Posted by: Suzanne, Warsaw, IN on July 11, 2011 at 08:37 PM

I'm just happy to know that the AAEP does NOT speak for all its members - Veterinarians For Equine Welfare: http://www.vetsforequinewelfare.org/index.php

As has been mentioned by others the AAEP says it lays responsibility at the feet of the owners - where it should be - but then wants tax payers to foot the bill for their irresponsible ways? First slaughter, and now tax subsidies for irresponsible breeding and owners who never should have owned a horse in the first place. Tax subsidies are no more a solution than slaughter is - providing a way for people to shirk their responsibilities is the PROBLEM. It always was.

If the Big Breeders would take the millions they spend lobbying FOR slaughter and partner with the horse rescuers around the country, a network of hay banks, temporary help for owners who really want to keep their horse themselves - the possibilities are endless with absolutely no need for tax money.
Horse Rescue Alternatives to Slaughter: http://www.box.net/shared/qkcncvn3ndijs1yxg10l

And yes, American horses are not fit for human consumption, and I find it disgraceful that our government is knowingly continuing to sell tainted horse meat to unsuspecting consumers overseas.

Please, pass S. 1176!

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Posted by: Janet , El Dorado Hills, CA on June 29, 2011 at 02:42 PM

Most of the GAO report are findings of explanations and thus confirmation of multiple and repeated violations of law and ethics at all levels in the transaction of horses changing hands. The laws violated are local, state and federal. They are known as animal cruelty laws and each state has them. Enforcement of the laws was not always within the jurisdiction of USDA or APHIS or DOT. GAO's mission was to investigate the impact of the cessation of horse slaughter on horse business but in trying to prove numbers of horses, track movement of horses, track drug testing, if horses were turned back at the borders for illegal transport due to injury, age or blindness - they were stymied by no records or inadequately filled out or fraudulent information. They found auctioneers, transport owners and feedlot owners still in business despite being fined hundreds of thousands of dollars for violations and owing TODAY. GAO found that most horses that went to slaughter were low priced. Meaning they were young, untrained, had injuries, were older than competitively acceptable, were pregnant or had a foal at the side and were not papered or breed so poorly to be a danger to themselves or others. And might I add that foal at side does not save the dam - the auctioneers simply strip the foal - leave it behind and ship the dam. Alerts go out all the time of groups of stripped (1-3 month old) foals needing rescue.They also found that despite slaughter being shut down in the US there were still huge problems in lack of compliance with humane and ethical regulations. Reports are being filed today by investigators at the auctions of improper and illegal handling. GAO properly suggested that the laws should be enforced - as we are a law abiding nation. However, their conclusion and what the majority of Americans demand is that Congress should immediately and permanently ban slaughter of equids. I vote for this last recommendation and urge all readers to contact their Senators and demand co-sponsorship and passage of S.1176 through to the President for signature. Sen. Kirk just introduced his bill to ban double decker transport. And Rep. Moran has properly amended Agriculture Appropriations Budget to include defunding of inspection of horsemeat for human consumption. All these bills are ready to be voted on, the budget is waiting. Encourage your Washington reprsentatives to truly vote as the people desire them to. For the safety of all equids. Pass S.1176

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Posted by: Howard, Albuquerque, NM on June 28, 2011 at 05:29 PM

Let me get this straight--the AAEP wants any legislation to ban horse slaughter to "include funding to carry out the policy and to provide for unwanted horses." The primary fundamental problems in the horse industry that result in horses being sent to slaughter are over-breeding and race horses that have been injured or whose careers are over. Now you want taxpayers to keep subsidizing this irresponsibility by providing funding so that they can continue with their irresponsible behavior. Congress needs to ban horse slaughter once and for all-period.

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Posted by: Brenda, Albuquerque, NM on June 28, 2011 at 05:01 PM

The GAO also recommends, "or, instead consider a permanent ban on horse slaughter." Those who blame the closing of horse slaughter plants in the US for all the ills of the horse industry are the same ones who will not consider viable alernatives to sending a horse to slaughter. The unintended consequences of allowing horse slaughter to continue is a decline in horse welfare. Once a horse enters the path to slaughter they are never treated humanely again.

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Posted by: Terri, union Mills, IN on June 28, 2011 at 11:24 AM

How can a group that is supposed to promote the well being of these animals support their demise in any slaughter house? How can they promote more tax payer dollars on inspections that allowed dangerous drugs to enter into the food chain? The proof is there when all the drug ladened meat was passed into the foreign food chain and our USDA inspectors turned a blind eye to it.
Ban horse slaughter altogether and be done with it. We all know what and who is behind this and it doesn't benefit the horses.

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