I have a sincere apology to offer to the readers of a recent column (Thursday, March 3) that I wrote regarding horse-slaughter practices in the U.S. where I erroneously stated “in 2007, the U.S. banned the slaughter of horses.”
Although I read that in several places, a ban has not, in fact, been enacted by law, although for all intents and purposes, the end result is the same. The statement was not purposefully conveyed to you with the intent to sensationalize, mislead or misinform you.
What follows is, hopefully, the true information.
Horse slaughter has not been banned in the U.S. It still exists — but in limited applications “because commercial horse slaughter for human consumption is illegal in the U.S. as a result of: a) the denial of funding in appropriations acts for the USDA federally-mandated inspections of horse slaughter operations intended for human consumption; and b) the enactment and enforcement of state statutes banning horse slaughter for human consumption.”
In other words, while there in no lawful ban, there still can be no legal slaughter of horses for human-consumption in the States, so a U.S. horse destined for human consumption slaughter must be shipped cross-border, north to Canada or south, to Mexico.
I was not taking a “pro-slaughter” stance, merely advocating thoughtful consideration of an emotional issue.
I am very aware that horseflesh (meat) has a high probability of being tainted by the various medications administered to live horses (especially high performance horses), an issue of great concern.
If the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act legislation (H.R.503, now pending in the U.S., at the federal level) is enacted into law, there will be a prohibition on the trade and transport of horseflesh and live horses intended for human consumption. Meaning, “the very acquisition of a horse for slaughter (for human consumption) would be illegal” in the U.S., thus ending all trade for that purpose including export out of country.
There are many people who believe that the consumption of horse meat should cease totally, for health and humane reasons; that every horse should be dispatched humanely by a veterinarian, or cared for until death, if not by the owner then by a rescue/care facility or group.
That would be the ideal, but I’m not sure it would be the reality. My original fear stands — all people are not equally equipped to be caring and/or responsible animal owners.
Liz Twan is a rancher and Tribune columnist.