Animal Welfare Groups Pull Reins on Proposed Horse Slaughterhouse

A New Mexico rancher has reportedly petitioned the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to operate the first horse slaughterhouse since the ban for such operations was lifted in November 2011. Since 2006, the federal government has essentially blocked horse slaughterhouses because Congress did not fund their legally required USDA inspections. Those inspections, however, were approved by lawmakers in last year’s agricultural spending bill.

According to a news source, Rick De Los Santos, part-owner of Valley Meat Co.
in Roswell, plans to slaughter 20 to 25 horses a day and export the meat to
Mexico for human consumption. He asserts that more than 100,000 American
horses are shipped to slaughterhouses in Mexico and Canada, with some of
the meat exported to Europe and Asia. “Everyone who’s ever eaten tacos in
Mexico, I guarantee you they’ve eaten horse meat down there,” De Los Santos
said. “It would never be my intention to sell it in the U.S.”

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Front Range Equine Rescue, Animal Protection of New Mexico, and others oppose De Los Santos’ plans.

“American horses are our partners in sport, work and recreation—not dinner,”
said Keith Dane of HSUS. “The entire process of horse slaughter is filled with
nonstop terror, pain and misery for horses, and it is proven to have a severe
negative impact on surrounding communities.” See Albuquerque Journal and
HSUS Press Release, April 13, 2012.