The GAO report "HORSE WELFARE: Action Needed to Address Unintended Consequences from Cessation of Domestic Slaughter" documents the decline in horse welfare, & the economic demise of the horse industry due to inappropriate federal intervention that closed the humane & regulated horse slaughter plants in the U.S. As pointed out by the GAO, & as testified to by practically every horse industry & Ag organization in the Nation, appropriation riders & bills that seek to eliminate any possibility of humanely processing horses offer zero solutions & only exacerbate the suffering of horses, increase the number of needless & wasteful deaths, cause more abandonment, neglect, pain, & misery--they deprive families of livelihoods & the ability to raise their kids with the joy of horses in their lives.
Response to Petition
Ensuring the Humane Treatment of Horses
UPDATE: December 13, 2011
By Dr. Elisabeth Hagen
Thank you for writing to relay your concerns regarding horse slaughtering. We appreciate your involvement in the We the People project and value your input on issues facing our country.
The humane treatment of horses reflects the values of our Nation.
Recently Congress lifted a ban prohibiting federal funding for the inspection of horses, which had prevented the slaughter of horses for human consumption for the past five years. While Congress has technically lifted the ban, USDA does not expect horse slaughter to resume in the near term as a number of Federal, state and local requirements and prohibitions remain in place. Furthermore, there have been no requests that the Department initiate the authorization process for any horse slaughter operation in the United States at this time.
While some horses continue to be exported to other countries for slaughter, USDA makes it a priority to ensure that these horses are transported and treated humanely. For example, USDA recently extended protection to horses delivered to collection points prior to export, reflecting the Administration's commitment to protecting animal welfare.
Thank you again for your input on this important issue.
Dr. Elisabeth Hagen serves as Under Secretary for Food Safety at the USDA
Original Response: November 22, 2011
By Edward Avalos
Thank you for writing to relay your concerns regarding horse slaughtering. We appreciate your involvement in the We the People project and value your input on issues facing our country.
The humane treatment of horses reflects the values of our Nation. Since 2007, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been barred from using appropriated funds to inspect horse slaughter facilities, so no federally inspected horse slaughter facilities have operated since that time. While some horses continue to be exported to other countries for slaughter, USDA makes it a priority to ensure that these horses are transported and treated humanely. For example, USDA recently extended protection to horses delivered to collection points prior to export, reflecting the Administration's commitment to protecting animal welfare.
Thank you again for your input on this important issue.
Edward Avalos is Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Reform Programs at the USDA