Angie Craig: “I wish to notify the Senate of my intent to object to proceeding to S. 311, a bill to amend the Horse Protection Act to…”

“I wish to notify the Senate of my intent to object to proceeding to S. 311, a bill to amend the Horse Protection Act to prohibit the shipping, transporting, moving, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donation of horses and other equines to be slaughtered for human consumption, and for other purposes. The bill would prohibit the shipping, transporting, moving, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donation of horses and other equines to be slaughtered for human consumption. In short, it would further limit the already limited options for disposal of unwanted horses. An unwanted horse is one that has reached the useful end of its economic or recreational life. There are numerous reasons for the existence of unwanted horses, not the least of which are economic reasons such as loss of job, price of feed or stabling, relocation, poor health of the horse or its owner. It must be recognized that no one has adequately addressed the fate of the estimated 90,000 unwanted horses that were formerly slaughtered on an annual basis. Animal welfare groups and rescue organizations can only do so much to shoulder the load of aiding the adoption or care of these horses. They are currently stretched to capacity, and we expect an increase in need. As a result, we are witnessing a significant increase in abandonment and neglect of horses in this country.”