Congress must pass “Save America’s Forgotten Equines”
Gov. Kathy Hochul recently signed a bill to ban horse slaughter. The comprehensive New York law is one more unmistakable message to Congress to pass the Save America’s Forgotten Equines Act, a bill that will codify a ban on slaughter in the United States and forbid live export of U.S. equines for slaughter to Canada and Mexico.
The House and Senate versions of the SAFE Act have more than 225 co-sponsors. Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, along with a raft of New Yorkers in the House of Representatives, are steadfast backers of this measure. I encourage every one of the 25 New York House lawmakers to co-sponsor this much-needed federal anticruelty law.
Last year, 22,000 American equines were butchered in Canada and Mexico and sent to China, Russia and other parts of the world for meat slabs that come with a very ugly and inhumane backstory.
An investigation earlier this year by the Center for a Humane Economy and Animals’ Angels revealed terrible mistreatment of equines destined for slaughter by disreputable dealers known as kill buyers, who gather horses from sale barns, auctions and kill pens for export.
Horses played a crucial role in settling our nation, and they have played critical roles in transportation, sport, show and companionship. It’s a small payback to these remarkable animals that served us so faithfully to make sure that no horses ever again fall into the clutches of people who would butcher them for minimal and fleeting profit.