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Opponents of Horse Slaughter Bill React

By KFBB News Team

Story Created: May 4, 2009 at 5:28 PM MDT

Story Updated: May 4, 2009 at 11:33 PM MDT

The controversial bill to permit horse slaughterhouses in the state officially became law on Friday, May 1st, and many horse lovers are speaking out against it.

Governor Schweitzer neither signed nor vetoed the measure, which passed both the House and Senate during the Legislature. After ten days of the governor’s inaction on the bill, it automatically became law to the disappointment of many horse enthusiasts across the state.

Jane Heath, Executive Director of the Montana Horse Sanctuary in Helena, said, “We were just so deeply disappointed, that the governor changed his mind about this. It was a huge disappointment to our horse sanctuary as well as the Montana Grassroots Horse Coalition, in general.”

Vic Andersen, also of the Montana Horse Sanctuary, explained, “I think it’s going to have a huge negative impact on Montana tourism, and I think on the other agriculture industries in Montana: cattle, hog, poultry producers. I think it’s going to be a stain on all of them.”

The bill aims to limit the type of legal challenges that forced the 2007 closures of the nation’s last horse slaughterhouses in Illinois and Texas.

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KATHLEEN BROWN said on Thursday, Jun 4 at 9:56 PM

WAKE UP, YOU DON'T THINK THE EMAILS FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE IN FAVOR OF THIS BILL ARE NOT PLANTED BY THE GOOD OLE PEOPLE IN CONGRESS. THE ONLY REASON ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF THIS BILL IS BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING PAID OFF BY THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE THEIR FORTUNE ON THE HORSEMEAT THEY SEND TO EUROPE AND ASIA. WE KILL EVERYTHING IN THIS COUNTRY. WE ALL DIE AND MARK MY WORDS I HOPE THESE LESS THAN HUMANS WILL PAY.

Gayla said on Monday, May 18 at 2:57 PM

That will hopefully bring attention to all the abandoned horses. The ban on slaughter is causing the suffering of thousands of horses! Local agencies are struggling to find resources to accommodate all the abandoned horses!

Anonymous said on Tuesday, May 12 at 4:55 PM

come on people. ive had horses since i was 3 years old , still do. why is it not ok to eat a horse but fine to eat chickens, pigs or cows.

realist said on Friday, May 8 at 8:00 PM

you bleeding hearts need to wake up and spend some time on a farm or ranch and see what life is really about- Horse slaughter has been a part of the industry ever since the domestication of the animal. there needs to be a salvage value in place for the market to thrive, now that horses have lost that, people cant give them away so they are leaving them to starve- is that any better tha a quick death at the slaughter house?

Barb AZ said on Thursday, May 7 at 4:13 PM

http://www.harnesslink.com/www/Article.cgi?ID=72069 Governor Schweitzer's slaughter bill Harnesslink News Room 12:58 PM 07-May-2009 NZT Governor Brian Schweitzer - On Friday, May 1st, Governor Brian Schweitzer packed up and left his office to head for the Kentucky Derby. On his desk, he left HB 418, a bill designed to encourage the building of a horse slaughter plant in Montana! The bill was designed to lure a horse slaughter plant to Montana by effectively preventing Montana citizens from cha

Smarter than you said on Thursday, May 7 at 6:56 AM

Hey Frank...we have, it's called euthanasia, NOT slaughter. Slaughter houses most frequently kill young, healthy horses. They are not permitted to slaughter sick horses for food. Go to any kill auction and you'll find 99% young, healthy horses going to slaughter including pregnant mares and foals.

Kickbutt said on Wednesday, May 6 at 10:41 AM

The lack of knowledge is amazing--the Court can not declare a law "unconstitutional" and overturn a law--the judges can give an oppinion and the legislature can change the law or the people by intitiative can overturn a law,but the Court has no veto power. This is an example of our incompetent education system which spends too much time teaching "political correctness" rather than educating people.

Bill said on Wednesday, May 6 at 8:12 AM

I for one will now come to MT and visit and spend my dollars because they did have the courage to enact this law. Can't wait to come visit.

DM said on Wednesday, May 6 at 7:16 AM

If the horses are OUR American horses - then why aren't you sending me money to help with the feed, vet care, farrier care, training and all other expenses involved with OUR American Horses???

Justin Marantz said on Wednesday, May 6 at 2:39 AM

Cory Johns also told me, that if the Governor's ammendments were not accepted, that he would Veto the bill... then he denied saying this, the same day the Governor Schweitzer chose to do nothing! Wonder what kind of money was involved here to have changed his mind so drastically??? Another politician with no backbone and lacking moral judgement and integrity.. We'll just see how this decision plays out in his political future!!!!! Or, maybe the payoff was so grand, that the future has no worry?

vicki said on Tuesday, May 5 at 9:59 PM

The 20% bond is unconstitutional and will never hold up in court. The governor outlined this in his amendatory veto. The three plants had the US tied up in court for years. We will be more than happy to return the favor. Do some research folks. The plants were not shut down because of legal challenges but by state laws in TX and IL banning slaughter. You'll not see any horses slaughtered in MT anytime soon.

