District Court Does Not Enforce Anti-Slaughter Provision
Thursday, March 16, 2006
The longstanding debate over horse slaughter came to a head Tuesday, March 14, 2006 when a district court made the decision to defer the enforcement of the bill that was introduced into Congress in February.
The bill, The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (H.R. 503 & S 1915) reads, “to prohibit the shipping, transporting, moving, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donation of horses and other equines to be slaughtered for human consumption, and for other purposes.”
“A coalition of animal protection groups -- The Humane Society of the United States, Animal Welfare Institute, The Fund For Animals, Society for Animal Protective Legislation, Doris Day Animal League, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and American Humane Association -- are disappointed with today's district court decision to allow for the continued slaughter of American horses in violation of federal law and Congress's clear directive. We stand by the majority of Congress and the American people who want our horses protected,” according to a joint statement from animal protection groups.
Still, however, this controversial debate has its strong opponents. The Report has received many letters opposing the bill for fear of the abandonment of unwanted horses, which leads to the slow, suffering, death of a horse.
Niels Holch, a Washington D.C. lobbyist who works on behalf of several Tennessee Walking Horse organizations, said that what is significant about the district court's decision on Tuesday, is the timing. The anti-slaughter provision was introduced as a temporary solution to the slaughter of horses. The provision only lasts until 9-30-06.
While activists say they'll continue to fight for this provision to be enforced, it is questionable whether or not that will happen by the expiration of the temporary provision in September.
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