VetClick
Menu Menu
Login

VetClick

/ News
Friday, 29th March 2024 | 4,186 veterinary jobs online | 103 people actively seeking work | 5,479 practices registered

Veterinary Industry News

Send us your news
#StopHorseSmuggling campaign logo

#StopHorseSmuggling campaign logo

Time Is Running Out To Stop Horse Smuggling: We Need Your Help

1 year ago
672 views

Posted
16th March, 2023 15h38

Author
World Horse Welfare


Charity World Horse Welfare today urged horse lovers to take part in its #StopHorseSmuggling campaign by writing to the Prime Minister to ask him to deliver on his government’s manifesto commitment to ban live exports to slaughter, and to enforce the new law. 

The Kept Animals Bill, which will ban live exports of animals for slaughter and fattening, was first introduced to the UK Parliament in June 2021 but, despite cross-party support, it has stalled and will drop from the agenda unless it is passed before the end of the year.

Roly Owers, Chief Executive of World Horse Welfare said: “This is such a good Bill that contains so much that is good for all animal welfare, including banning live export for slaughter and fattening, and livestock worrying. So much work has been put into developing this excellent legislation, which has cross-party support, it would be a travesty if this government failed to allow the Parliamentary time to get it across the line.

The issue of live export to slaughter is a founding issue for World Horse Welfare. No horse, pony or donkey has officially been exported for slaughter in recent years, but we know today that equines are being smuggled out of the country, often travelling in poor conditions under fraudulent identification, and that some of these end their days in a slaughterhouse. Passing the Kept Animals Bill into law and ensuring its proper enforcement could end this cruel trade. Please do all you can to support our campaign.”

The charity has set up a website where the public can email the Prime Minister quickly and easily HERE.

Live export for slaughter does not just affect horses that have been bred for this trade. Any horse can end up being exported to slaughter, from outgrown children’s ponies through to ex-sports horses; horses sold with the best of intentions and in the belief that they could never end their lives in a slaughterhouse may well end up there. 

Many of the horses are being transported ‘under the radar’, often travelling long distances in sub-standard conditions. To many of us, horses are much-loved pets or members of the family, but to those involved in the trade of ‘low value’ horses between Britain and the EU they are simply a commodity. Falsely re-identifying a horse who has been signed out of the food chain with a fraudulent ‘clean’ passport makes a horse appear eligible for slaughter and therefore of more potential value to the trader.

Find out more about horse smuggling and live export to slaughter HERE.


More from World Horse Welfare


You might be interested in...

Equine Stud Vet – Maternity Cover – East Midlands – HF1570

East Midlands. United Kingdom
An excellent practice in the East Midlands is looking for an experienced Equine Stud Vet to cover maternity leave for the 2024 breeding seas...
4 weeks ago

Equine Vet Surgeon – Northumberland HF914

Northumberland. United Kingdom
Purpose-Built RCVS Accredited Mixed Vet Hospital are seeking an Equine Vet to join the team in mid Northumberland. The role could be created...
2 weeks ago

Equine Vet 12 month MAT leave role

Duns, Scottish Borders. United Kingdom
We are looking for an equine vet to join a large mixed practice for a 12 month maternity cover role, on the Scottish borders.You would be jo...
2 days ago

Equine Veterinary Surgeon - Inverness - KD11256

Inverness. United Kingdom
Equine Veterinary SurgeonSalary up to £63,000 doeAre you an experienced and enthusiastic Equine Veterinary Surgeon with a penchant for adve...
4 weeks ago