Budget withholding pre-empts slaughter resumption..

[Kasept]

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...unds-in-budget

The resumption of commercial horse slaughter in the U.S. was blocked Friday as President Barack Obama signed a budget measure that withholds money for required federal inspections of the slaughtering process.

Although the measure provides temporary funding for the federal government, it stops the Agriculture Department from spending money for inspections necessary for slaughterhouses to ship horse meat interstate and eventually export it to overseas consumers.

"This clear message from Washington echoes the opinions of an overwhelming number of Americans from coast to coast: horse slaughter is abhorrent and unacceptable," said Matt Bershadker, president and CEO of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The president's action came as a judge granted a preliminary injunction against a Roswell, N. M., company from moving forward with its plans to start slaughtering horses.

Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...#ixzz2qliwNW5H

[my miss storm cat]

Good news!

I realize it's only temporary, but still...

[Danzig]

when one thinks hey, no slaughter it seems good news.
but when you know it means horses are still being slaughtered, just not in this country, which means longer travels to canada or mexico (and outside of u.s. regulations, inspections, etc) it isn't good news at all.

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by Danzig

when one thinks hey, no slaughter it seems good news.
but when you know it means horses are still being slaughtered, just not in this country, which means longer travels to canada or mexico (and outside of u.s. regulations, inspections, etc) it isn't good news at all.

Yeah it is a tough one b/c the truth is it will still go on. What it may mean is that horses are killed less humanely in other countries. I'm not sure that's what we want.

[my miss storm cat]

Gee I must have missed the part where I said hooray it's all good and over and all horsies can live in peace now.

Look... believe it or not many people don't even know this exists. Most people don't live and breathe racing.

ANY time this issue gets press the general population are made more aware and that's what it needs.

Re: it meaning more will be exported...

While the provision in the FY 2014 spending bill, spearheaded by Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and Reps. Jim Moran (D-Va.) and the late Bill Young (R-Fla.), protects American communities from the devastating environmental and economic impact of horse slaughter facilities, it does not prohibit the transport of U.S. horses for slaughter across the border to Canada and Mexico. To address this issue, Sens. Landrieu and Graham, and Reps. Patrick Meehan (R-Pa.) and Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), introduced the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act (S. 541/H.R. 1094)—bipartisan legislation that would end the current export of American horses for slaughter abroad, and protect the public from consuming toxic horse meat.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/...67+PRN20140117

It's a colossal issue so yes one little step in the right direction? Damn right I think it's a good thing. It isn't the answer BUT it IS good news.

To me anyway.

[Danzig]

don't get me wrong, i would like to see it end.

the problem is-no one is addressing the need to recognize there are a lot of unwanted horses, and what to do with them. it's a very real issue.

i love horses, always have. i cannot imagine ever eating a piece of one. that said, there are a lot of hungry people in the world, who probably would be pretty darn happy to have it. i don't know how comfortable i am in saying that they absolutely should never, ever be used for human consumption. not everyone in this world looks at horses the same way. just like india supposedly holds cows as sacred-but they sure export a lot of them to people who think they're sacred-as a hamburger.

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by Danzig

just like india supposedly holds cows as sacred-but they sure export a lot of them to people who think they're sacred-as a hamburger.

From an article written this month.

The slaughter of cows is banned in many states in India and the export of cow meat is prohibited across the country.

http://blogs.ft.com/beyond-brics/201...#axzz2rLJ8Ex8H

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Danzig

don't get me wrong, i would like to see it end.

I know.

... and yes, too many unwanted horses.

I guess that's why any news like this is, to me, a positive. A step in the right direction. Too bad there are miles to go though.