A bipartisan group of federal lawmakers reintroduced the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act to permanently protect American horses from commercial slaughter in honor of National Horse Protection Day on March 1. The SAFE Act would expand the Dog and Cat Meat Prohibition Act to include equines, prohibiting the commercial slaughter of horses in the United States and ending their export for that purpose abroad. The American public overwhelmingly opposes horse slaughter, with surveys showing 83% against it due to the cruel treatment horses endure during the process.
The SAFE Act received strong bipartisan support in the last Congress, with over half of House members signing on as cosponsors. Leading animal welfare groups and equine industry groups, including The Jockey Club, the US Trotting Association, and the ASPCA, support the legislation. The bill aims to permanently ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption, as horses are not raised as food animals in the United States. Last year, approximately 19,000 horses were exported to Canada and Mexico for slaughter, highlighting the need for a ban on this practice.
The horse slaughter industry not only exploits horses but also harms the broader equine community, including horse owners, riders, and rescues. The SAFE Act aims to end the suffering of horses subjected to brutal abuse and inhumane deaths in slaughterhouses. 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.
