Rescue Group Launches Anti-Slaughter Awareness Campaign

A Pennsylvania-based equine rescue organization hopes a billboard advertising campaign will raise awareness of horse slaughter issues, particularly among non-horse owners. Angel Acres Horse Haven Rescue in Glenville launched the campaign this week by placing billboards depicting two horses and the message "Stop Killing Us" in two Baltimore, Md., locations. The campaign's companion website, www.stopslaughteringus.com, contains information about horse slaughter issues, and encourages visitors to urge their legislators to oppose local horse processing plant development and to pass federal anti-slaughter legislation. A court decision halted horse processing in the United States in 2007. Processing plants in Mexico and Canada have since become destinations for slaughter-bound horses from the U.S. Legislation (HR 503/S727 The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act) remains pending that would prohibit the transport, sale, delivery, or export of horses for slaughter for human consumption. It also criminalizes the purchase, sale, delivery, or export of horse meat intended for human consumption. Meanwhile, in 2009, legislation allowing private sector horse processing plant development was introduced in some states with mixed results. Plant development legislation became law in Montana and Wyoming in 2009. No processing plants have yet opened in those states...more