© Darin Oswald / Idaho Statesman/Associated Press / July 25, 2007
The Bureau of Land Management uses a helicopter to herd wild horses in Idaho. The practice has drawn complaints from some animal protection groups, who are now also angered by efforts to open a slaughterhouse in New Mexico to produce horse meat.
The Bureau of Land Management uses a helicopter to herd wild horses in Idaho. The practice has drawn complaints from some animal protection groups, who are now also angered by efforts to open a slaughterhouse in New Mexico to produce horse meat.
The Roswell, N.M., meat company owner sued the federal government last week, alleging that officials ignored his application to resume domestic horse slaughter for food because the practice had become an emotional political issue throughout the West.
After waiting a year for permits, De los Santos, 52, says he's using the courts to force the U.S. Department of Agriculture to resume inspections necessary to open what would be the nation's first new horse slaughterhouse since 2007.
"I've submitted all the paperwork and have been told all along 'Oh, it won't be long now,'" said De los Santos, who owns Valley Meat Co. "I followed all their guidelines. I put more than $100,000 in upgrades and additions on my facilities to handle equine slaughter. And then the government comes back and tells me, 'We can't give you the permits. This horse issue has turned into a political game.'
"So what else do you do? I figured it was time to go to court."
