Austin, TX (May 9, 2003) –
An opinion poll conducted this week reveals that an overwhelming
majority of Texas voters (72%) are opposed to the slaughtering of
horses for human consumption. Texas is home to the two remaining horse
slaughter houses in the United States. Both are foreign owned,
and the meat is shipped to Europe and Asia where it is considered a
delicacy.
The survey was conducted May 4-6, 2003 by Mason-Dixon Polling &
Research for the Animal Welfare Institute, Blue Horse Charities,
a corporation organized by Fasig-Tipton Co.,
Inc., the country's oldest
Thoroughbred auction house, which conducts several sales each
year at Lone Star Park
and the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, the largest equine
rescue in the country. The survey was commissioned to determine
public sentiment on the issue, in light of pending legislation to
overturn existing Texas law which outlaws the slaughter of horses for
human consumption. Earlier this year a Texas State Representative
introduced a measure to decriminalize this activity – so long as the
horsemeat is consumed elsewhere.
In response to the question, “Do you favor or oppose changing state
law to legalize the slaughter of horses and foreign export of
horsemeat for human consumption?” 77% of those polled said they
opposed. “The horse holds a unique place in the
lives of Americans, so we weren’t surprised to learn that 77% of
Texans oppose the legislation pending in the state legislature,” said
John Hettinger, a major shareholder of Fasig-Tipton Co., Inc.
The survey also revealed that horse slaughter is an unknown
industry to most Texans, with 89% of those questioned stating they
were previously unaware of the practice. Even fewer
realize the cruelty involved throughout the entire process, from
livestock auction to slaughter. Because horses are not raised
for human consumption in the US, slaughterhouses and their middlemen
known as “killer buyers” have to travel throughout the entire US from
auction to auction to fill their quotas, often buying from owners who
are unaware that their animals will be killed and their flesh served
in European restaurants.
Diana Pikulski, Executive Director of the Thoroughbred Retirement
Foundation says “There are ample, quality sanctuaries across the
United States that can take in horses in need of homes.
We have 4 major farms at correctional facilities where inmates
and juvenile offenders derive emotional as well as educational
benefits while helping care for the horses. Additionally we have
7 other satellite farms around the country.”
Not all legislation on this issue is bad. A federal
bill, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (HR 857), was
recently introduced by Representative John Sweeney (R-NY). This
humane bill will not only ban the slaughter of horses for human
consumption, but also the export of live horses for slaughter abroad.
This poll was conducted by
Mason-Dixon Polling & Research, Inc. of Washington, D.C. from May 4
through May 6, 2003 for the Animal Welfare Institute,
Blue Horse Charities and the
Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation.
This survey or any of the information contained herein may not be used
without the express written permission of the
Animal Welfare Institute.
