Wild Horse Slaughter Halted
A federal appeals court issued an emergency injunction this week against the U-S Department of Agriculture that halts all inspections at domestic horse-slaughter plants.
The move effectively freezes the opening of the Roswell Valley Meat Company in Southern New Mexico, and a processing plant in Missouri that’s set to open this week.
Earlier this year the Humane Society and other groups sued the USDA, citing a lack of environmental oversight at the plants. Human Society President Wayne Pacelle says horses are companion animals.
"No one is logically suggesting that we round up the unwanted dogs and cats, set up a slaughter plant in New Mexico or Colorado, and then ship the meat to some far off country where there may be a small taste for dog meat. That would be ludicrous…"
The court will hear briefs this week in this on-going legal battle. But even if the plants are allowed to open, Congress is considering a law that would defund USDA inspection of horse slaughterhouses.
See this, for a history of legislation regarding wild horse slaughter in the U.S.
