ALBANY, NY (Erie News Now)--TWO NEW LAWS IN NEW YORK SEEK TO PROTECT HORSES BY INCREASING FINES FOR SELLING DISABLED HORSES AND PROHIBITING THE SLAUGHTER OF HORSES FOR HUMAN OR ANIMAL CONSUMPTION.  

THE NEW ANTI-SLAUGHTER LAW BUILDS UPON LEGISLATION PASSED IN 2021 PROHIBITING BUYING, SELLING, OR TRANSPORTING CERTAIN TYPES OF RACEHORSES WITH THE INTENT OF SLAUGHTERING.  

SOME NEW YORK STATE LAWMAKERS SAID THIS LEGISLATION OFFERS EXTENDED PROTECTIONS TO ALL HORSES AND OTHER EQUINE ANIMALS SUCH AS DONKEYS, MULES AND PONIES.  

“It’s inappropriate to use horses for food, aside from the fact that they’re majestic animals and they are entwined in our history, they are also frequently medicated with medications that should never appear in the food supply,” said Assembly Member Deborah Glick (D-Assembly District 66).

Some animal welfare advocates said the SLAUGHTERING OF HORSES IS NOT ONLY INHUMANE BUT UNNECESSARY.  

“There’s over a million Americans who have the capacity and the desire and the resources to be able to re home horses,” said Bill Ketzer, senior legislative director for the Eastern Division of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. 

KETZER SAid INdivIDUALS WHO TRY TO RE HOME HORSES ARE OFTEN OUTBID AT AUCTIONS BY AGENTS INTENDING TO SLAUGHTER ALSO CALLED KILL BUYERS.

KETZER ADDed THIS NEW LAW COULD INFLUENCE A NATIONAL BAN ON SLAUGHTERING HORSES. 

“Currently there are just a handful of states that have stepped up and said, ‘you’re not going to do this here.’ But our goal is to permanently protect all horses in the United States from commercial slaughter,” he said. 

SOME LAWMAKERS SAid THE WORK IN ALBANY IS NOT DONE.  

“We need to monitor this, we need to make sure that it’s intended target of protecting horses from slaughter, increasing fines, you know everything implemented correctly. So, our job is not done,” said Sen. Joseph Addabbo (D-15th Senate District).