A national poll commissioned by the ASPCA just confirmed that we largely agree on one thing: killing horses for their meat is wrong. It is time for Congress to ban the cruel practice of horse slaughter once and for all, and YOU can help. 

The poll, conducted by Lake Research Partners, reveals that 83% of Americans oppose the slaughter of U.S. horses for human consumption. Opposition to horse slaughter has remained strong and even increased slightly since prior polling in 2012, and this opposition extends across political party, race, gender, and regardless of whether the respondent lived in a rural or urban setting. 

Despite Congressional efforts that shuttered horse slaughterhouses on U.S. soil in 2007, tens of thousands of American horses continue to be shipped to Canadian and Mexican slaughterhouses that supply other countries with horse meat. A bipartisan group of federal lawmakers is working to close this legal loophole with the introduction of the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act (H.R. 3355/S. 2732), which would permanently ban horse slaughter in the U.S. and end the export of American horses for slaughter in other countries.

ACT NOW

"In an era of rare political bipartisan agreement, this research confirms that the overwhelming majority of Americans remain strongly opposed to horse slaughter," said Nancy Perry, Senior Vice President of ASPCA Government Relations. "The ASPCA is working resolutely to provide support for horses in need, but we cannot fully succeed while the slaughter pipeline remains open because it directly impedes the rehoming of horses. This new research makes it clear that now is the time for Congress to finally end this shameful practice in America by passing the SAFE Act to keep our equine athletes, work partners and trusted friends safe.”  

In 2021, approximately 23,000 American horses were exported for slaughter—but we know that there are far better options available for every horse who is at risk of this fate. Research published in 2017 reveals that 2.3 million Americans have both the strong interest and resources to adopt a horse. With the equine industry and equine shelters working together to increase adoptions of horses in transition and provide safety net programs to help keep owned horses in their homes, it’s clear that every horse in need can be helped, if given the opportunity. But the slaughter industry will only be stopped if Congress acts.

Help America’s horses TODAY! Please ask your members of Congress to pass the SAFE Act.