DeKALB | An amendment to the Illinois Horse Meat Act that would make it unlawful to slaughter a horse for human consumption is pending in the Illinois House of Representatives.

The bill could cause the DeKalb horse slaughtering plant, Cavel International, to shut down.

State Rep. Robert Pritchard, R-Hinckley, expressed disgust with the continuing attention given to the subject of horse slaughtering. He said he feels other issues are more pertinent.

“Right now, the bill’s in executive committee,” Pritchard said. “I have no idea if it will leave the committee. If it does get out of committee, I will continue to do what I’ve been doing, which is respecting the diversity of horse owners.”

Pritchard said he wants to modify the legislation to acknowledge all viewpoints on this topic.

“I’m willing to talk to the sponsor to find out ways we can be respectful of the different opinions people have,” Pritchard said.

If the bill is passed, Cavel International will appeal the bill, said Jim Tucker, manager of DeKalb’s horse slaughtering plant. “Of course we will,” Tucker said. “We think it’s a bad piece of legislation. Most horse owners do, as well.”

There would be a high possibility that horse owners would let horses run wild like deer if the bill is passed, Tucker said.

“People will just let their horses go if they have nowhere to bring them,” Tucker said.

Tucker stressed the humane conditions of the slaughtering plant.

“We put the horses down in a simple and cost-effective way,” Tucker said. “I’ve always looked at it as a valid method of recycling.