Kentucky Bill HB 398

KY Governor issues a statement

Statement from KY Gov. Steve Beshear:

There has been a great deal of confusion about House Bill 398 which I signed into law earlier this year and I am glad to set the record straight.
House Bill 398 in no way permits the slaughter of horses in Kentucky. This legislation created the Kentucky Equine Health and Welfare Council (KEHWC) – the first of its kind in the nation – under the state’s Department of Agriculture. The council will assist and advise the department on issues of
equine health and welfare, and take action to keep horses safe in the Commonwealth. The council will offer help to unhealthy or abused horses that are identified by Kentucky equine veterinarians or others, and will never participate in the slaughter of these animals.
In fact, the non-profit Equine Health and Welfare Alliance (EHWA), which aims to provide for the basic needs, proper care and dignity of all equines throughout life, helped draft and promote this legislation. No funds contributed to the EHWA will be used to promote any position on horse slaughter.
By initiating this law, combined with the commitment of the EHWA, Kentucky has actually been *proactive* in animal welfare protection. To date, no other state has offered the same horse protection package.
The First Lady and I consider ourselves among Kentucky’s leading horse advocates and we commend you for fighting for the ethical treatment of animals.
Your views about Kentucky’s premier industry are important to me, and I hope this information may persuade you to change your plans about attending the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and other equine events in Kentucky.
For more information about KEHWC, visit www.governor.ky.gov
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