Illinois horse slaughter plant to open
Your help needed as battle moves to U.S. Congress

On Friday, May 28, the Illinois House of Representatives voted 60-51 against an amendment that would prohobit the slaughter of horses for human consumption. As a result, a slaughterhouse in DeKalb, Illinois will reopen soon, and become the only legal horse slaughterhouse in the country for the 80,000 horses slaughtered each year. The battle to protect horses now moves to the U.S. Congress, where legislation to prohibit horse slaughter nationwide is pending.

If you live in the U.S., please contact your federal member of Congress and ask her or him to "Please cosponsor the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act."

If you live in Illinois, click here to checkwhether your state Representative voted for or against the amendment. If they voted yes, thank them; if they voted no, let them know how you feel.

If you don't know who represents you or how to reach them, check on Congress.org, or ask us at [email protected]. A quick phone call could make a huge difference!

Horses suffer both in transportation to slaughter and during the slaughtering process. Hauled in overcrowded trailers designed for cattle, the horses are often injured. The animals are difficult to render unconscious with a captive bolt gun; this leads slaughterhouses to slit many horses' throats while the animals are still conscious.

Click here for more ways to help with vegetarian issues