The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia circuit has granted an emergency stay motion for Cavel International, the DeKalb, Ill., slaughter plant that was the last to close its doors at least temporarily ending equine slaughter in the United States.
Animal rights activists have been observing activities in feed lots across the nation as well as monitoring the movements of “killer buyers” as industry players anticipated a favorable ruling on the motion.
A ban on slaughter for human consumption has passed the Illinois House and may soon be considered in the Senate. It would close Cavel yet again. The firm is also fighting local water pollution allegations.
Two plants in Texas have remained closed for months after the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans upheld a 1949 Texas statute making slaughter of horses for human consumption illegal.
The Illinois plant was closed earlier this year when a federal court determined that it is illegal for the owners to pay U.S. Department of Agriculture meat inspectors after Congress cut off funding for their work inside the plants last year.
The Humane Society of the United States will ask for an expedited appeal.
Recently, a foal was born to a Morgan mare that was in the kill chute at the Cavel Plant when the federal court ruling cutting off inspector funding came down. She, and other horses destined for the meat counters of Europe were bought by the HSUS and saved, then moved to rescue facilities in the West.
It is illegal to send pregnant mares to slaughter.
The foal was born at Fair Dinkum Animal Rescue in Wyoming (see the “Miracle Horse” in Texas Horse Talk Magazine, or online at TexasHorseTalk.com). The print edition will hit the stands early next week.
The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act is making its way through Congress and has already passed the House. It will permanently end horse slaughter in the United States and prohibit transport of horses in this country to slaughter in Mexico and Canada.
To stop horse slaughter throughout the world, just click on The Horse, then look down in the left sidebar for the poll where you can vote to make your beliefs known to the rest of the world.
And now a beautiful story heard before but is just as beautiful the second time around:
Two Horses
Just up the road from my home is a field,
with two horses in it.
From a distance, each looks like every other horse.
But if you stop your car, or are walking by,
you will notice something quite amazing.
Looking into the eyes of one horse will
disclose that he is blind.
His owner has chosen not to have him put down,
but has made a good home for him.
This alone is amazing.
If nearby and listening,
you will hear the sound of a bell.
Looking around for the source of the sound,
you will see that it comes from the
smaller horse in the field.
Attached to her halter is a small bell.
It lets her blind friend know where she is,
so he can follow her.
As you stand and watch these two friends,
you'll see how she is always checking on him,
and that he will listen for her bell and then
slowly walk to where she is, trusting that she
will not lead him astray. When she returns to the
shelter of the barn each evening, she stops
occasionally and looks back, making sure her
friend isn't too far behind to hear the bell.
Like the owners of these two horses,
God does not throw us away just because
we are not perfect or because we have problems
or challenges. He watches over us and even brings
others into our lives to help us when we are in need.
Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by
the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives.
Other times we are the guide horse, helping others see.
Good friends are like this .
You don't always see them,
but you know they are always there.
Please listen for my bell and I'll listen for yours.
"Be kinder than necessary,
for everyone you meet is
fighting some kind of battle".
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