Many people have become wealthy by buying our horses and selling them to slaughterhouses on the borders of Canada and Mexico. Now they are trying to reopen horse slaughter plans in the United States. 

The overpopulation of horses is caused by slaughterhouses. Careless breeders have relied on them for income for many decades. Without slaughterhouses, careless breeding will stop because the money will stop. 

Kill buyers send more than 240 horses to slaughter every day on the borders of Canada and Mexico. They buy family horses, often lying to the owners saying the horses will be with a loving family. What really happens to these beautiful animals is straight from a horror movie. 

There are compassionate and ethical solutions to the overpopulation problem without killing horses, but we need everyone’s help. 

1. Check your neighbors to find out who’s in a financial bind. If you have extra hay, volunteer to share some. If someone wants to give up their horse, help them find another home. There are many organizations that would love to have some horses. 

2. Stop careless breeding.

3. Education. Horses are companion animals. Before adding a horse to the family, understand the time, finances and health requirements. 

4. Humane euthanasia. The Humane Society of the United States can guide you if this is your last option.

5. Call and email your senators and congressmen at 202-224-3121 and ask them to co-sponsor the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (S.1176/H.R. 2966) that will stop the inhumane export and slaughter of America’s horses for human consumption in overseas markets. If this law is passed, they can’t open slaughter plants in the U.S. 

Some of our legislators have great records on animal protection, but there are others who vote against animals consistently. Go to www.hslf.org/humanescorecard to review the 111th Congress for animals.