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Yesterday morning, July 7th, we were informed that Sen. Landrieu of Louisiana, and sponsor of S. 727 - Prevention of Cruelty to Equines which would make it a felony to transport a horse for the purpose of human consumption, was going to try and push the bill through the Senate Ag Appropriations committee, and that the mark-up was going to be at 3 pm Eastern.

Thanks, in part, to swift and decisive communication from United Organizations of the Horse and a broad sweep of horse owner, and horse industry supporters from most of the major animal agriculture organizations, many animal welfare organizations, and coalitions of pet owners, livestock owners, tribes, and who knows how many individuals...Sen. Landrieu did not have the votes to further S. 727, and the committee took no action on that bill.

What they did do, however, is accept the language to authorize a study by GAO that will be due on March 1, 2010. Here is the text of that language:

Horse Welfare.-The Committee is aware of reports that since the closing of a number of horse slaughter plants in the United States in recent years, there has been a decline in the overall welfare of horses. The Committee has been made aware of anecdotal evidence that the number of abandoned horses has increased and an increased number of horses are suffering from neglect. The Committee therefore believes that information relating to the consequences of all recent actions regarding horse slaughter should be gathered to ensure that any continued action or change in policy actually improves the overall welfare of these animals.

As a result, the Committee directs the General Accountability Office to conduct an investigation on the status of horse welfare in this country as it relates to the cessation of horse slaughter operations. In particular, the Committee believes that GAO should consider, at least, how the horse industry has responded to the closure of U.S. horse slaughter facilities in terms of both the numbers of horse sales, exports, adoptions, or abandonments; the implication these changes have had on farm income and trade; any impacts to State and local governments and animal protection organizations; how the Department oversees the transport of horses destined for slaughter in foreign countries, particularly Canada and Mexico; the manner in which the Department coordinates with the Department of the Interior and State governments to assist them in identifying, holding and transporting unwanted horses for foreign export; and general conclusions regarding the welfare of horses as a result of a ban on horse slaughter for human consumption. The Committee expects a report in this investigation by March 1, 2010.

Our efforts to organize an adept, effective, and quickly activated network of organizations and individuals paid off yesterday.

Good work and many, many thanks to everyone who was able to jump into action!

Part of the success yesterday has to be laid gratefully in the lap of all of those who have made the effort to communicate with their congressional delegations. Those efforts laid the ground work. When those who seek to curtail our ability to make a living with horses, or to enjoy horses in our lives make stealthy moves--yesterday proved that those efforts will always be thwarted by good information, and science based facts--and not the emotionally manipulative propaganda of animal rights groups like HSUS/PETA and their many affiliates.

Now is not the time to relax. We must remain vigilant. We must continue to strive to be a voice of reason, scientific fact, and common sense on behalf of horse owners, and for the continued viability of the horse industry. 

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