Foreign-owned horse slaughter plants are killing American horses to sell to wealthy diners in Belgium, France and Japan. Our horses deserve better than a knife and fork at the finish line.

Q: Is it wrong to slaughter horses for consumption abroad?
A: It's un-American. Slaughtering these beautiful animals for the dining pleasure of Europeans and Japanese is a slap in the face to our pioneer heritage.

Q: Is horse slaughter an important U.S. industry?
A: The horse slaughter industry is a cash cow for foreign interests. Horse slaughter plants gross about $60 million a year, but these foreign-owned companies use loopholes to avoid paying taxes in the U.S. - shipping 100% of the horsemeat and profits abroad.

Q: How will banning horse slaughter affect American jobs?
A: Horse slaughter is a drain on our economy. Employing less than 200 people, foreign-owned slaughterhouses require millions of dollars in USDA oversight.

Q: Only sick horses are slaughtered, right?
A: Slaughter houses kill healthy horses, considered the best source of meat. Nearly all of the horses arriving at these kill plants are in good to excellent condition.

Q: Do Americans support horse slaughter?
A: No. An overwhelming majority of Americans support a ban on horse slaughter, yet lobbyists and special interests are attempting to sway Congress to protect these foreign-owned killing factories.

Q: What do I do with my sick, aged or unwanted horse?
A: Just like with a dog or cat, you can sell your horse or send it to a retirement facility. As a last resort, you can humanely euthanize it and send it to a rendering plant so medical science may benefit - all compassionate options that cause no pain to your pet or workhorse.

Q: Will banning slaughter leave an unmanageable number of unwanted horses?
A: No. Many slaughtered horses are stolen from caring homes. In fact, horse theft in California dropped 34% when that state banned slaughter.