US Horse Slaughter Plants Face Roadblocks in Reopening

On August 2nd, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and other horse protection groups achieved a minor victory in their battle to prevent the reopening of horse slaughter plants in the US by obtaining a restraining order against New Mexico’s Valley Meat Co.

The order prevents the company from commencing operations, which were slated to begin on August 5th, until the two sides meet again in court. It was granted based on evidence of environmental hazards at horse slaughter plants that operated before 2007 including blood spills, improper disposal of animal parts and carcasses, noxious odors and the leeching of horse waste into the local water supply and waterways. In the Albuquerque courtroom, US District Court Judge M. Christina Armijo said “the burden is high, but plaintiffs have demonstrated to this court that potential harm to the environment outweigh the defendant’s concerns.”

A bond hearing was scheduled for August 8th where bond will have to be posted to cover the economic loss Valley Meat Co. will endure for delaying their opening, if they succeed in fighting the HSUS-launched lawsuit.

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Judge Armijo said she would see both sides in court again within 30 days to deal with the HSUS-launched lawsuit. In July, the HSUS, along with Front Range Equine Rescue and other horse protection groups, sued the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for granting permits to plants to resume the slaughter of equines.

The lawsuit charges that the USDA did not conduct the required environmental impact reviews for the plants and that the meat from the horses – many of which are administered drugs not fit for human consumption – poses a health risk to consumers.

So far, the USDA has granted permits to Valley Meat Co. in New Mexico and Responsible Transportation in Iowa. There are applications pending for plants in Missouri, Oklahoma and Tennessee as well.