On Friday, July 4th, as Americans around the U.S. celebrated Independence Day, Animals' Angels Inc. in conjunction with its international animal welfare coalition partners, Global Action in the Interest of Animals (GAIA, Belgium), Tierschutzbund Zurich (TSB, Switzerland). Eyes on Animals (Netherlands), L214 (France) and Eurogroup for Animals met with some of the top players at the EU Commission in Brussels to continue pushing forward in the fight for winning the freedom of U.S. horses and spreading much needed advocacy on an international platform.

EU Commission Headquarters

For years Animals' Angels has been at the forefront of efforts to stop the horse slaughter industry from every angle possible. Building on the organization's established mission of openly sharing the information gathered from their tireless investigation efforts, Animals' Angels has established strong and respectful relationships with the key decision makers in Europe who have the authority to put an end to the import of horsemeat.

According to Sonja Meadows, Executive Director of Animals' Angels, "Ending the demand for horsemeat would be a powerful step to ensure the safety of our horses. Meeting with the EU officials on July 4th, in which we had the chance to present our evidence against horse slaughter first hand and discuss our findings one on one with some of the most important individuals at the EU Commission, was a significant step forward in our goal to save our horses."

Frightened horses, crowded into a feedlot like sardines, trying to avoid stepping on the decomposing bodies of other horses that have been dead for days. Emaciated horses, staring dully at the ground where there is no food or water to be found. Horses with open gashes on their flanks, hobbling around with dislocated or broken legs. Horses with obvious infections and illnesses. A dying mare, her dead foal still lodged in the birth canal.

These were a few of the images that Animals' Angels and its coalition partners presented during the July 4th meeting. Animals' Angels collected the evidence of wide-spread abuse of horses, destined to be slaughtered and their meat shipped to Europe to be sold in various countries throughout the European Union.

Animal Welfare Coalition Partners

Sonja Meadows had this to say: "We showed video and other findings from our investigations of the Bouvry Exports feedlots in Alberta, Canada, as well as those in Mexico and Argentina.  We presented evidence showing that the EU-approved slaughterhouses often flouted EU regulations on a daily basis.  We were also able to once again show, in excruciating detail, the atrocious conditions horses must endure during transport and while in holding at feedlots and collecting stations. The stark reality is far different than what the EU officials, as well as the primary consumers, believe to be true."

Another grave concern is the health risk inherent in eating horsemeat. The FVO, the EU authority responsible for the inspection of the slaughter plants, has repeatedly informed the EU Commission that the systems in place regarding identification and medical treatment of horses are insufficient to guarantee EU standards. Particularly with regard to Canada, the USA, Mexico, Argentina and Uruguay, the FVO has raised concerns about traceability and the risk of drug residues in horsemeat. 

Sonja Meadows of Animals' Angels & York Ditfurth of TSB