UPDATE re: horses in caught in slaughter pipeline

[outspoken]

For Immediate Release

COURT DECLARES HORSE SLAUGHTER TO BE ILLEGAL

Washington, D.C. (March 28, 2007) - In a 51-page opinion issued just
hours ago, United States District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly
held that the slaughter of horses in America violates federal law. In
her opinion, issued in response to a lawsuit filed in February 2006 by
the Society for Animal Protective Legislation (SAPL) and other humane
organizations and individuals, Judge Kollar-Kotelly ruled that the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) violated the National Environmental
Policy Act by failing to conduct an environmental impact review of its
decision to allow the continuation of horse slaughter.

"Tonight, after years of legislation and litigation, America's three
horse slaughterhouses can no longer kill horses for human consumption,"
states Chris Heyde, deputy legislative director for the Society for
Animal Protective Legislation. "We call on Illinois-based Cavel
International to work with the humane and rescue communities to find
permanent safe homes for the hundreds of horses who were slated for
slaughter, to give them a second chance at life."

The rule that was vacated by the court, was promulgated by the USDA's
Food Safety and Inspection Service to create a fee-for-service
inspection process for horses slaughtered for human consumption. The
rule circumvented a Congressionally approved amendment to the FY 2006
Agricultural Appropriations Act that cut federal funding for the
required inspections. Because of continuing resolutions approved by
Congress to fund the government, today's ruling is effective
immediately.

There are three horse slaughterhouses in America, one in Illinois and
two in Texas. Though the Texas plants were recently forced to stop
slaughtering horses for human consumption when an appellate court upheld
a Texas law making it illegal to sell, possess and transport horsemeat
for sale for human consumption, the Illinois plant has been killing
approximately 1,000 horses per week.

"The American public has overwhelmingly opposed the slaughter of
America's horses for human consumption and now the courts have declared
horse slaughter to be illegal," adds Heyde. "While horses will no
longer be butchered in the U.S. they can be hauled under appalling
conditions to an even more brutal death in plants across the U.S.
border. Congress must pass federal legislation to extend the
protections to all horses and to send a clear message to those few who
profit from this barbaric trade."

Currently pending in Congress are H.R. 503 and its Senate companion
measure, S. 311, which would ban the slaughter of horses for human
consumption and prohibit the transport of horses outside of the United
States for slaughter.

The Society for Animal Protective Legislation, the Animal Welfare
Institute's legislative arm, is the unsurpassed leader in obtaining laws
to benefit animals in need, including the protection of domestic and
wild horses. More information is available at
www.saplonline.org/horses.htm.

##30##

For More Information Contact:
Chris Heyde [phone]

---

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT,

A Federal Court ruling just announced that it is illegal for the USDA to accept payments from the equine slaughterhouses for the inspection of any equine killed for human consumption. Cavel is effectively closed. There is a possibility of appeal, but as of this minute, the slaughter of horses for human consumption in the United States is over.

ATTENTION ALL RESCUES:

Habitat for Horses and the Humane Society of the United States need your help for the possibility of the intake of the horses now caught in the pipeline. Estimates range up to several thousand. Please email us immediately, do not call, if your rescue is in the position to help house and adopt these horses. We need your name, name of the organization, location, contact numbers and a rough idea of the actual number of horses you will be able to take in.

Send the information to:
[e-mail]
[e-mail]


Horse Slaughter is over!


EQUINE RESCUES NEEDED IMMEDIATELY


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Habitat for Horses
P.O. Box 213
Hitchthingy, TX 77563
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Web site: www.habitatforhorses.org
E-mail: [e-mail]


Please keep calling your reps. The borders are still open until the anti-slaughter bill passes!!

[rodeo51]

This is good news, but now we have to worry about the horses being shipped to Canada and Mexico.

[caryn]

WOOHOOO!!!!


MTA: Yes, we still have to worry about horses shipping, but I'm taking a moment to celebrate the closing of U.S. slaughter facilities.

[maverick]

I'm in total shock! I really didn't think it would pass.

[Tate]

I am shocked as well. This is good news for the horses, we will continue our battle until they are safe from shipment out of the country.

