Sacramento Bee
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has commended New Jersey legislators and Gov. Chris Christie for enacting a measure to prohibit the slaughter of horses for human consumption. The new law also bans the transport of horses to slaughter, as well as the sale and transport of horsemeat for human consumption.
“We thank Governor Christie for protecting New Jersey’s equines from the unnecessary and inherently cruel practice of horse slaughter,” said Debora Bresch, Esq., senior state director of ASPCA Government Relations for the Mid-Atlantic region. “As the official state animal, horses enjoy great respect among New Jersey residents, and horse slaughter is out of step with their deeply held values.”
Introduced by Assemblyman Ronald Dancer (R-Cream Ridge) and Sen. Raymond J. Lesniak (D-Union), A.2023/S.1976 makes it illegal to slaughter horses for human consumption, prohibits the sale of horse meat, and bans the transport of horse meat or live horses for the purpose of slaughter. Horse slaughter is inherently cruel, as horses’ physiology and instinctual flight responses makes them ill-suited for stunning, so they often endure repeated blows and sometimes remain conscious during their slaughter and dismemberment. In addition, horses bound for slaughter suffer incredible abuse even before they arrive at the slaughterhouse, often transported for more than 24 hours at a time in overcrowded trailers without food, water or rest.
