Support the Save America's Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act
The SAFE Act has strong bipartisan support. Representatives Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and 102 original cosponsors introduced the bill in the House. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) introduced the bill in the Senate.
SAFE Act Overview
The SAFE Act would simply add horses to the Dog and Cat Meat Prohibition Act, which passed as part of the 2018 Farm Bill (7 U.S. Code § 2160). This would prohibit the slaughter of horses in the U.S. and the sale, shipment, transport, delivery, possession, purchase, receipt or donation of horses for slaughter for human consumption, closing the current loophole that allows the export of horses to be killed for human consumption in other countries.
Horse slaughter is inherently inhumane and overwhelmingly unpopular with the public. Additionally, the slaughter of American horses produces meat that is unsafe for human consumption and promotes a predatory industry that makes rescuing horses more difficult. Yet every year, tens of thousands of American horses are transported across our northern and southern borders and killed for human consumption. To stop this, we need the SAFE Act. This bipartisan bill would prohibit the slaughter of horses for human consumption in the U.S. and their export for that purpose abroad.
Nearly every year since 2005, Congress has included a provision in its annual funding bills that specifically bars the use of federal funds for the inspection of horses at slaughter facilities, thereby preventing their slaughter. However, these funding prohibitions are only temporary — they must be adopted by Congress each and every year, and they fail to prevent the export of horses to be killed for human consumption in other countries. It is time to make the prohibition permanent and close the loophole that, in 2024, sent approximately 20,000 American horses to slaughter in Mexico and Canada.
Why We Need the SAFE Act
The Public Overwhelmingly Opposes Horse Slaughter. According to a 2021 national poll, 83% of American voters oppose the slaughter of horses for human consumption. This strong opposition cuts across party lines (88% democrats; 85% republicans; 82% independents opposed) and holds true for both Trump (77% opposed) and Biden (88% opposed) voters.
Horse Slaughter Is Brutal, Terrifying and Inherently Inhumane.
The type of captive bolt method of stunning commonly used in horse slaughter was not designed for horses, and the intense physiological “fight or flight” response of these animals make it ineffective. As a result, horses often endure repeated blows and sometimes remain conscious during dismemberment, which is unconscionably cruel. Past USDA inspections confirmed rampant violations and cruelty in domestic horse slaughter plants. Additionally, 2021 research published in Meat Science found that 79% of slaughtered horses had serious transport-related injuries. When U.S. slaughter plants were operating, USDA inspection documents revealed similarly gruesome findings.
Eating Meat from American Horses Is Inherently Unsafe for Humans.
Because American horses are not raised for food, they are routinely administered medications and substances prohibited by the FDA for use in animals intended for human consumption. We should not allow humans, whether living within or outside the United States, to eat meat that threatens their health. In 2015, the European Union banned all horse meat imports from Mexico — where the great majority of American horses are slaughtered — citing food safety concerns.
Because American horses are not raised for food, they are routinely administered medications and substances prohibited by the FDA for use in animals intended for human consumption. We should not allow humans, whether living within or outside the United States, to eat meat that threatens their health. In 2015, the European Union banned all horse meat imports from Mexico — where the great majority of American horses are slaughtered — citing food safety concerns.
It Is a Myth that Only Old, Unwanted or Sickly Horses Are Slaughtered.
To the contrary, national sheltering data shows that 74% of cases where horses ended up at a rescue were due to the owner’s health, age or financial situation, not because of any deficiency of the horse, indicating that the challenge lies in providing support to well-meaning owners during vulnerable moments. These horses could go on to lead productive lives in loving homes if given the chance. Furthermore, a 2017 study found that 2.3 million adults in the U.S. (1.2 million households) have both the desire and resources to immediately adopt a horse, which suggests there are more than enough homes available to provide a soft, safe landing for horses in the slaughter pipeline.
Horse Slaughter Incentivizes Theft, Predatory Behavior and Fraud.
Kill-buyers frequently pose as responsible adopters, tricking owners. In one recent case, a veterinary student took more than 50 horses to slaughter after misleading owners into believing that she would provide the animals with a good permanent home.
Kill pen bail-out operations post horses for sale, typically online. They claim that they’ll send horses to slaughter on a certain date to create a sense of urgency for consumers and potential rescuers to “save” the horses with high “bail” fees. These often-artificial emergencies are designed to prey on the public’s emotions. Payment of the inflated bail price provides significant profit for the kill buyer, which further funds their slaughter-brokerage business. For every one horse bailed by an individual with good intentions to save that horse, a kill buyer may be able to buy several additional horses who they send directly to slaughter.
Horse Slaughter Stifles Rescue, Rehoming and Good Welfare.
Kill-buyers regularly attend auctions where they easily outbid individuals who could provide those horses loving homes, which forces rescue groups to divert scarce resources from other lifesaving work to compete with these individuals. So long as there is a profit to be made by kill buyers, horses will continue to fall victim and be shipped to slaughter, and these barriers will remain.
Additionally, the existence of kill buyers delays horse owners from rehoming horses even when the owners know they can’t provide the best care for their horse. Nearly 75% of horse owners who reach out for help through the ASPCA’s Equine Transition and Adoption Center in Texas and Oklahoma have indicated that a fear of slaughter caused them to hold on to their horse longer than expected, delaying horses and families from receiving the support they need.
Who Supports the SAFE Act
Eighty-three percent of the American public, including horse owners, trainers, riders and enthusiasts want the slaughter of American horses to end. They are joined by the following national industry, equine welfare and equine rescue organizations, among others, who have endorsed the bill:
- The Jockey Club
- U.S. Trotting Association
- U.S. Harness Racing Alumni Association
- Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association
- Homes for Horses Coalition (500+ nonprofits across the country)
- The ASPCA
- Humane World for Animals
- Humane World Action Fund
- Animal Welfare Institute
- Return to Freedom Wild Horse Conservation
SAFE Act Resources:
- View House cosponsors and Senate cosponsors
- View House bill text and Senate bill text
If you have questions or want additional information, please email [email protected].
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