Del.icio.us  Digg  facebook  MySpace  Twitter  Google  Bookmark Me  LinkedIn  StumbleUpon  Permalink

Criminal Horse Bill Comes to Vote

On Wednesday the House Judiciary Committee will vote on H.R. 6598, the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act. According to the Animal Agriculture Alliance, the bill is inappropriately named and was introduced under the guise of protecting horse welfare, but will produce unintended and inhumane consequences. The bill would make it criminal to sell or transport horses for processing.

Since state legislative moves closed U.S. horse processing plants, the number of abandoned, neglected and unwanted horses has grown rapidly. The American Veterinary Medical Association says the bill will further increase the growing problem and is opposing the legislation saying it will do nothing to improve the welfare of horses or prevent equine cruelty.

Also opposing H.R. 6598 are the American Quarter Horse Association, American Association of Equine Practitioners, American Farm Bureau Federation and National Cattlemen's Beef Association.