For over two years, Maine Friends of Animals has made horses its focus issue. Horses have come to the forefront of public attention with several recent serious cases of equine abuse in Maine. MFOA decided to research the subject of homeless horses further and produced what is the first report regarding unwanted horses in Maine. Click here to read the full report.

The issue of horses has also received the attention of the legislature. A bill introduced in the last session created a task force that resulted in the formation of a group of representatives from within the Maine horse community.  This newly-formed group is already beginning to address many of the concerns cited in the report.

We do not contend that this report is the last word, but simply a good starting point to understand what needs to be done to reduce the number of individual animals in Maine being subjected to abuse, neglect and inhumane treatment.

In researching this issue, we could not overlook the role that Maine plays in horses being shipped to slaughter in Quebec, sold for human consumption in Europe and Asia.  Each year, a business in Maine ships 1,000-1,500 horses to slaughter in Canada.  Others are shipping horses through Maine for slaughter.

The entire process, including the slaughter auction, the method of transportation, the feedlots, the slaughter plants -- everything up to and including the death of the horse -- is inhumane. No animal that has served mankind so well, so long, so nobly and in so many ways deserves this fate.

To most horse owners in Maine, horses are companion animals, pets like dogs and cats; they would never consider sending a horse to endure the horrors involved in the slaughter process. 

L.D. 1075, "An Act to Prohibit Horse Slaughter for Human Consumption," would end this horrific practice. The revised bill will be submitted at the hearing (not scheduled yet) to omit sections that had unintended language onerous to horse owners.

The revised bill has just one purpose: to end the transportation of horses from and through Maine to Canada or Mexico for slaughter.

There will be opposition from those who view slaughter as an outlet to over breeding and others with financial interest in slaughter. We must represent the silent majority. Over 90% of the public is against the slaughter of horses.

How can you help?

• Review and circulate the FACT SHEET. Help us to get the word out.
• Contact your legislators and have your friends, neighbors and business associates contact their legislators to ask them to vote and actively support L.D. 1075. Find your State Representatives and Senators at:
  http://www.maine.gov/legis/house/townlist.htm
• Many citizens are still unaware of Maine's role in the horse slaughter practice. It costs money to educate the legislators, public and media, as it does to advocate and lobby. Please donate today.
  
  Opponents of this bill have strong resources. Whatever you can contribute will go directly toward our efforts to pass this bill. Help us to win this important piece of legislation.
  Click here to DONATE
  

With your help, we can put an end to a practice that has no place in Maine - where citizens believe in the humane treatment of animals.