[maverick]

I'm in tears! People we have to be ready to help with on intake for all the horses that are already in the pipeline in the US, prepare for a flood of horses that need our help!

I'm don't know what to say, I feel so much love for all of you, for all of us that made this happen.

Well said tate, they can still be shipped out of the US but we are so much closer now to putting a stop that as well.

[NanciK]

Can someone please post the direct link to this annoucement, I couldn't find any reference to it on the HFH website.

Quite honestly, I find the statement "Horse Slaughter Is Over!" to be somewhat irresponsible.

[NanciK]

From the Houston Chronicle, just released:

March 28, 2007, 8:44PM
Court blocks horse meat inspections


By SUZANNE GAMBOA Associated Press Writer
© 2007 The Associated Press

TOOLS
Email Get section feed
Print Subscribe NOW
WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court on Wednesday blocked the Agriculture Department from providing horse meat inspections for a fee.

The decision in a lawsuit filed by the Humane Society of the United States is another setback for the horse slaughter industry.

In January, a federal appeals court upheld a 1949 Texas ban on the slaughter of horses for the purpose of selling the meat for human consumption overseas. The ruling forced two plants in Texas to scale back operations.

Wayne Pacelle, president of the humane society, said the ruling by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia effectively shuts down operations in an Illinois horse slaughter plant, the only plant still operating in the U.S.

"This should finish them off and this now should stop the horrible slaughter lines" at the Illinois plant, Pacelle said.

Congress stripped funding for horse meat inspections in 2005, but the USDA devised a plan to provide the inspections for a fee for slaughter plants. Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, found the USDA did not follow federal procedures for setting up the inspection fee program.

The ruling also adds momentum to efforts by animal protection groups to get Congress to pass a horse slaughter ban, he said.

"We won in the Republican Congress and our hand is strengthened by the new alignment in the Congress," he said. Democrats control Congress, although some Democrats from agricultural areas oppose the slaughter ban.

Charlie Stenholm, a former Texas congressman who has lobbied against the ban, said the fight is far from over. He had not seen the ruling but expected it would be appealed. "We're in the fight," the Democrat said.

[djrepp]

Wow!

[outspoken]

www.saplonline.org/Legislation/USDAviolatedlaw.htm

COURT DECLARES HORSE SLAUGHTER TO BE ILLEGAL

Washington, D.C. (March 28, 2007) - In a 51-page opinion issued just hours ago, United States District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly held that the slaughter of horses in America violates federal law. In her opinion, issued in response to a lawsuit filed in February 2006 by the Society for Animal Protective Legislation (SAPL) and other humane organizations and individuals, Judge Kollar-Kotelly ruled that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) violated the National Environmental Policy Act by failing to conduct an environmental impact review of its decision to allow the continuation of horse slaughter.

“Tonight, after years of legislation and litigation, America’s three horse slaughterhouses can no longer kill horses for human consumption,” states Chris Heyde, deputy legislative director for the Society for Animal Protective Legislation. “We call on Illinois-based Cavel International to work with the humane and rescue communities to find permanent safe homes for the hundreds of horses who were slated for slaughter, to give them a second chance at life

The rule that was vacated by the court, was promulgated by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service to create a fee-for-service inspection process for horses slaughtered for human consumption. The rule circumvented a Congressionally approved amendment to the FY 2006 Agricultural Appropriations Act that cut federal funding for the required inspections. Because of continuing resolutions approved by Congress to fund the government, today's ruling is effective immediately.

There are three horse slaughterhouses in America, one in Illinois and two in Texas. Though the Texas plants were recently forced to stop slaughtering horses for human consumption when an appellate court upheld a Texas law making it illegal to sell, possess and transport horsemeat for sale for human consumption, the Illinois plant has been killing approximately 1,000 horses per week

“The American public has overwhelmingly opposed the slaughter of America’s horses for human consumption and now the courts have declared horse slaughter to be illegal,” adds Heyde. “While horses will no longer be butchered in the U.S. they can be hauled under appalling conditions to a similarly brutal death in plants across the U.S. border. Congress must pass federal legislation to extend the protections to all horses and to send a clear message to those few who profit from this barbaric trade

Currently pending in Congress are H.R. 503 and its Senate companion measure, S. 311, which would ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption and prohibit the transport of horses outside of the United States for slaughter

The Society for Animal Protective Legislation, the Animal Welfare Institute's legislative arm, is the unsurpassed leader in obtaining laws to benefit animals in need, including the protection of domestic and wild horses. More information is available at www.saplonline.org/horses.

