New Mexico slaughterhouse damaged by ‘suspicious’ fire

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Arsonists set fire to a New Mexico company that planned to resume domestic horse slaughter next week, the company’s owner said Tuesday.

Chaves County officials told the Roswell Daily Record they are investigating what they characterized as a “very suspicious” blaze.

“They tried to burn the place down,” Valley Meat Co. owner Rizck De Los Santo said Tuesday. That was a reference to opponents who have been making threats against the company over the past year as it has fought the federal government for permission to convert its cattle operations into a horse slaughterhouse. Attempts by companies like Valley Meat Co. to resume domestic horse slaughter have ignited an emotional national debate that has resulted in a string of threats against De Los Santos, his family and his business.

“We have had some say, ‘I hope your building burns down,’ ” De Los Santos said. “That’s not good at all. What are they going to do next? Take a pot shot at us when we are walking in?”

On Saturday, De Los Santos said someone apparently jumped the fence, then poured accelerant over the compressors to his refrigeration unit. A passer-by alerted authorities.

De Los Santos says the company will be unable to open as planned Monday without a working refrigeration unit.

The company also goes to federal court Friday to fight attempts by The Humane Society of the United States and other groups to block the opening of Valley Meat and another recently approved horse slaughterhouse in Iowa.

Activists including actor Robert Redford have worked to prevent a return to domestic horse slaughter.