This Action Alert explores the pro-slaughter influence and activities of the National Tribal Horse Coalition (NTHC), the USDA and the U.S. Department of Interior, and their ongoing push to reopen horse slaughter in the U.S.

As recently reported in our Action Alert: Part One - The Safe Act was recently dropped from the upcoming markup calendar, and is at risk of dying before it makes it to the house floor for a vote. Last week it was discovered that the Committee on Energy and Commerce had recently received misleading letters from leaders of large member pro-slaughter orgs claiming strong opposition to the Safe Act HR3355, by their membership base. One particular letter was presented by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Northeastern Washington State on behalf of a pro-slaughter group called the National Tribal Horse Coalition (NTHC).  

As revealed in documents from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS), discovered by SAVING AMERICA'S HORSES, these agencies have held numerous grass roots meetings for the purpose of getting tribes to distribute information about horse slaughter in the U.S. to their congressional delegations. The information about horse slaughter provided by USDA APHIS has been grossly misrepresented to American tribes and the falsifications are stacked one on top of the other.

It started with the NTHC (formerly known as Northwest Tribal Horse Coalition) which represents a handful of tribes from the Northwest region of the US. However, the movement expanded with the help & the support of the DOI and USDA-APHIS.

September 24, 2022,  

20 years have passed since the first federal bill targeting a ban on horse slaughter was introduced, and now it seems that the current bill is in trouble.

This Action Alert briefly explores the pro-slaughter position of American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), exposes their misrepresentations and falsehoods about horse slaughter, and outlines a brief update about what's been going on as a result of this vital legislation not being passed.

The AVMA claims that horse slaughter is humane and that there is somehow a greater risk of animal suffering if horse slaughter were to be banned. The AAEP states their position is consistent with the AVMA. However, their claims are not true!

Per the testimony before the US House of Representatives by Dr. Nicholas Dodman, "Horse slaughter has never been considered by veterinary professionals to be a form of euthanasia. Congress and the general public must hear from veterinarians that horse slaughter is not and should not be equated with humane euthanasia. Rather, the slaughtering of horses is a brutal and predatory business that promotes cruelty and neglect."