H.R. 1094 & S. 541 –The “Safeguard American Food Exports Act of 2013”

H.R. 1094 would “prohibit the sale or transport of equines and equine parts interstate or foreign commerce for human consumption.”

S. 541 has a stated purpose “to prevent human health threats posed by the consumption of equines raised in the United States.
Both bills would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to prohibit the sale or transport of equines or equine parts in interstate and foreign commerce for purposes of human consumption.

Background:  In 2007 animal rights backed legal action in Texas and the passage of legislation banning the processing for horses passed in Illinois resulted in the closing of the final horse processing plants in the United States.  Additionally, from 2007 until 2011, Federal Agriculture Appropriations bills included a rider that preventing any federal funds from being used for inspection of horses for processing for human consumption.  Currently there is no prohibition of the use of federal funds and there is a plant in Roswell, New Mexico that is waiting for  USDA/FSIS/APHIS approved to open. Recently President Obama released his proposed 2014 Budget which did not include funding for inspectors.

Equine welfare in the United States has suffered as the plants have closed and the economy has worsened.  Groups that oppose legislation to ban the processing of horses for human consumption include the American Association of Equine Practitioners, American Veterinary Medical Association, American Quarter Horse Association, and many other horse and agriculture groups.  This opposition is based on the fact that they are unfunded mandates and do no provide for the welfare of unwanted horses.

The 2013 Safeguard American Food Exports Acts do not address: 

• Government Accountability Office Report:  The GAO report, released in 2011, revealed that a lack of horse processing in the United States has exacerbated the suffering, and increased abandonment, neglect, pain and misery for horses nationwide.

• Disposition of Unwanted Horses: These bills do not offer any funding or programs for horses that would have been humanely processed or any euthanasia and carcass disposal alternatives.  Abandoned and neglected horses are overwhelming equine rescue and sanctuary organizations and if these bills pass the situation would become much worse.  Currently, many privately and publically funded rescue and retirement facilities are at capacity and do not have the resources to take the additional horses that would become unwanted if these bills were to pass and take away the option of transporting horses to processing plants.  In 2012 over 158,000 U.S. horses were shipped to Canada and Mexico for processing for human consumption.

• Economic Hardship to Local Governments.  Local and state governments are faced with the financial hardship of taking care of neglected horses that are seized through cruelty and neglect investigations.  Resources must be provided for unwanted horses that are voluntarily given up by their owners or those abandoned by desperate horse owners. A survey published in 2009 by the Animal Welfare Council revealed that up to 83% of public animal shelters surveyed cannot house and care for any horses.  Others can only care for a limited number, only 6% of personnel are very well trained, facilities have budget limitations, and most reported an increase in number of calls related to abandoned and neglected horses.

• Industry Solutions:  The horse industry is diligently working to educate its members on responsible ownership and provide resources for horse owners.  The Unwanted Horse Coalition leads the way in this effort offering programs such as grants for free gelding clinics and extensive educational materials.  Many states have followed suit including Colorado, where the horse industry has formed the Colorado Unwanted Horse Alliance (CUHA) which is partially funded by a tax check off program.  CUHA has conducted research to gather information on the extent of the problem and is offering resources to not only horse rescues in Colorado, but also the horse industry to work on solutions to the unwanted horse issues in that state.

Conclusion:  Enacting legislation without properly understanding, exploring and examining all the surrounding issues will harm an industry that is already diligently working to seek solutions for with unwanted horses without government intervention. Unwanted horses in the United States are facing a crisis.  From New York to California, horses that are considered at-risk in the equine population are being severely impacted by a struggling economy, high grain and hay prices, and the closure of the U.S.’s remaining processing plants.  The result: increased equine cruelty in the form of abuse, neglect, and abandonment. The passage of this legislation would also be detrimental to local governments across the country as many unwanted horses may be abandoned, thus making it the public’s responsibility to care for them.

