Pennsylvania congressman calls for passage of slaughter prevention bill

A Pennsylvania congressman urged support Thursday for the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act in response to the charges against 24-year-old Kelsey Lefever, the Pennsylvania woman accused of selling horses to slaughter in Canada under false pretenses.  The charges were first reported by the Paulick Report this week.

Rep. Patrick Meehan, a Republican who represents Pennsylvania's 7th district, is among 150 consponsors of the bill, which would prohibit transportation, sale or donation of horses for slaughter for human consumption.  Lefever is accused of using deceptive business practices and theft by deception to allegedly sell horses for slaughter while representing herself as a trainer who rehomes and retrains ex-racehorses.  Click here to read the affidavit obtained by the Paulick Report.

“This is a tragic example of why we need federal law to prohibit the transportation and sale of horses for slaughter in the first place,” said Meehan.  “Horses are not raised for human consumption, and their slaughter for sale overseas is a cruel and inhumane practice that is not consistent with our values here in Pennsylvania. I urge my colleagues in the House and Senate to support the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act and help enact it into law today.”

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