In a recent press release, the Animal Welfare Institute said it supports a new bill that ends the cruel transport and slaughter of America’s horses.

The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2008, H.R 6598, carries criminal penalties for the purchase, sale, delivery or export of horsemeat intended for human consumption including fines and prison time, says the release. The bill is co-sponsored by Representative John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and Representative Dan Burton, pictured (R-IN).

“I am proud to be a co-sponsor of H.R. 6598,” said lead co-sponsor Representative Burton. “We must treat these magnificent animals with the respect and dignity they deserve.”

The Animal Welfare Institute notes that there is a legal and legislative precedence for the taking the Judiciary route to address the issue of horse slaughter – via an earlier incarnation of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act that allowed for penalties to be assessed under Title 18.

Testifying before the subcommittee in favor of H.R. 6598 were Dr. John Boyd, President of the National Black Farmers Association; Wayne Pacelle of the Humane Society of the United States and Dr. Nick Dodman of Veterinarians for Equine Welfare. The full text of their statements is available at www.awionline.org.

In June, the Canadian Horse Defence Council called for a similar ban on horse slaughter. No legislative action has been taken there.