Downloadable Copy of the document:

2013 Processing Issue Paper

Elephant rides – a tradition at the San Diego County Fair for nearly 30 years – will once again be offered at this year’s fair, in spite of a renewed effort by opponents of the rides to have them banned from the fairgrounds.
Full Article

Animal Welfare Council Press Release

April 30, 2013

awc@animalwelfarecouncil.org

The media and public use animal welfare and animal rights interchangeably, but they are not synonymous terms. In fact, the philosophical gulf between these two belief systems and the advocacy efforts currently underway by each group carry enormous implications for the future of the horse industry. In light of legislation pending on the Federal level as well as in various State Houses, it is imperative that the general public, as well as anyone with an interest in horses as work or recreational animals, come to a full understanding of each philosophy and the methods by which proponents of each carry out their missions.

“Animal Welfare and Animal Rights: A war of words with casualties mounting” is a research-based article by Jill Montgomery on behalf of the Animal Welfare Council; it is suitable for broad publication and covers not only the philosophical differences but the comparative implications of each approach. The consequences of pending legislation will be critical to the future of the horse industry and will likely carry over to affect other livestock producers and users in the recreation, entertainment and agricultural/food industries.

Access the Full Article

The Animal Welfare Council is a non-profit, tax exempt 501 (C) (3) organization established for charitable and educational purposes. Membership includes organizations and business entities who are actively involved in caring for animalsin recreation, entertainment, sport and industry. For more information about the AWC, visit www.animalwelfarecouncil.org

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – You’ve seen the ads tugging at your heart strings. Abused animals that need your help. The Humane Society of the U.S. asks you to donate to help those animals. While the National Humane Society does help animals through legislation and rescue efforts, in a state that euthanized 7000 last year, you might be surprised to learn there’s little help where some say it’s needed most. A dozen dogs left in the filth of hoarding.

Full Article

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is an organization that publicly claims to represent the best interest of animals — indeed their “ethical treatment.” Yet approximately 2,000 animals pass through PETA’s front door every year and very few make it out alive. The vast majority — 96 percent in 2011 — exit the facility out the back door after they have been killed, when Pet Cremation Services of Tidewater stops by on their regular visits to pick up their remains. Between these visits, the bodies are stored in the giant walk-in freezer PETA installed for this very purpose. It is a freezer that cost $9,370 and, like the company which incinerates the bodies of PETA’s victims, was paid for with the donations of animal lovers who could never have imagined that the money they donated to help animals would be used to end their lives instead. In fact, in the last 11 years, PETA has killed 29,426 dogs, cats, rabbits, and other domestic animals.

Full Article

A surprising flash point — animal rights — has erupted in the early weeks of the race for New York City mayor, complete with boldface endorsers, voluble protests, and a generously financed attack ad.

Full Article

Monday Morning Quarterbacking: The RGIII and Elephants Edition

By Neda Semnani Posted at 12:06 p.m. today

We’re trying to be wry and cynical about Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III’s Sunday visit to the circus, but we just can’t be and we blame that smile.

On Sunday afternoon, Griffin took his family to the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s “Dragons” at the Verizon Center. 

According to the release, RGIII and his family enjoyed “the acts of circus performers from the farthest reaches of the earth.” After the show, which explores “dragon lore,” RGIII and his family got a tour of the circus, snapped pictures with the performers and threw a football to an elephant.

Full Article

SACRAMENTO — Tough battles are expected to break out over animal protection legislation pending in the state Capitol.

Several measures will renew old rivalries over lead ammunition to shoot game, using hounds to hunt bears, selling animals at swap meets and force-feeding ducks and geese to produce a delicacy known as foie gras.

Full Article

Horse rescue groups, and private owners, are struggling to afford hay for their animals as the price has tripled in recent months to some of the highest levels ever seen.

“We were treading water to keep up. Now we’re just under the surface,” said Dee Dee Golberg, president of Spirit Horse Equine Rescue Center near Janesville.

Full Article