Every year, the US sends around 100,000 horses to slaughter. While the last horse slaughterhouse in the US closed in 2007, the US continues to send horses abroad for slaughter in Canada and Mexico. Furthermore, the ban on horse slaughter in the US is temporary and thus, can easily be reversed.

Many of these horses were forced to race, work in fields, and perform other kinds of labor for human benefit. Once humans no longer want to take care of their horse(s) or can’t afford to, they can simply sell the poor animals to auction houses. Sadly, a large majority of these horses are healthy enough to be rescued and rehomed, but “kill buyers” bid higher prices than rescues or caring horse owners can afford. The journey to the slaughterhouse is long (often taking over 24 hours) and the poor horses endure so much suffering and abuse along the way. They are often even denied food, water, and room to move during the trip. Sadly, the stunning that is supposed to render horses unconscious before slaughter often doesn’t work. Thus, some of the poor animals are still alive when they are dismembered.

Fortunately, new legislation seeks to ban the cruel practice of exporting horses to be slaughtered abroad as well as in the US. Towards the end of May, the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act was reintroduced in Congress by Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Vern Buchanan (R-FL). The bill has been supported by multiple Animal rights organizations, including the ASPCA and the Humane Society of the United States.

Neda DeMayo, founder of Return to Freedom Wild Horse Conservation, commented, “Wild horses that once roamed freely on our public lands, pets, race horses, work horses — no American horse deserves to be shipped to an inhumane death in a foreign slaughterhouse. The national effort to end this practice began in Congress 20 years ago so we call on everyone to join in ending this once and for all.”

Sign this petition to tell Congress to pass the SAFE Act without delay, and save the horses!

To continue speaking up, sign these other petitions as well:

• Ban Horse Trainer Who Allegedly Drugged Racehorse
• Ban Horse Racing in the U.S.
• Shut Down Parx Racing for its Cruelty to Horses
• Ban Horse Drawn Carriages

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