Wild Horses And Burros Spared From Slaughter

WASHINGTON, DC- In Defense of Animals welcomes the decision made by appropriations leaders in Congress in the United States to reject budget language that would have led to the mass slaughter of North America’s imperiled wild horses and burros and the reintroduction of equine slaughterhouses in the US.

“For the love of  North America’s heritage, for the respect of wild horses and burros, we are thrilled that Congress has rejected this sick horse slaughter plans,” said Marilyn Kroplick M.D. President of In Defense of Animals. “In America, Congress has sent an important message that it will not have the blood of sentient beings on its hands. This is a victory for animal advocates and the majority of  North Americans who want solutions, not slaughter.”

In its 2018 spending request, the Trump Administration asked to authorize the killing and sale to slaughter of tens of thousands of captive wild horses and burros and the destruction of up to 50,000 free-roaming equines the BLM claims are “excess” on public lands. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke and his pro-slaughter allies actively pushed the killing plan, aiming to reduce the number of wild horses to 27,000, the same number that triggered the passage of the 1971 Wild Horses and Burros Act to prevent their extinction.

The Administration also proposed funding inspections for equine slaughter in the US, a step that would bring back the days of horse meat markets and threaten the US food supply with unregulated contaminants.

Advocates and animal welfare groups pushed back hard. Thousands of In Defense of Animals supporters and other advocates jammed Congressional phone lines with calls and sent tens of thousands of emails to maintain federal protections for these heritage animals. In Defense of Animals and nearly 100 civic organizations presented a Unified Statement (read full PDF click here) outlining principles and recommendations for humane, cost-effective, on-range management of America’s wild horses and burros.

In response to constituent pressures and the united voices of advocates, the Senate chose to keep protections in place. The language released today for the Omnibus spending bill for 2018 contains no language authorizing horse slaughter or wild equine killing. The Omnibus budget is scheduled to be put to a vote soon.

But the fight is far from over. The Trump Administration’s FY 2019 budget request again calls for Congress to approve “unlimited sales” and mass killing of wild horses and burros in holding facilities and on the range.

“The battle is won, but the fight is far from over,” said Kroplick. “We will never back down or stop fighting for wild horses to remain on public lands.”   For the Silo, Charlotte Roe.

In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization with over 250,000 supporters and a 30-year history of fighting for animals, people and the environment through education, campaigns and hands-on rescue facilities in India, Africa, and rural Mississippi.

IN DEFENSE OF ANIMALS • 3010 KERNER BLVD. • SAN RAFAEL, CA 94901 • 415-448-0048

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One response to “Wild Horses And Burros Spared From Slaughter”

  1. Toby Barrett Avatar
    Toby Barrett

    Steps to better animal welfare enforcement in Ontario

    The province has brought in interim animal protection measures, which are a temporary solution until a better permanent system is in place by next January.

    Animal welfare legislation has been enforced by the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) since 1919, however, the OSPCA recently decided to stop providing animal welfare enforcement services.

    Ontario is taking action to ensure the laws we have in place protect animals from abuse and neglect, and hold people accountable when they do not properly look after animals under their care. The interim OSPCA Amendment Act allows local humane societies to continue the enforcement work they have been doing for many years.

    To ensure animals are protected in the interim, the public can report animal welfare concerns by calling 1-833-9ANIMAL.

    Enforcement of animal welfare legislation has links to many complex issues. In addition to animal abuse and cruelty, an animal welfare situation can involve mental health, hoarding, domestic violence, puppy mills, pets in care, dogfighting and cockfighting – to name a few. This is why many partners are currently involved and why a model that has been in place for over 100 years cannot be replaced overnight.

    In March, the OSPCA informed the Solicitor General that it would no longer enforce the OSPCA Act as of April 1 of this year. This was later extended to June 28, but with exceptions. The OSPCA also indicated to the ministry they would no longer be enforcing livestock and horse complaints. The Solicitor General wrote to the OSPCA asking they continue animal welfare enforcement until the government introduces a new model – unfortunately, they refused.

    The OSPCA Amendment Act is a temporary solution that will help fill the gaps while we build a new, permanent enforcement model and develop a legislative framework for the future. Animal welfare is complex. Its stakeholders range from veterinarians, pet owners and animal advocacy groups to livestock farmers. We are talking to all of these groups as well as municipalities and police services.

    For the sake and safety of our animals, we are not going to rush the new long-term model. The stakes are too high. We will take the time needed to get the new model right. That includes making sure the people have their say.

    Our government takes animal welfare seriously. Following the withdrawal of the OSPCA from enforcement of livestock and equine cases, our government acted quickly to ensure all livestock and equine welfare cases were directed to the local police authorities across the province. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs and our farm organizations continue to provide expertise to police authorities, as needed, in partnership with our local veterinarians.

    Ontario farmers are already world leaders in maintaining the highest standards of animal care. They rely on the welfare of their animals to make a living, just like they rely on taking sustainable care of the land and the environment where their animals thrive.

    Allowing animals to go unprotected is simply unacceptable to our government. Since this government was elected, we have clearly stated the animal protection enforcement system across this province can be and will be made better, and we are taking action to do so. The OSPCA Amendment Act is the first step along that path.

    Toby Barrett is the MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk

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