Horse Slaughterhouse Proposed in New Mexico

This article reaffirms my belief that it's more humane to slaughter horses in the US than to ship them for slaughter to Canada or Mexico. I don't like it either way, but one is better than the other for sure.

Chinese Dogs Rescued En Route to Butcher

These dogs were rescued by Chinese activists before they could be slaughtered for meat. According to this article from the NPR site, such rescues are occuring more regularly as dogs are increasingly becoming pets. A good story from China for once.

Halal Slaughter Causing a Furor In Quebec

Quebec is not known for its animal welfare concerns or laws. I think the issue stems from this being an Islamic practice and the fear of contaminated meat, not concern for the animals.

From JTA, the Global News Service of the Jewish People....

Two political parties in Quebec are speaking out about the ritual slaughter of animals, but a Jewish advocacy group is confident that kashrut is not being targeted.

The opposition Parti Québécois and the Coalition For Quebec's Future declared their concerns about halal meat, which comes from animals that are slaughtered according to Islamic law.

A Parti Québécois legislator said Wednesday that slaughter for halal meat is an affront to animal rights and runs counter to the values cherished by Quebecers. The pro-independence party said it was worried that mainstream companies are selling halal meat without labeling to unsuspecting consumers. It wants to know how many companies are involved in producing halal meat and the number of animals are being slaughtered annually under Islamic ritual.

"This type of slaughter slams directly against Québécois values," the Parti Québécois said in a statement.

Dutch May Ban Kosher Slaughter of Livestock

It could have a snowball effect for other countries in Europe, although probably it certainly won't be seen as politically correct.

Excerpted from the Irish Times....

THE DUTCH parliament has voted overwhelmingly to ban the ritual slaughter of livestock. This could halt production of kosher and halal meat in the Netherlands – and lead to similar campaigns in other European countries.

However, Jewish and Islamic groups which can prove animals do not suffer more during ritual killing than in an ordinary slaughterhouse will be able to apply for permits.

In a move aimed at further defusing the controversy over the proposed ban, deputy prime minister Maxime Verhagen gave an undertaking no new legislation would be signed into law until approved by the senate. Dutch law requires animals to be stunned before slaughter, but has long allowed an exemption for Muslims and orthodox Jews, who can legally butcher animals according to their centuries-old dietary rules

New Horse Slaughter Rules to Appear in Canada

The Animal Welfare Institute thinks these new rules could be a blow to the horse slaughter industry, but only if actually implemented.

Escaped Cow Goes to Sanctuary

A cow that escaped from a slaughter house in NY City has been allowed to go to an animal sanctuary.

Horse Slaughterhouses Face Hurdles in Montana

Looks like Montana's state government is heading towards the approval of horse slaughterhouses, but there are hurdles at the federal level. The only real markets for horsemeat are overseas and product must be inspected by the USDA before it can be shipped outside the US. However, the USDA is currently barred from such inspections.

Here's an article on the situation.

Study Claims Islamic Slaughtering More Humane

I came across this strange article about German research on which slaughter method creates more pain for the animal: the Western method of stunning or the Islamic method of a cut to the neck. According to the researchers, the Islamic method wins. You can read all about the results in the article.

What an utterly grotesque project.

The Islamic practice of slaughtering animals by means of a sharp cut to the front of the neck has frequently come under attack by some animal rights activists as being a form of animal cruelty, the claim being that it is a painful inhumane method of killing animals. In the West, it is required by law to stun the animals with a shot to the head before the slaughter, supposedly to render the animal unconscious and to prevent it from reviving before it is killed so as not to slow down the movement of the processing line. It is also used to prevent the animal from feeling pain before it dies.

It therefore may come as a surprise to those who have made such acclamations to learn of the results of a study carried out by Professor Wilhelm Schulze and his colleague Dr. Hazim at the School of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover University in Germany. The study: 'Attempts to Objectify Pain and Consciousness in Conventional (captive bolt pistol stunning) and Ritual (halal, knife) Methods of Slaughtering Sheep and Calves' concludes that Islamic slaughtering is the most humane method of slaughter and that captive bolt stunning, practised in the West, causes severe pain to the animal.

Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act Passed House Judiciary

It amazes me that legislative business is still being conducted in DC these days, what with the US economic sky falling. Especially animal business.

The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act (H.R. 6598) is a bill that criminalizes the sale and transportation of horses for slaughter. It was approved and recommended to the House of Representatives by the House Judiciary Committee on September 23. The bill must be passed by the House and Senate before it can become law.

There are some powerful opponents to this bill, however.

The American Quarter Horse Association, American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA), among many others, oppose the bill.

According to a statement from the AQHA, “The majority of horses processed for slaughter in the United States [prior to slaughterhouse closures in this country] were no longer viable for their intended use, unmanageable or simply unwanted by their owners. This bill would severely limit the rights of owners to manage their private property and subject horse owners to criminal prosecution should they sell or transport their horses for processing for human consumption, even if that is not their intention.”

Lovely quote. It's all about private property, not living things.

Hay Prices Hurting Horse Lovers

A friend of mine has five horses on Vashon Island and she is struggling with hay prices. She told me that she is currently stock piling as much hay as possible because of the rising costs. She's also had to pay for a new shelter to house the hay and keep it dry in the Pacific Northwest climate.

She told me that part of the problem is that so many fields are being turned over to corn production for ethanol. Hay is in short supply and costs are rising. While she'll probably be okay, it's the horse rescues that will be in serious trouble.

Here's an article about hay prices and how owners who can't afford their horses anymore are sending them off to slaughter. Slaughter where? To the hell holes of Canada and Mexico.

Feds Revoke 2004 Award for Chino Slaughterhouse Involved in Beef Recall

They've even asked for the plaque back. Oh the humanity! I can only hope our fearless leader awards the company president a Medal of Freedom if he's not to busy fantasizing about fighting the brown people in Afghanistan.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has revoked a "supplier of the year award" given to a Southern California slaughterhouse after inhumane treatment of cows prompted the largest beef recall in history.

A USDA spokeswoman says the government is also asking Chino-based Hallmark/Westland Meat Co., for its plaque back. The plant, which supplied one-fifth of the beef used in the federal school lunch program, won the award in the 2004-2005 school year.

Think about all those places that DON'T win those stupid plaques. Heckuva job there Georgie!