I heard that current rules regulating the transport of horses to slaughter aren being enforced by the USDA. Is that true?
Many of the infractions that have been identified and cited by those criticizing the USDA’s enforcement of transport to slaughter regulations are technical violations (e.g., paperwork violations) that have no impact on the welfare of horses transported to slaughter. Citing numbers of such violations can also be misleading because often multiple violations have been committed by the same owner/shipper. The USDA takes its enforcement role seriously and, to date, has successfully prosecuted five major cases against owner/shippers in violation of 9 CFR 88 before Administrative Judges in Washington, DC.
