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Illinois legislators are saying “neigh” to the idea of grubbing down on horse meat; the Senate yesterday approved a measure that would ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption, and Blago is expected to sign it into law, according to an aide.
Illinois only has one remaining horse slaughterhouse, a plant owned by Cavel International in DeKalb. A federal judge’s ruling shut the plant down at the end of March due to issues with regulations and inspections, but it reopened two weeks ago.
Sen. Brad Burzynski (R), whose district includes the plant, argued against the ban:
Before, people could actually sell their animals, get some money. Now it's actually going to cost people to get them euthanized and disposed of.
Sen. John Cullerton (D-Chicago), the sponsor of the bill, argued it differently: "These are companion animals, not livestock," Cullerton said. "Many animal lovers look upon horses like cats and dogs rather than pigs and cows."
Sort of, Sen. Cullerton, sort of. You don’t have to eat it yourself, but it seems a tad jingoistic to say people can’t eat it if they want to. See dog meat here. Chicagoist doesn’t eat it, but to differentiate between companions and livestock gets you in a situation you might not want to be in, making arguments you might not be prepared to make.
Once the governor signs the bill into law, the plant will have to cease production. Most of the horse meat processed at the plant is sent to Europe where people like Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver apparently cook it and eat it in droves.
Image via Drabruzzi.
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This is about the stupidest thing I've ever heard. What possible difference does it make if you slaughter a cow rather than a horse for dinner? It reminds me of the sanctimonious asses who look down on Koreans for eating dog as they stuff another dead cow burger in their fat American faces.
I feel good today, knowing that we've solved all the serious issues in Illinois and the legislature can now address such things like what's going on at ONE plant in the entire state.
Seriously, save the dead horses from getting eaten? What a bogus thing to legislate.
Our taxes dollars at work Ladies and Gentleman...
I sincerely hope that all four of you get trampled to death by a horse one day. Improbable? Yes. But funny? Absolutely!
Horses are not bred or raised for meat, most equine products are labeled "not to be used on horses intended for human consumption."
Cavel International currently owes $80,000 in fines to the DeKalb Sanitary District. They have never been in compliance with wastewater regulations since they reopened their new "state-of-the-art" abattoir.
The three foreign slaughterhouses in the US do not pay taxes, they actually cost us taxes for inspections. These Belgian companies also cost us tax money in court, as they fight to stay above our laws.
American horses are being stolen and abused to amuse effete gourmets overseas. As a horse owner, I applaud the Illinois legislature for their actions.
This is about the stupidest thing I've ever heard. What possible difference does it make if you slaughter a human rather than a dog for dinner? It reminds me of the sanctimonious asses who look down on cannibals for eating humans as they stuff another dead dog burger in their fat Korean faces.
"ozu is a loser" I'm struggling to understand the point you're trying to make. Are you saying dogs have more of a right to live than cows? If that's the case, then I think you're the loser, not me.
Nut Goggles, I'd love to know why you think horses are so special that you feel the need to wish death on those of us who don't think they're any better than any other animal.
I'm a vegan who is tired of the kind of hypocrisy exemplified by Senator Burzynski. In my book, the life of a dog is no more or less valuable than a horse which is no more or less valuable than a cow, chicken or lamb.
I've cared for horses for over forty years and have always paid taxes on their products, 98% of owners do, this put the horse in the pet category. For years the livestock, Big AG industry backed by our own USDA, have tried to stuff horse down our throats to no avail. American's don't eat it, and don't want, non-tax paying, non-tariff paying, water and air compliance abusers, non-fine paying, law breaking, horse thieving, American hating, elite foreigners, that have been fleecing American's long enough. I will stand up for, all you ignorant of the facts poor non-horse owning citizens who want us to take more fleecing, you're the ones that are UN-American for asking us to continue to support them. Go live in their countries and see how much they like you. I'm a vegan so you can't say that I complain about others meat eating while I stuff my face with pathetic spent dairy cow burgers.
I'm struggling to understand the point you're trying to make. Are you saying dogs have more of a right to live than cows?
