March 29, 2011

To Whom It Concern:

RE: L.D. 1075  “An Act to Prohibit Horse Slaughter for Human Consumption”

L.D. 1075 had some unintended language that was understandably troublesome to many in the horse community. All objectionable language has been removed: registration of horse for export, a registry of ownership for purposes of export, the penalty of $5,000 for failing to register, and the reclassification of horses from “livestock” to “companion” animal. We are aware of what the unintended hardships would be on horse owners, and although those sections were meant as some accountability and enforcement, we are satisfied the penalty provision will be a sufficient deterrent.  An amended bill reflecting those deleted sections will be presented by the sponsor Rep. Knight who has admirably withstood the displeasure coming from the bill’s original language. We apologize for creating an unnecessary angst among horse owners. 

The bill’s original intent, as it is now, was to address the slaughter of horses. No animal that has served mankind so long, so well, so nobly in so many capacities as the horse deserves such a fate. To most horse owners in Maine horses are pets or beloved companions. And unlike cows, goats and chickens, horses are not bred for human consumption. It is a supreme injustice for a horse to have to endure being slaughtered. 

The entire process, including the slaughter auction, the method of transportation, the feedlots, the slaughter --- everything up to and including their death -- is inhumane.  Unbeknownst to most in the state, Maine has a business that transports 1,000 to 1,500 horses each year, most that are adoptable, to two slaughter houses in Quebec, Canada.

A concern has been what to you do with the horses that are saved from slaughter, particularly those that are being severely neglected. We believe effort should be made to assist rescues, help owners in caring for their horses, and to in general increase the ability to re-home unwanted horses. If all else fails and/or the animal is in poor condition then euthanasia should be used. To that end we are proposing a euthanasia clinic for horses and an increase in composting of the carcasses.  We have a group of veterinarians currently working on a model. And given the many veterinarians supporting this (amended) bill, they feel there is no reason why such a clinic cannot be created.

In conjunction, the goal is also to reduce the number of unwanted horses. A portion of the horses that go to slaughter are transported into Maine thus the legislation in itself will reduce the 1,000+ annual slaughter number.  And although most are already full, we have a good network of horse rescues in Maine. Furthermore, we now have the recent formation of the Maine Equine Welfare Alliance, a group dedicated to helping horse owners struggling to provide for their animals and saving as many as possible from abuse, abandonment and neglect. We believe all these factors can decrease the number of unwanted horses while we also provide greater accessibility to humane euthanasia. 

With the amended bill removing all the onerous portions for horse owners, we have a broad coalition who will now support the ‘only’ intent of this legislation --- to end Maine’s complicity in the practice of slaughtering horses.