A bipartisan group of federal lawmakers reintroduced the SAFE Act in honor of National Horse Protection Day to permanently protect American horses from commercial slaughter. The SAFE Act would expand the Dog and Cat Meat Prohibition Act to include equines, effectively ending the commercial slaughter of horses in the United States and their export for that purpose abroad. The legislation has strong bipartisan support and is endorsed by leading animal welfare groups and equine industry groups.
Despite a decline in exports, tens of thousands of American horses are still being shipped to other countries for slaughter each year due to a legal loophole. The existence of the slaughter pipeline stifles rescue and rehoming efforts, putting equine welfare at risk. The SAFE Act aims to close this loophole and put an end to horse slaughter, which is considered cruel and unnecessary by the public and industry experts.
The slaughter industry not only exploits horses but also harms the broader equine community, including horse owners, riders, and rescues. The pipeline to slaughter is considered a death sentence for horses, subjecting them to unimaginable suffering. Members of the public are encouraged to contact their US senators and representatives to urge them to cosponsor the SAFE Act and secure its swift passage to protect horses, their caregivers, and consumers.
