Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2008

Both domestic and wild horses are being shipped over the Canadian and Mexican borders from the U.S. for the purpose of slaughter for human consumption. The passage of the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2008, which was introduced in the House as H.R. 6598, would prohibit that from happening and end the slaughter of America's horses once and for all if passed by both the House and Senate.

On Tuesday, September 23rd, the House Judiciary Committee approved a measure that would ban the slaughter of America's horses and prevent them from being transported over the Canadian and Mexican borders or to any other country for the purpose of slaughter for human consumption. The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2008 will need to pass before the full House of Representatives and the Senate this year and signed by the President. Otherwise it will have to be reintroduced in 2009 and the entire process will have to begin all over again. This is a waste of time and money, but the pro-horse-slaughter contingent in Congress and special interest groups have demonstrated time and time again that they will stop at nothing to further their cruel and greedy agendas, regardless of the brutality and suffering they are causing for the horses and with total disrespect to the taxpayers and will of the American people.

Thus far, the list of co-sponsors for H.R. 6598 is steadily growing. To view the list, click here. To read the text for the bill, click here.

What You Can Do

* Please view the list of co-sponsors of H.R. 6598. If your representative in the House has not signed on, please urge him or her to do so. If your representative is already a co-sponsor, please take the time to thank your rep and urge him or her to really work for this bill. If you do not know who your representative is, please visit www.congress.org and enter your zip code in the box at the top left corner. You can also access the contact information and official web sites for all House members, in addition to the committees on which they serve through that site.

* Letters to the editors of newspapers, magazines and other periodicals are an important way to express your feelings about this issue. The pro-horse slaughter contingent which includes the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and other rodeo interests (including the rodeo vets who have infiltrated the AAEP and AVMA) and the lobbies for the Farm Bureau and the Cattlemen, have been busy trying to block bills that ban horse slaughter. With well over 70% of the American people in favor of banning horse slaughter, these special interest groups are completely outnumbered. However, these groups are well organized which is why it is imperative that everyone become more media savvy by writing snail mail and online letters to the editors of local and national newspapers and magazines and participating in call-up radio and television programs with respect to this issue. Keep spreading the word and taking action as often as you possibly can.

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Down with horse slaughter!