Celebrities Join The ASPCA In The Fight To Ban Horse Slaughter

April 26 marks the annual American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) “Help a Horse Day.” This year, celebrity ambassadors and animal welfare experts converged on Capitol Hill to discuss the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act. If passed, the legislation will permanently ban horse slaughter and prohibit the transport of American horses abroad for that purpose.

Featured speakers included Bonnie-Jill Laflin, a sportscaster for Fox Sports and Huw Collins, an actor on the television show “Pretty Little Liars". Collins addressed Congress, saying:

“Right now you, the members of Congress, and your congressional staff hold the power, you have the opportunity to support the SAFE Act. The process is not only a tragic and cruel one to the horses but it’s also exceptionally dangerous and detrimental to human health once the meat is consumed.”

Horse slaughter has been outlawed in the U.S. since 2007, but horses can still be sold, and transported internationally. More than 100,000 horses are shipped to Canada and Mexico each year to be slaughtered for their meat, despite the fact that 80% of Americans oppose this practice.

Many rescuers attend auctions in an attempt to save a precious few of the horses marked for death, often paying hundreds if not thousands of dollars to free them from their fate. “Help a Horse Day” is celebrated to raise awareness about the horrors of horse slaughter, and to honor the tireless efforts of equine rescues across the country.

To learn more about the 2017 SAFE Act and find out how you can help, visit ASPCA.org.