U.S. Senate Passes Farm Bill Banning Sale of Dog and Cat Meat

Producing, selling, or distributing dog and cat meat in the U.S. may soon be illegal, according to new legislation passed by the Senate.

The bill (HR 1406), introduced by Congressman Alcee Hastings (D-FL) and Vern Buchanan (R-FL), had 254 bi-partisan co-sponsors and passed through the Senate with an 86-11 majority vote.

“This is a tremendous step in banning this horrific practice. I am overjoyed that we now have the language of HR 1406 in the House and Senate farm bills,” Animal Hope and Wellness Foundation (AHWF) founder Marc Ching commented in a statement, according to the media publication World Animal News. “I am personally grateful, along with millions of others that have been working so hard to ban the dog meat trade, to Senators Gillibrand, Toomey and Rubio for offering this amendment and to Senate Agriculture Committee chairman Pat Roberts and ranking member Stabenow for their support.”

Yesterday, the #UnitedStates Senate overwhelmingly passed its version of the farm bill by a vote of 86-11. – An amendment sponsored by Senator @KirstenGillibrand (D-NY), and co-sponsored by @SenPatToomey (R-PN) and Senator @MarcoRubioFla (R-FL) was introduced – banning the slaughter, transportation, and consumption of #Dog and #Cat meat in the United States. – The @animalhopeandwellness Foundation (AHWF), the sponsor of the originating language, introduced by Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) and Congressman @RepVern Buchanan (R-FL) as #HR1406, has been actively lobbying members of the House of Representatives and the Senate to include the language of the bill, which had 254 bi-partisan co-sponsors into each chambers farm bills. The House passed its version on June 21st. – The two versions of the farm bill will move into a conference committee where members of both houses will work to finalize a single bill. The inclusion of the #dogandcatmeatban in both versions significantly increases its chances of becoming law. A final bill is expected to be voted on in September. ???? – Read More ?? www.WorldAnimalNews.com @worldanimalnews @peace_4animals

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The legislation is part of the comprehensive Farm Bill which will be updated and reinstated this September.

“To the activists and individuals who called, wrote emails, and walked the halls in D.C., the World Dog Alliance for their expertise and aid, and to all those that support and help the foundation every day, we are one step closer to change,” Ching said.

The Senate’s vote follows shortly after a Bucheon, South Korea city court outlawed the slaughter of dogs for meat. The decision made headlines, as the nation is infamously known for its consumption and even celebration of dog meat. The local court ruling sent a powerfully defiant statement to the outdated cultural food norms and may set the precedent for other courts across the country to follow suit.