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site updated January 19, 2008
On the HOOK, NOT 'On the HOOF' Campaign
In Europe the ILPH, the International League for the Protection of Horses, is actively pursuing a campaign to improve the welfare of horses. The name of the campaign is "On the hook, not on the hoof". This campaign is focused on ending the long journeys horses endure traveling to out of country slaughter facilities by focusing on a carcass only trade.
Many US horse owners and affiliated organizations were concerned a slaughter ban would only send US horses on longer, more arduous trips to Mexico or Canada. The US anti-slaughter movement insists if the federal ban is passed, the borders can be regulated to stop horse transport to other countries for slaughter. It is interesting that the same anti-slaughter movement that didn't think we could effectively regulate slaughter and transport within our own borders, now think we can magically monitor and control all horse movement outside of the US.
The question is why are we going backwards in regards to slaughter bound horses? In the 1970s US horses were transported live via ship to Europe for slaughter. The welfare of these horses was horrific, many didn't survive the overseas trip. Due to the high mortality rate and other unsuitable transport conditions, a federal law was passed in 1979 to prohibit transport of horses live via ship for slaughter overseas. More slaughter plants were built in the US and Canada to accommodate processing horses in North America. At one point there were 16 federally inspected slaughter facilities in the United States. This meant shorter trips to slaughter.
So here we are years later, embroiled in the fantasy that we can not only stop all slaughter in the US but that we can also control what happens to US horses once they leave our borders. Why don't we take a lesson from our European neighbors that the HUMANE thing to do is NOT subject horses to long trips to other countries out of our sight and control.
Below are three main points the ILPH campaign is targeting.
1. Achieving rigorous enforcement of EU Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 by
all EU Member States and thereby improving the conditions for
slaughter horses.
2. Seeing journey limits put back onto the political agenda so
horses are slaughtered at source and do not have to endure these
journeys.
3. Ultimately, achieving an end to long distance transport of horses
to slaughter in Europe, replacing it with a carcass only trade.
Make a Noise Campaign - ILPH - International League for the Protection of Horses
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