,000 horses are still exported from the United States every year to Mexico, Canada, and European countries where they are cruelly slaughtered and eaten. Legislators from both political parties agree that the transport of horses overseas for the purpose of human consumption has to stop. According to a recent news article, the bi-partisan Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act has once again been introduced to the 2017-18 legislative session. If passed into law, export of horses and horse parts for food to other countries would be outlawed.
Sponsors of the bill are not a bit shy to cite the historic relationship between Americans and horses as reason not to send them away to be slaughtered for food. However, much of the rationale for the bill also comes from the fact that horses are not raised as food animals here the United States, and therefore are not raised with safety controls in place that exist with animals actually raised for meat in the U.S. Even retired race-horses whose bodies still retain non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and other drugs are exported for human consumption. This raises fairly obvious concerns about the safety (hence the name “SAFE” Act) of consuming horse meat sourced in the U.S.
Note: H.R. 113, also known as the S.A.F.E Act was introduced by Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-F.L.) and is the U.S. House of Representative’s version of the bill.
Take action. Contact your legislators and urge them to support the S.A.F.E. Act. Find your legislators here.
Re: Please Support the Safeguard American Food Exports S.A.F.E Act
Dear {Legislator’s Name}:
My name is {Your Name} and I am writing to express my support S. 1706/H.R. 113, also known as The S.A.F.E. Act. If passed, the law would stop the export of live horses and horse parts overseas for human consumption. It is disgusting – on many levels – that a horse in the U.S. who has lived alongside humans as a companion or athlete would at some point in his or her life, be subjected to a miserable journey abroad to be killed, ground, and eaten. As an increasingly civilized country, the United States should play no part in this. We do not ship our unwanted dogs and cats to foreign lands to be destroyed and consumed, and we should not permit this fate to befall our horse companions either. Please, I urge you to support the S.A.F.E. Act.
Respectfully,
{Your Name}
I cannot fathom why a country such as ours would contribute to the sadistic barbaric practice of horse slaughter. Not one wild horse, race horse, family pet, stolen horse should ever be allowed to cross our borders for this purpose. Wild horses are part of our heritage and history.
Very well said, Gloria. Thank you for your support of animals!
You are aware of this on going issue. Kindly respond before more animals suffer because you and other Gov’t officials are not doing your job correctly.
We closed the slaughter plants here because we are country that does not consume our companions. Our horses are not raised as food source. But our companions, family pets, and may share in competitive competitions. And there is NO humane method for killing a Horse other than euthanasia by a certified veterinarian. We worm our horses, innoculate them and administer pain medications when necessary just as we would do with our dogs, cats and other pets. These medications stay in the tissue of the horse. Therefore, making the meat toxic and contaminated. This being documented will make the consumer fatally ill at some point. Our government should not be contributing toxic and contaminated meat to the rest of the World. Please get the American Safe Food, Safe Horse Expiry Act passed ASAP!
Here the the U.S.A. we don’t eat horse meat. Our horses don’t deserve to face the horrors of auctions full of greedy beings known as kill buyers. They sell them by the pound to go to slaughter houses in Mexico or Canada. Everyone that thinks this is ok, needs to see what a cruel horror they go through clear to the end. Then come back and tell the horse/ burro lovers that it was a humane process. Equine have made this country. Pulled the settlers wagons, plowed the farmers fields, carried their soldiers through wars, are therapy for the physically and mentally handicapped, carried the US mail and pulled buggies taking doctors to the sick, pulled cars of ore and coal out of the mines and on and on. They are our companions, our therapy and our friends. Tell me they have not earned our respect, and when it is there time to leave this world it should be humanely and done with respect.
America was built on the strong and silky back of the horse. Our horses have earned the right to humane treatment. Often times our horses are treated with substances that are unsafe for human consumption and the cost to regulate the meat would far outweigh any profit from the sale.
The U.S. horse industry has an economic impact of around $122 billion, which is $20 billion dollars more than the estimation made in the 2005 study. The industry also employs around 1.74 million people, and is responsible for 7.2 million horses, with Texas, Florida and California having the highest horse populations. Furthermore, 38% of those who take part in the industry are under 18. The slaughter of our horses for human consumption and the horror they experience throughout the process only benefits a small number of individuals and causes more harm then good at many levels.
Why are 70-100,000 horses being sent out of our country every year, still, to be slaughtered for people to eat? Please pass this act! Our wild horses being rounded up by helicopters flying over them, how awful! These horses are scared& stressed, herded up&loaded as many as possible. Some get killed in this situation! It is an inhumane&horrific death. Hitting in their heads while alive! Please consider passing this act for good! End the slaughter in countries;Canada, Mexico& Europe! Love our horses.
Please for the love of God pass this! These horses are living beings. We are kinder to murderers and rapest. Stop this!
In todays practises why are these Horses being treated so so badly. Cameras should be fitted where they are being kept and also killed so a inspector can do random checks. Also why is the Vet not making sure that all animals are being treated in the best way. He let the slaughter man take random shots at the terrified Horses and also brought 2 Horses in at a time,.so they could see the other being killed. Both should be named and shamed have a heavy fine and be struck of, as the Horses can not do anything to complain.
Please stop this needless cruelty.
Regards
Louise Fryers
MANURE from only two horses is enough to heat a single -family house for a year. Manure, a significant renewbale energy source (FEI event in Helsinki and Sweden) Manure-to-energy system developed by Fortum HorsePower. being used in Europe. Also “Wild Horse Fire Brigade” William E Simpson II. I agree with all that was written above, plus, horses can still be our saving grace in so many ways.