Purpose: This bill would prohibit U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors at slaughterhouses from approving meat from “downed” cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, horses, mules and other equines — these are animals that have become too sick or injured to stand or walk on their own. The bill also requires immediate humane euthanasia for any animal who goes down.
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Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.
Action: SUPPORT. Please contact your U.S. Representative and urge him or her to support H.R. 661. Tell your Representative that the inhumane practice of dragging, shocking, and bulldozing downed livestock to the killing floor must be ended. These animals should be humanely euthanized instead of being forced to endure cruel treatment. This bill would alleviate the suffering of these animals as well as protecting human health and safety by reducing the risk of Mad Cow–tainted meat entering the U.S. food supply.
Talking Points for your letter:
- H.R. 661 will require immediate humane euthanasia for downed animals at slaughterhouses and prohibit these animals from being used for human food.
- H.R. 661 will address the cruel treatment of cows, sheep, pigs, and other farmed animals who become too sick or injured to stand or walk. Currently, these animals can be dragged, electrically shocked, beaten, and even bulldozed to move them to the killing floor, no matter how sick or crippled they may be. These inhumane practices can lead to additional injuries, ranging from bruises and abrasions to torn ligaments, broken bones, and even dislocated joints.
- The obvious suffering of downed animals, combined with the increased risk of tainted meat, makes humane euthanasia the most reasonable solution. Unfortunately, some in the meat industry continue to deal in downers because they still are allowed to sell the animals for human consumption. These sick and injured animals suffer negligence and abuse at livestock facilities across the country.
- Addressing the downed livestock issue also is important to human health and safety. Animals who are too sick to walk present a higher risk of carrying deadly diseases, including Mad Cow Disease. While the USDA has placed an emergency ban on meat from downed animals, this ban is temporary and applies only to cattle.
- The time has come to apply a common sense, humane and permanent standard to the treatment of all downed farmed animals — for the sake of the animals as well as human health.