In my book, the life of a dog is no more or less valuable than a horse which is no more or less valuable than a cow, chicken or lamb.
I'm saying that in my book of life, the life of a human is no more or less valuable either. Why should it be? A life...is a life.
"Sen. Brad Burzynski (R), whose district includes the plant, argued against the ban:
Before, people could actually sell their animals, get some money. Now it's actually going to cost people to get them euthanized and disposed of."
Wow, the Senator means that now people actually have to be responsible for their animals? What a novel idea!
I'd love to own a horse, but I can't afford one. If you can't afford to keep a horse and humanely euthanize him or her, when the time comes, then don't own a horse. It's called responsibility.
Also, due to working on horse slaughter for so long, I have since stopped eating all meat and chicken. Had the cattle industry stayed out of this fight and horse slaughter had ended long ago, I'm sure I'd still be eating beef. Thank you for trying to stop it. I feel healthier.
Improper usage of the word "jingoist", in my opinion.
YES! YOUR TAX DOLLAR'S AT WORK ARE FINALLY PAYING OFF! Didn't take a second post to know where B'OZO was coming from, and so full of hate. Take your foreign ass home! My Lord! The post from M.J. Wilson speaks for me! I am sick of feeding our horses to the oversea's snob's.
THANK YOU ILLINOIS!!
ARE YOU LISTENING TEXAS??
"You can't fix stupid" Ron White
"You can judge a country by how it treat's it's animals" Ghandi
Now ain't that a hell of a combination!
Agreed, Mat.
jin·go·ism (jngg-zm) KEY
NOUN:
Extreme nationalism characterized especially by a belligerent foreign policy; chauvinistic patriotism.
Horse meat is great.
Leaner and better for you, with ZERO chance of mad cow disease.
Now, when horse owners are faced with unwanted horses, or horses that they can no longer afford, they will be taken out back, shot and burned.
The stolen horses for horse meat argument is as good as me telling you not to buy a car because poeple have been killed in carjackings.
This is outrageous. Our schools suck, our roads suck, gas has reached $3.99 in the city, murder rates are climbing, graduation rates are dropping and our government is spending time banning a horse factory and putting many people out of work.
Idiots.
This is outrageous. Our schools suck, our roads suck, gas has reached $3.99 in the city, murder rates are climbing, graduation rates are dropping and our government is spending time banning a horse factory and putting many people out of work.
Maybe you should get off your lazy, fat ass and become a part of the solution then, intstead of whining like a little bitch...
People who work in those kind of places are not worthy of $3.99 gas, dosen't bother me in the least they are out of work. Not a bit! Looks to me like you need to do some work on your city. What are you doing to help?
People are intitled to have opinions that are aimed at other interest's then your own. Meaning, sorry there guy "your cause is not mine"
"Mikey", your response is an embarrassment to this site. Bashing like that, to me, is funny but not here. Don't embarrass yourself in front of everyone.
"Amen", I walk or bike my commute now and I try and vote for the people that I feel will be best for the city. Just a part of what I am doing for this city. We don't agree and it's nice that we can do that without calling each other juvenile names.
I hope the horse slaughter guys can find work soon.
I don't agree with a lot of things, like religion for instance, but I don't wish any priests or ministers to lose their jobs because I don't agree with them. You sound much more passionate about the horse slaughter than I am, though. The horse sausage patties I like so much will still be served at breakfast on my next European vacation.
All slaughter of all animals all around the world needs to end. It is not only the Americans that are shoving meat into their fat faces. Ozu, worry about the abuse of animals in your country. We Americans will worry about our horses, that you enjoy eating. MMMMM dog meat and bear bile, you are so advanced.