For More Information Contact:
Chris Heyde [phone]

I also read that the horses sold at auction in Idaho are being shipped to Mexico!!! @#$$#

[jessiegirl1981]

That is true but Debbie at mustang hearts is getting all she can out of there. She has a paypal set up and you can read about it on the twr board. She is really worried about the prices being soo low on the lower grade horses!! She is actively looking for fosters we got the judgement now lets get the horses!!!

[maloney]

Holy crap............are u kidding??

All three plants are closed?
Is there a time on it?
WOW!!!!!!!
I cannot believe this! HORRAY!!
Now we got to work on mexico and canada....but still......wait, are you kidding me???
This is awesome!!!!

[ebo]

It's true. According to what I read the inspection ban goes into effect immediately.

There's a call out from the Humane Society and Habitat for horses to all horse rescues and foster people to step up for the horses now in the pipeline--of course the slaughter houses will have to release them first--so that we can get them temporary care until they find homes or sanctuary.

We're going to have to dig deep to help the rescues who have room for these horses.

Since Chuck ships to Canada, there will be no end here YET, in fact there might be an increase unless the federal ban, now languishing in Congress, is passed asap.

[Admin]

We might be able to get a WASHINGTON STATE LAW passed to prevent transporting for the purpose of slaughter faster than a federal.

Time to go locally!!!!!! NOW

[outspoken]

Please note that it is a "district court" not a federal court, so an appeal is very likey to an appeal court... the way I understand it anyway!

[beejoyfulmk]

AMEM!!!! !!!!! AND THANKS TO ALL !!!!!!

[cvl]

This is cross posted from COTH~~ are you in the area? can you help if needed? - see below:

Originally Posted by onthebit12000
Volunteers Needed!!

As of 11:00 am March 29, 2007 we are working through the courts to try to secure the purchase and safety of potentially 200 horses either currently at the Cavel slaughter plant in Dekalb Illinois, or that are enroute to Cavel.

Cavel is asking the court for an emergency injunction to allow them to kill the horses based on the premise that they have nowhere to go with the animals.

We disagree...we are in the process of securing a large temporary triage facility capable of sheltering all horses in need due to the shut down at Cavel. We are looking at facilities in the northern part of Illinois as possible staging grounds.

I need people to stand ready to help to feed and care for the horses should we be successful in gaining custody of the animals. We may not know the outcome of the courts decision for a few hours yet, but we need to be prepared should the court rule in our favor.

Please email me at [e-mail] if you are able to physically assist in the care of the horses. Please be certain to include your phone number and location.

We will also need donations of equipment such as halters, leads, buckets, hay, bedding, feed etc. Please do not send anything just yet...please just stand ready and let me know if you can help.

Thanks so very much!

Gail Vacca
Illinois Coordinator
National Horse Protection Coalition
Wilmington, Illinois
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.horse-protection.org

[cvl]

Update - again cross posted


Dear Friends,

It is with a heavy heart that I write with word on the latest news regarding the horses caught in the slaughter pipeline today at Cavel.

According to Illinois Department of Agriculture State Veterinarian, Dr. Colleen O'Keefe, the 6 trailers that arrived at Cavel today have been sent back to their original states of origin. Dr.O'Keefe informed me that 2 of the trailers were from CO, and 1 each from SD, IA, and TN. She did not recall which state the 6th trailer originated from.

According to the USDA, the 2 trailers headed back to CO have been told to offload their horses in Iowa because they will not be able to make the full trip to Colorado and still be within the 28 hour law that regulates the commercial tranport of horses to slaughter. The others "supposedly" will make the return trip within the 28 hour rule.

As it stands right now, there is nothing further that can be done to spare these particular horses. Needless to say, everyone involved in this effort to help these animals is crushed.

