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Illinois legislator proposes overturning horse slaughterhouse ban

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois was home to the last horse slaughterhouse in the United States until 2007 when the state passed a ban on the practice.

But State Rep. Jim Sacia says since then, the number of abandoned horses has jumped dramatically, and he is pushing a plan to repeal the law.

At one time, the processing of horse meat for human consumption overseas was big business in Illinois.

In 1998, a Belgium company proposed a horse slaughterhouse in Big Foot, the small community on the border of Walworth and McHenry counties.

McHenry County was home to the state's largest population, and the plant could have brought 40 jobs to the community of 85 residents.

Sacia says his proposal is not about business. He says he’s trying to improve the “end of life” for horses in the state, according to an Illinois Statehouse News story.

He says he understands that emotion will play a large role in debate, and says he’s already received angry emails about ending the horse slaughter ban.

State Sen. Susan Garrett says people see horses as members of their families, like a dog or a cat. She also doesn’t like the idea of changing the law to benefit one company.

The horse slaughter plant in DeKalb was the last in the United States, it could re-open under Sacia’s legislation.

Sacia says he hopes to get a hearing for his plan next week, but isn’t guessing at his chances of shepherding the plan to Governor Quinn’s desk.

Source: www.illinoisstatehousenews.com