Yes I am very passionate about horse slaughter. I campagin against it. No I don't condone eating horses. In Europe they are different. Fine. But I see no reason why we as Americans should allow none tax paying overseas companys to operate here, practicing an act that American's do not want. Poll after poll has proven that.Not to even begin to mention the pollution Cavel is guilty of.Forgein owned companys thumbing their noses at our law's and rules. They owe over $50,000 in fines for breaking health and pollution laws. The run off in the form of liquid and solid waste from the slaughterhouse at Cavel was being piped right into the river! America was paying a high cost for those few job's. Slaughterhouses have continued to operate in the past when it was illegal! Do you have any idea how many drugs are given to horses that contain stuff proven to be carcinogenic to human's? You may remember that the next time you chow down on your favorite horse burger. In the grand scheme of things why not let drug dealers continue to work while awaiting appeal? They are working and feeding their familes! Cavel was allowed to do it. Because we are not Europe, where drug's are legal in some countries. We are Americans and we say NO! You can legally buy heroin in Amsterdamn, but you cannot do that Sacramento. So because many years ago we left Europe and started our own country here with a different standard of life, we left behind the European rule of what was what and how to run a country. So Joe, here in America we don't want to feed our horses to the French or any other country and as a democracy we are banning it,and that my friend is simply that!
Yes I am very passionate about horse slaughter. I campagin against it. No I don't condone eating horses. In Europe they are different. Fine. But I see no reason why we as Americans should allow none tax paying overseas companys to operate here, practicing an act that American's do not want. Poll after poll has proven that.Not to even begin to mention the pollution Cavel is guilty of.Forgein owned companys thumbing their noses at our law's and rules. They owe over $50,000 in fines for breaking health and pollution laws. The run off in the form of liquid and solid waste from the slaughterhouse at Cavel was being piped right into the river! America was paying a high cost for those few job's. Slaughterhouses have continued to operate in the past when it was illegal! Do you have any idea how many drugs are given to horses that contain stuff proven to be carcinogenic to human's? You may remember that the next time you chow down on your favorite horse burger. In the grand scheme of things why not let drug dealers continue to work while awaiting appeal? They are working and feeding their familes! Cavel was allowed to do it. Because we are not Europe, where drug's are legal in some countries. We are Americans and we say NO! You can legally buy heroin in Amsterdamn, but you cannot do that Sacramento. So because many years ago we left Europe and started our own country here with a different standard of life, we left behind the European rule of what was what and how to run a country. So Joe, here in America we don't want to feed our horses to the French or any other country and as a democracy we are banning it,and that my friend is simply that!
these commenters need to get laid
joe m500 -
You are pathetic. You actually take the time to rant about other people's passions and causes, yet do nothing to help solve the problems you feel to be so important. Oh, I'm sorry--you ride your bike and actually make an effort to learn a thing or two about those whom you vote for. Kudos! You're well on your way to saving the world. I'm sure Bush probably has a cabinet position with your name on it somewhere...
Joe m500, I don't understand your comparison of horse thefts and buying a car. Horse theft is a crime (thieves used to be hanged) buying a car is legal. Illinois citizens are not losing jobs. The vast majority of HS workers are illegals. Lest there be any doubt, Cavel has been playing the sympathy ploy in trying to get their $100k in pollution fines reduced by throwing out the 67 workers that are out of work. You should have heard the lawyers BS at the last DSD meeting. Please explain why in their law suit challenging OUR law, only 10 employees are named? While Amen's response was quite festive, she/he spoke the truth. The plants are foreign owned, pay little or no federal tax and send their profits overseas. There is no economic loss to Illinois except maybe some illegal payola to a few choice people that keep trying to keep the industry operating. The same went on in the Texas. The same few legislators trying to sneak amendments onto bills that fortunately, didn't pass. The Texas kill houses appealed all the way to the Supreme Court and were turned away. The residents of DeKalb have been trying to shut them down for years. They thumb their noses at us and laugh all the way to the bank.
You are right with one comment. We are spending way too much time on this issue. I urge everyone to call your senators and ask them to cosponsor S 311. Once that passes and is enacted into law, we won't have to keep revisiting the same legislation year after year. Horse Slaughter will be history and we can move on. Until then, we will continue to fight to save these magnificent animals that helped build America and are truly companion animals. They are used for therapy, they perform for us and they earn for their owners. They are owed a dignified, humane end of life and that is definitely not by a captive bolt in some barbaric kill house.