It needs to be said that an offer was made by the humane community to purchase the horses, which they declined. It is important to note is that within a period of one hour this morning, Barbara Geittmann, Executive Director at the Hooved Animal Humane Society had secured staging areas to accomodate the horses where they could have been provided with veterinary care, food, water, and safe harbor.

I put out a call for "volunteers to stand ready" at 11:00 am and by 12:00 had received offers to provide homes for what would add up to several hundred horses. One caller from PA (involved in equine rescue) offered to take an entire truck load!

By 3:00 pm, the volume of emails I have received from kind hearted horse lovers offering stabling, funding, halters, labor, etc. had caused my computer to crash not once, but twice.

I have long admired the equine community for their willingness to step up to the plate for horses in need, but the outpouring of support by the equine community today, was completely above and beyond what anyone could ever imagine.

I cannot begin to express my deep gratitude to each of you who contacted me today to help these wonderful animals. Words just simply fail me now. All I can say is thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

With Kindest Regards,


Gail Vacca
Illinois Coordinator
National Horse Protection Coalition
Wilmington, Illinois
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.horse-protection.org
__________________
www.horse-protection.org

No Horses to Slaughter Clique

[mustang1]

I am crying, I can't believe it!! But we do have to shut down the boarders and edcuate people, NO breeding!!!

[maverick]

What a F**king lode of crap! Why wouldn't they take the money?

[NanciK]

It's a final F/U to the American people.

[outspoken]

Rainbowmeadows Rescue:

March 29, 2007
Breaking News


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Dear Supporters,


Massive Rescue Effort Fails

Request to Save Horses Denied

Horse Slaughter Ends!

As of around 1 pm CDT, the horses waiting in the trucks for slaughter at Cavel in DeKalb, Illinois have been turned away and are returning to their point of origination, including points as far away as Colorado and South Dakota. The attempt to rescue these horses failed, despite a major effort by HSUS, the Animal Welfare Institute and Habitat for Horses. In a few short hours the combined efforts led to the acquisition of both temporary and foster situation for well over 500 horses.

The returned horses are now traveling illegally, since (1) they have no Coggins papers or health permits and (2) the horses are no longer headed for slaughter. No doubt that the majority of these horses have traveled far longer that the 28 hour limit allowed. Once again, this action shows the apathy and true intent of the killer-buyers.

I am deeply thankful for the hundreds of emails we received with offers to help in this effort. Should it have worked, the horses would have been safe. Now they face midnight rides into Mexico and Canada as the killer-buyers attempt to reclaim their investment. One horse was unloaded at Cavel and euthanized as a result of injury during transportation.

The only way to guarantee the safety of our horses from these brutal acts and from the transfer from American soil to Mexico and Canada is the passage of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, now pending in both the House and the Senate. Your support is needed to bring this horror to an end.

Once again, thank you for your swift support and join us in celebrating one large victory – For the first time in ages, no horses were slaughtered on a Thursday in the United States for human consumption. Let’s hope it holds true until the AHSPA is finally passed.




For more information on the AHSPA


Continue to Support Your Rescue

Literally hundreds of Equine Rescues responded with offers of help today. They need your continued financial support as they work to insure that horses across the United States can return to health and find forever homes.

Your contribution to either Habitat for Horses or your local rescue can and will make a difference in the lives of the horses in our combined care.

To donate to Habitat for Horses





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Habitat for Horses
P.O. Box 213
Hitchcock, Texas 77563
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Web site: www.habitatforhorses.org
E-mail: [e-mail]


Think about it.. if they had left the rescues buy the horses, it would have gone against their own statement that those horses are unwanted and rescues cannot absorb them. Let's see though how the USDA will deal with the lack of Coggins, etc. and the extra time on those trucks...

[maverick]

I hear you NanciK, I also think they d**n well know picks will be posted on the web then we'll all get to see what shape those horses are in!

[cvl]

nancik said:

It's a final F/U to the American people.

I'd have to agree. Unfortunately, once again, it is the horses that suffer in the end

[djrepp]

Everybody. Call Senator Pam Roach. She has become a good friend of the animals in Washington State. She did not know, as many don't, that our horses are shipped for slaughter for human consumption. She may be able to stop the transport to Canada through some emergency legislation.