One More Try in 2024: End the Threat of a Slaughter Pipeline
With ALL of the Salt Wells Creek horses facing the loss of their lands, many could end up in dangerous situations. 2024 Salt Wells Creek Foal - Photo TCF
Nov. 6, 2024
Hurricane Helene reminded us of the lifesaving value of horses, donkeys and mules!
This is a critical time for the SAFE Act (H.R. 3475 / S. 2037). The heroic work of horses, donkeys, and mules, which provided lifesaving assistance in hard-to-reach areas during recent disaster relief efforts, calls for an equally strong response from us. Passing the SAFE Act would help ensure these animals are protected.
Today, we ask you, our dedicated advocates, to take decisive action. Please reach out to your members of Congress to show your support for the SAFE Act and make a difference in the lives of these animals.
The 2024 term isn’t over yet, and we are committed to fighting until the very end to protect America’s horses.
Thank you for your presence and participation!
~The Cloud Team
In 2023, TCF saved "Juniper" (back), "Shoshone" (front) and 5 others from the slaughter pipeline.
What is the SAFE Act? It would amend the 2018 Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act, which bans the slaughter of dogs and cats for human consumption, by adding the words "or equines" to the prohibition - thus protecting our nation's most beloved companion animal species from the horrors of the slaughter process.
Roughly 20,000 American equines are exported every year to meat companies in Canada and Mexico, where they are subject to horrible cruelty before being butchered and their meat exported to foreign countries for human consumption -- including China and Russia. For decades, advocates have worked to get this important bill passed, but despite broad public support, our efforts have been thwarted by the political influence of meat industry groups.
If the Farm Bill strategy is unsuccessful, the SAFE Act will continue as a free-standing bill that Congress can pass on its own merits. A majority of House members have signed onto the bill making it eligible for a committee hearing, yet it remains stuck with no hearing scheduled.
Here is where we most need your advocacy -- to convince Congress to schedule the bill for a hearing so it advances to the full House for a vote.
The slaughter pipeline is an unimaginably horrific experience for horses and other equines. As natural prey animals they experience extreme misery and terror throughout the process. The entire slaughter pipeline -- including the terror and chaos of the auction barns and kill pens, the misery of transport on crowded trucks to Canada and Mexico, and the killing itself -- is incapable of being humane.
If we are unsuccessful in adding the SAFE Act as an amendment to the 2023 Farm Bill, it will be another FIVE YEARS before we have another Farm Bill opportunity. Similarly, if we are unsuccessful in getting it to move forward as a free-standing bill, we will have to wait until the next Congress in 2025 to begin the process again.
In other words, the time to act is NOW