Urgent! There are two federal bills pending in Washington D.C. requiring immediate attention by everyone who values the health, safety and welfare of our horses. They are:

(1) The anti horse slaughter bills — H.R.961 and S.2006 (The SAFE Act); and

(2) the Senate version of the anti horse soring bill — S.1007 (The PAST Act). NOTE: the House has already passed this bill 333-96.

Calling Congress

The most effective way to contact Congress is by telephone.

(1) Please call your Representative to cosponsor H.R.961—The SAFE Act (ending horse slaughter)

(2) Please call both of your Senators asking them to cosponsor S.2006—The SAFE Act (ending horse slaughter) and S.1007—The PAST Act (ending horse soring; the House bill has already passed).

The Capitol Hill Switchboard number is (202) 224-3121.

• Find out who represents you in Washington here »

• Learn how to make phone calls that get results here »

• Check the status of these bills including cosponsors at Congress.gov: Horse Slaughter H.R.961 & S.2006 » Horse Soring S.1007 »

Why should we — and our federal legislators — support these bills? Here are some talking points to help you put together what you would like to say. When calling, remember to refer to bills by their alpha-numeric title.

Horse Slaughter — H.R.961 & S. 2006 (The SAFE Act)

Nearly 100,000 American horses are shipped each year to Canada and Mexico to be slaughtered for human consumption — a practice that 80% of American voters oppose.

American horses are not raised for food and routinely given a wide range of medications that are expressly prohibited for use in meat products.

Phenylbutazone (commonly known as “bute”) is a painkiller used legally by more than 85% of US horse owners to treat everyday soreness and inflammation, is banned completely in food-producing animals.

Even so, the problem of horses and burros being butchered for human consumption persists because "kill-buyers" can legally purchase horses at auctions or from unsuspecting owners in order to transport them to slaughterhouses across US borders.

Horse slaughter being a predatory business, various regulatory agency ID documentation systems for slaughterbound horses, including “passports” showing a horse's origin and medical history, have all miserably failed.

The problem of tens of thousands of American horses being shipped to slaughter across our borders has persisted for far too long, despite overwhelming public opposition to this practice.

The negative food safety and animal welfare concerns associated with the horse slaughter industry are simply too great to continue to ignore.

The US has a moral obligation to outlaw the slaughter of horses for human consumption and prevent unsafe horse meat from entering the human food chain.

Horse Soring — S.1007 (The PAST Act)

Horse soring still runs rampant even though laws have been on the books banning this cruel practice for decades.

S.1007 will strengthen and improve current regulations by allowing the USDA to step in since self-policing has flat out not worked over the last 20 years.

It's companion bill passed the House overwhelmingly by a vote of333-96.

The PAST Act is an easy, bipartisan solution that every Member of Congress should be able to get behind.

The PAST Act is supported by the American Horse Council, American Veterinary Medical Association, American Association of Equine Practitioners, United States Equestrian Federation, National Sheriff’s Association, and the veterinary medical associations from all 50 States.

TAKE ACTION

horse Slaughter & Horse Soring

Calling Congress

Talking Points

Horse Slaughter — H.R.961 & S. 2006 (The SAFE Act)

Horse Soring — S.1007 (The PAST Act)

Bipartisan Issue

POPVOX