Marathon Pundit: It's back open: Last USA horse slaughterhouse

Last month I essentially wrote an obituary for Cavel International's horse slaughterhouse in DeKalb, Illlinois, even though the appeals process hadn't been exhausted by the Belgian firm as it battled to keep it's plant open.

Cavel is embroiled in two legal tussles. A new state law banning the killing of horses for the purposes of human consumption, as well as a 2006 federal law that prevents government funding Department of Agriculture inspectors at horse slaughterhouses. Cavel, as well as two other since-closed horse meat processing plants, immediately began paying the inspectors directly, which one federal judge ruled was illegal.

But yesterday, a federal appeals court ruled that Cavel can re-open the DeKalb plant because it faced "irreparable harm" if the slaughterhouse remained closed as the appeals process grinds on.

The plant "will be up and running soon" according to its general manager. About 1,000 horses were slaughtered a week there until the plant's closing.

Related posts:

Bo Derek rallies horse slaughter opponents to victory in Ill. House

Horse of a different color on abandoned equines story

Abandoned horses in Eastern Kentucky

Horses reprieve from slaughterhouse only temporary: UPDATED

Hey, another horse slaughter post

Last US horse slaughterhouse shut down, unwanted horse problem will worsen

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