Contrary to Rep. Jack Kingston's Claim, PETA Opposes Horse Slaughter, Both in the U.S. and Abroad
For Immediate Release:
April 4, 2013
Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382
Savannah, Ga. -- After learning that Georgia Rep. Jack Kingston—a proponent of reopening U.S. horse slaughterhouses—has misrepresented PETA's position on horse slaughter, PETA has dispatched an urgent letter to Rep. Kingston clarifying that, contrary to his claims, PETA does not support the reopening of U.S. horse slaughterhouses and has, in fact, called for more legislation to protect horses—not less. As the group explains in its letter, PETA opposes both horse slaughter in the U.S. and the transport of horses across U.S. borders to foreign slaughterhouses. PETA is in favor of the Safeguard American Food Exports Act, which prevents horse slaughterhouses from opening in the U.S. again and the export of horses from the U.S. for the purpose of slaughter elsewhere.
"PETA opposes horse slaughter anywhere in the world, including in the U.S.," says PETA Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo. "The only way to stop this bloody business is a comprehensive ban on both U.S. slaughterhouses and the practice of shipping horses on frightening, long, and miserable journeys across the border for slaughter."
For more information, please visit PETA.org.
PETA's letter to Rep. Kingston follows.
The Honorable Jack Kingston
U.S. House of Representatives
2372 Rayburn House Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20515
April 4, 2013
Via e-mail: mary.carpenter@mail.house.gov
Dear Mr. Kingston:
I am writing with regard to statements that you have made about PETA's stance on horse slaughter. Please note that PETA does not support horse slaughter, nor do we support the reopening of U.S. equine slaughterhouses. We understand that you may have been incorrectly told that we do support these things, but we ask that you immediately stop repeating these inaccurate statements.
While PETA is truly appalled by the transport of horses to foreign destinations—during which we have witnessed horses crammed into trailers and confined for multiple days without food, water, or a chance to stretch their legs (an additional burden on top of the their already horrendous plight)—PETAdoes not support a reopening of horse-slaughtering operations and agrees with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack that Congress must come up with a better alternative to slaughter.
Our stance is that a ban on domestic slaughter must be accompanied by a ban on the export of horses for slaughter. For this reason,PETA supports the Safeguard American Food Exports Act, which would prevent not only horse slaughter in the U.S. but also, crucially, the export of horses from the U.S. into Mexico and Canada for the purpose of slaughter. We urge you and all Americans who care about reducing the suffering of horses to support this bill.
Sincerely,
Ingrid E. Newkirk
President
PETA