Brandy Robinson said on Tuesday, May 5 at 6:09 PM

These are not sick and dying horses, they just are't making the big bucks for the breeders. CO. I will not spend money in The Montana horse Killer state. They hang horses by their back legs and Slaughter them.....

Barb AZ said on Tuesday, May 5 at 5:03 PM

Any truth to the rumor that Governor Schweitzer was at the Kentucky Derby while the bill became law? Please call the governor's office. They won't return my calls! (406-444-3111) and ask for Cory Johns

KenaiB19 said on Tuesday, May 5 at 3:50 PM

Please know that the slaughter plants do not want starving or ill horses - they want healthy horses in a mid-age range. This is just one way for some breeders to continue being irresponsible rather than be responsible for the futures of ALL the horses they breed.

CCC said on Tuesday, May 5 at 3:28 PM

Finally, some common sense from Montana's legislature...

Barack obama said on Tuesday, May 5 at 3:17 PM

Ed butch I order you not to open any horse slaughter plant in this country, I want HR 503 passed, any one who tries to operate a horse slaughter will be prosecuted.

ms nuchinsky said on Tuesday, May 5 at 3:05 PM

it's my fault the bill became law i told the governor to do nothing it was because i had to look at my nose, and I wanted to become a good teacher (-:

E Pence said on Tuesday, May 5 at 1:29 PM

Nothing prevents horse owners from legal forms of euthanasia. Foreign interests will reap the monetary benefits, not workers. Slaughterhouses are factory-style work environments, always trying to get the worker to do their job faster, and get off the clock. Jobs will be cut. The environmental impact of the waste from these plants will add to local environmental problems. Stop breeders, whether they be back-yard breeders or the sport-horse industry, from churning out thousands of horses.

garrett said on Tuesday, May 5 at 1:00 PM

people are sick to eat a horse. YOU CANT WRECK THE SYMBOL OF THE U.S!!! THEY HELPED PEOPLE COME WHERE THEY ARE TODAY!!!!! i cant exagerate that enough!

horseperson said on Tuesday, May 5 at 12:58 PM

horses arent ment to be aten!!!! that is horrible. i am all for no horse slaughter! i have seen many sick and unhealthy horses that deserve a second chance!!!

Don Johnson said on Tuesday, May 5 at 11:51 AM

I am a horse lover and have owned a horse ever since I was 5 years old. I feel that there has to be an avenue for owners to be able to escape watching a horse grow old a feeble.Starvation and prolonged death is much worse than slaughter.

Josh said on Tuesday, May 5 at 11:37 AM

Horses are good eating,little bar-b-q sauce and a baked potato is hard to beat.

Susan Rice said on Tuesday, May 5 at 11:27 AM

As a horse lover and owner who lived in Montana for several years, I also am deeply disappointed in this decision! We don't need to slaughter OUR American horses to fill a niche market for a "so called delicacy" overseas! And opening a plant in Montana will forever stain this great state! I will not visit or spend my tourist dollars there again.

Gemma Renee' Locatelli said on Tuesday, May 5 at 10:54 AM

I am disgusted and dissapointed that i times where we need real heroes to stan up they instead back down and let the immoral unethical anarchist type behaviour to happen. I can see Montana has DEFINATELY SEPERATED CHURCH AND STATE! Because no God fearing person could eat a horse! Its in the bible and not on my plate! Guess I will pass on visiting Montana.

Frank said on Tuesday, May 5 at 9:42 AM

If you dont like killing horses in a humane manner, you should have came up with a solution as what to do with a bunch of starving and neglected horses.

Guy said on Tuesday, May 5 at 9:42 AM

So what you are saying, is that Vegitarians are right for telling people that eating meat is sick, immoral, and disgusting. An animal is an animal, no matter what face or name you put to it. And all animals equal food, including those that you would call pets. Your words really show how egocentric Montanas can be.

Leah said on Tuesday, May 5 at 9:12 AM

The whole process was a waste of money that could have been better spent in helping save horses instead of finding a way to kill them. The core problem is over breeding and if more horse owners would cut back there would be no need for horse slaughter int he first place. Montana failed its people and horses.

BarbaraP said on Tuesday, May 5 at 7:55 AM

This is absolutely disgusting. A horse slaughter plant will add nothing to Montana.

Tom Durfee said on Tuesday, May 5 at 6:24 AM

MT has nothing I need to see or buy. Boycott everything that comes from MT.

Sandra said on Tuesday, May 5 at 5:58 AM

I am truly dissappionted in the government for letting this bill pass. Do they really want to go through all of the letters, phone calls, and e-mails again? Do they WANT to destroy an American symbol?? Because these people are truly SICK.

Thomas Lee Trevino said on Tuesday, May 5 at 1:59 AM

We are disappointed as well. We surely will never spend a dime in MT being now it is a horse killing state rewarding irresponsible people. The elected offical have sold out the American Horse

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