URGENT: Stop Horse Slaughter NOW!!
S. 541/H.R. 1094—The Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act
Sponsors: Senators Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC); Representatives Patrick Meehan (R-PA) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL).
ASPCA Position: Support
Action Needed: Call and email your U.S. senators and representative in Washington, D.C., today to ask them to cosponsor the SAFE Act and to thank them if they are already cosponsors!
UPDATE: On Nov. 1, a federal court issued a ruling that clears the way for horse slaughter plants to open in the U.S. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has already issued applications for horse slaughter inspections at a few locations around the country, therefore horse slaughter could resume in the U.S. any day now! It is more urgent than ever that we pass the SAFE Act and stop the slaughter of American horses for good!
The Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act will prohibit the slaughter of horses for human consumption in the U.S. and ban their export abroad for that purpose. This bill will protect our nation’s horses from the predatory horse slaughter industry and protect the public from toxic horse meat.
The cruelties associated with horse slaughter are well-documented. Passage of the SAFE Act will not only ensure that predatory horse slaughterers cannot reopen their doors here in the U.S.—it will also stop the trafficking of horses to slaughterhouses over our borders.
There is no such thing as a commercial horse slaughter plant that does not inflict cruelty on horses. And horse slaughter is not only bad for horses, it’s also bad for people. Meat from American horses is unsafe for human consumption. Our horses are not raised as food animals; they are raised to be companions, sport competitors or work partners. Horses are routinely given medications and other substances that are toxic to humans and are expressly forbidden by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in animals intended for human consumption.
Recent reports that horse meat accidentally entered the food chain overseas illustrate that horse slaughterers are incapable of preventing horse meat from mingling with their other products. If it can happen there, it can happen here.
The recent court ruling and the USDA’s approval of horse slaughter plants means that enacting a ban on horse slaughter has never been more urgent!
What You Can Do
Please take a moment to send a polite email to your federal legislators in Congress and urge them to cosponsor the SAFE Act (S. 541/H.R. 1094), a bill to ban the slaughter of American horses for human consumption. Even if you've emailed your legislators in the past, please do so again.
For even more impact, make a brief, polite phone call to your representative and senators in DC. Calling is fast, easy and the best way to reach your legislators. Look up your legislators' names and phone numbers here. Don’t be nervous about calling—it’s easy, fast, and by far the most effective thing you can do! You can use this script when speaking with the receptionist:
“Hi, this is _______ and I am your constituent residing in [town and state]. I’m calling today to urge Representative/Senator _______ to support the SAFE Act, legislation to ban the slaughter of American horses and their export for that purpose abroad. Thank you!”
On behalf of our nation’s horses, thank you for your help!