Humane Society of Dallas
Dallas's first no-kill shelter
2719 Manor Way
Dallas, Tx 75235
ph: 214-350-7387

Humane Society of the United States
Southwest Regional Office
6815 Manhattan Blvd., Suite 102
Fort Worth, TX 76120
ph: 817-492-8000
fax: 817-492-8006

Operation Kindness
www.operation kindness.org
3201 Earhart Drive
Carrollton, TX 75006
email: ok@operationkindness.org
ph: 972-418-PAWS
fax: 972-417-8956

Paws of Austin
www.pawsofaustin.org
email: dogs@pawsofaustin.org
ph: 512-288-9856

Second Chance SPCA
www.scspca.org
505 Alma Dr.
Plano, Texas 75075
email: SecondChanceSPCA@yahoo.com
ph: 972-424-0077

Texas Cause For Paws Rescue
www.cfprescue.com
Farmers Branch, Texas
email: judi.hacker@yahoo.com

HSUS Press Release
January 20, 2007
Federal Appeals Court Declares Horse
Slaughter in Texas Illegal
Two of the Nation's Three Horse Slaughter Plants
Face Closure, Criminal Charges

WASHINGTON – The Humane Society of the United States, which has been campaigning to ban the slaughter of American horses for export for human consumption, hailed a decision yesterday by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit overturning a lower court decision that invalidated a Texas state law banning the sale of horsemeat for human consumption. The HSUS filed an amicus brief in the case in March 2006, arguing in defense of Texas' state law barring the slaughter of American horses for human consumption overseas.

"This is the most important court action ever on the issue of horse slaughter. A federal appeals court has ruled that America's horses can no longer be slaughtered in Texas and shipped to foreign countries for food," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO for The Humane Society of the United States. "When this ruling is enforced, a single plant in Illinois will stand alone in conducting this grisly business."

The criminal code of Texas has long prohibited the sale or possession of horse meat, but the law has never been enforced. In 2002, responding to citizen and local government concerns about the two foreign-owned horse slaughter plants in the state – Dallas Crown in Kaufman and Beltex in Fort Worth – then-Texas Attorney General John Cornyn issued a written opinion that the 1949 Texas law applies and may be enforced.

In response, the Tarrant County District Attorney attempted to enforce the law, but last year a federal district court in Texas ruled that the law was repealed by another statute and preempted by federal law. The District Attorney appealed that decision last year, and was supported by The HSUS in briefing before the Court of Appeals.

In its decision, the court flatly rejected the slaughterhouses' arguments that the ban on the sale of horsemeat does not protect horses from theft and abuse, and that regulating horse slaughter can achieve those same purposes, noting instead that "it is a matter of commonsense that…alternatives…do not preserve horses as well as completely prohibiting the sale and transfer of horsemeat for human consumption." The court noted that the horse on the Texas trail is a cinematic icon, but "not once in memory did the cowboy eat his horse."

The Court of Appeals also quickly brushed aside the slaughter plants' arguments that the Texas law at issue was invalid under state and federal law, noting that the Texas law "has not been repealed or preempted by federal law," and that "several states have already banned its commercial use for human consumption."

"The Texas law prohibiting the sale of horse meat for human food could hardly be any more explicit," said Jonathan Lovvorn, vice president of animal protection litigation for The HSUS. "The court's decision means that any individual employee or corporation involved in the horse slaughter business in Texas now stares straight ahead at criminal prosecution."

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 100,800 American horses were slaughtered in three foreign-owned slaughter houses in 2006. Opponents of the slaughter ban argue the practice constitutes a humane way to kill old animals, but investigations by The HSUS show cruelty and abuse throughout the process. USDA statistics show that more than 92 percent of horses slaughtered in the U.S. are not old and infirm but in good condition.

Legislation to ban the slaughter of American horses nationwide was introduced this week in the 110th Congress, and this court ruling will give further momentum to the federal legislative

effort. In the U.S. Senate, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, S. 311, was launched Jan. 17 by Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and John Ensign (R-Nev.), with 12 original cosponsors. In the U.S. House, Reps. Janice Schakowsky (D-Ill.) Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), John Spratt (D-S.C.), and Nick Rahall (D-W.V.) introduced a companion bill, H.R. 503, the same day with 62 original cosponsors.

The measure received tremendous bipartisan support in the 109th Congress, winning a vote of 263 to 146 in the House. It stalled in the Senate in late 2006, however, and was not brought up for a vote before Congress adjourned, even though a similar effort had been overwhelmingly approved by the Senate in 2005.

On the web at www.humanesociety.org

WASHINGTON – Despite an offer by The Humane Society of the United States to take custody of approximately 100 horses caught for up to two weeks in the slaughter pipeline after a federal court ruling upheld a Texas state law banning the sale of horsemeat for human consumption, Kaufman-based Dallas Crown, Inc. resumed slaughtering the animals this afternoon. A trailer from Cosco Container Lines Americas, Inc. was seen parked outside the plant, but it is unclear whether the horsemeat will be shipped overseas for human consumption, which is illegal in Texas.

The HSUS wrote to Cosco late Friday and informed the company that shipping horsemeat for human consumption is illegal in the state Texas. The HSUS also received a letter of confirmation today from Delta Air Lines that it has ceased the shipment of horse meat; American Airlines and Continental Airlines also have said they stopped their involvement in the horse slaughter industry.

Eyewitnesses at Dallas Crown said the horses were packed in the holding pen to overcapacity and had concerns they may have had little to no access to hay and water. In a letter sent on Jan. 31 to Michiel de Beukelaar's, president of Belgian-owned Dallas Crown, Inc., HSUS President and CEO Wayne Pacelle wrote, "[W]e are prepared to take custody of, provide care and transport and assume all legal responsibility immediately for the horses owned or in the custody of Dallas Crown." The slaughter plant did not respond.

"Dallas Crown's decision to allow these animals to languish for days while the company maneuvered to slaughter them is consistent with their absolute disregard for animal welfare. Unfortunately, this is what happens to so many horses -- tens of thousands a year routinely endure long-distance transport and holding prior to slaughter," Pacelle said. "We're hopeful that with Texas law on our side and a strong movement in Congress to ban horse slaughter nationwide and stop the export of American horses for slaughter, this grisly industry is in its last throes."

Legislation to ban the slaughter of American horses nationwide was introduced in both the U.S. House and Senate earlier this month by Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and John Ensign (R-Nev.), and Reps. Janice Schakowsky (D-Ill.) Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), John Spratt (D-S.C.), and Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) introduced a companion bill, H.R. 503.

The measure received tremendous bipartisan support in the 109th Congress, winning a vote of 263 to 146 in the House. It stalled in the Senate in late 2006, however, and was not brought up for a vote before Congress adjourned, even though a similar effort had been overwhelmingly approved by the Senate in 2005.

On the web at www.humanesociety.org