Judge allows US horse slaughter plant to temporarily stay open

[LeighAnn]

Source: International Herald Tribune

A federal judge extended a temporary order allowing an Illinois horse slaughterhouse to remain in operation while it challenges a state law that would force it to close.

Cavel International Inc.'s site in DeKalb, Illinois, is the last remaining slaughterhouse in the United States where horses are killed for human consumption. Except for a portion sold to U.S. zoos, the horse meat from the plant is shipped to be eaten by diners overseas. In late May, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich signed a law banning the import, export, possession and slaughter of horses intended for human consumption.

Soon after, U.S. District Court Judge Frederick Kapala granted a temporary restraining order preventing state and DeKalb County officials from enforcing the ban while he considered a lawsuit filed by Belgian-owned Cavel International claiming the Illinois law is unconstitutional. That order was due to expire at midnight Thursday. But following a three-hour hearing, Kapala extended the order allowing the plant to stay open for 10 more business days, according to the judge's chambers and attorneys for several animal-rights groups granted friend of the court status in the case.

Read more: http://www.pr-inside.com/judge-allows-us-horse-slaughter-plant-r154016.htm

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Edited to fix link

[Redstone]

1. Hey, we eat cows, right? Why should horses be any different? And, may I remind you,

there are probably more people on the Earth who eat dog than who don't.

We're either going to eat animals or we're not. Being picky about which kind we'll eat, and which we won't, doesn't make any sense.

Redstone

[BikeWriter]

3. If hungry enough I would eat horse meat. I love them, though.

[madrchsod]

2. there is one woman...yes one woman

that is behind the effort to stop this slaughter house from operating. each day she arrives at the entrance to the plant at 5 or 6 in the morning to record how many trucks enter the slaughter house,then later to see how many leave. she has even followed waste haulers from dekalb to indiana to make sure they were not dumping illegally. she stated that it`s pretty much consumed her life for the last few years. it`s a bit ironic that she does`t ride because she is afraid of horses.

there`s a lot of horse lovers and stables around the dekalb area and the rest northern illinois so it is`t any wonder why she has a lot of backers in her cause. in this area of the state others have tried to slaughter horses and gave up do to public pressure and i think this one will be the next

[aaronbees]

4. She sounds like a wonderful, dedicated person...

I hope she gets her wish on this someday. :thumbsup:

[auburngrad82]

5. Here's a story about a horse rescued from slaughter

Happens to be Secretariat's brother. He's now 32 years old and going strong.

http://www.secretariat.com/brother.html

At least two Kentucky Derby winners (Exceller and Ferdinand) have been slaughtered for meat. I can understand slaughterhouses in countries that allow horsemeat to be sold but we don't sell it here so it's obviously just about the money.

[robcon]

6. It's ALWAYS about the money.

The slaughterhouse is selling horse meat for the same reason every slaughterhouse sells meat - there are customers who want to eat it, and are willing to pay for it. I don't find anything wrong with slaughtering horses, as long as it's labeled as such to consumers - for export or domestic consumption.