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Dallas Crown employees sent home
By Michael Gresham
Officials with Dallas Crown, a horse slaughtering plant in Kaufman, confirmed Friday that a majority of employees were being sent home.
"We have decided temporarily not to process because we have some changes to make here and that is why this decision has been made," said Chris Soenen, a spokesperson for the local plant.
Soenen, who added that "just about everyone other than administration" were being sent home, said the decision did not signal the immediate closure of the plant.
"This is just temporary as we restructure," he said.
The local slaughterhouse's decision comes just weeks after the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals declined to hear arguments from the owners of Dallas Crown and a Fort Worth plant, effectively upholding a January ruling by a three-judge panel of that court saying that a state law banning horse slaughter for human consumption was still in effect.
Dallas Crown also is being challenged by the city of Kaufman, which claims that the local plant violates the municiple zoning ordinance. In March 2006, the Kaufman Board of Adjustments ordered the slaughterhouse closed after it determined Dallas Crown to be a public nuisance as well as a health and safety hazard.
Dallas Crown is one of three plants in the United States that slaughters horses for human consumption.
"We have decided temporarily not to process because we have some changes to make here and that is why this decision has been made," said Chris Soenen, a spokesperson for the local plant.
Soenen, who added that "just about everyone other than administration" were being sent home, said the decision did not signal the immediate closure of the plant.
"This is just temporary as we restructure," he said.
The local slaughterhouse's decision comes just weeks after the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals declined to hear arguments from the owners of Dallas Crown and a Fort Worth plant, effectively upholding a January ruling by a three-judge panel of that court saying that a state law banning horse slaughter for human consumption was still in effect.
Dallas Crown also is being challenged by the city of Kaufman, which claims that the local plant violates the municiple zoning ordinance. In March 2006, the Kaufman Board of Adjustments ordered the slaughterhouse closed after it determined Dallas Crown to be a public nuisance as well as a health and safety hazard.
Dallas Crown is one of three plants in the United States that slaughters horses for human consumption.
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Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of kaufmanherald.com.
Shelly Scherer wrote on Mar 23, 2007 8:43 PM:
" I agree 100% with Angela Valianos and cannot think of a better way to say it! It was very well put. I can only add to Angelas' comment stating that we will not let up until you are gone forever! "
Remember wrote on Mar 23, 2007 9:23 PM:
" Applauding the closing of the horse slaughterhouse is fine. But when you are telling people to go home...please remember, the people sent home without jobs and money to provide for their families were from Kaufman...probably unlike the previous two posters. The mayor has been a huge supporter of shutting down the plant. I hope she is the first to start a food drive for those with no money to feed their families.
"
Lucky wrote on Mar 23, 2007 11:17 PM:
" Re: employees being sent home - they will collect unemployment that I, as a Texan, am paying for. These plants have been against the law for many years, it's time to close them at last. "
SpeakUpForHorses wrote on Mar 24, 2007 11:51 AM:
" It is long overdue! Finally some justice for the horses and the majority of Americans who strongly support the end of horse slaughter. Thank you to the Mayor and to the residents of Kaufman for fighting the fight. Mary Nash is smiling. "
Dawn Mancina wrote on Mar 24, 2007 12:23 PM:
" Remember: These people should have been thinking about finding new jobs a long time ago ... this has been coming on for awhile. They never should have accepted a deplorable job at an illegally operating establishment anyways, serves them right. And it HAS been illegal for decades now - ignorance to the law is no excuse. They took their chances at this place and they lost. Too bad. They can go try to find something else to kill instead of horses.
Maybe they can get jobs on the crews that will be needed to repair Kaufman's sewere system, since Dallas Crown has killed that as well. Hopefully, Dallas Crown will still paying their wages in that capacity as well if all comes out that Crown should have to pick up the tab for the repairs - and rightfully so!
"
Dixie Neeley wrote on Mar 24, 2007 1:47 PM:
" In no way do I feel sorry for the slaughter plant employees - A. It was illegal (at least they aren't going to jail) and B. Any job can end, you just find another one and leave our horses alone! "
Marcy Cummings wrote on Mar 24, 2007 6:30 PM:
" The employees of Dallas Crown CHOSE to work at the slaughter house, unlike the horses who are discarded by the people they trusted. Layoffs, restructures, and downsizing are part of corporate America. Hopefully those dislocated workers will take advantage of the government programs available to them to learn new skills leading to better jobs in the future. Those poor horses don't have that choice! "
s.s wrote on Mar 24, 2007 7:12 PM:
" Don't worry about the workers, most of them probably weren't from this country anyway. Concider it as saving them all from post traumatic stress syndrome that they will surely suffer from when they (finally) realize all the unnecessary carnage and animal abuse they caused.
Score one for the horses!! Keep your fingers crossed.
"
In the pasture, not on a plate wrote on Mar 24, 2007 8:09 PM:
" I am a little confused. Are they going to shut down for good this time, or say they will and reopen again to slaughter more innocent horses? I'd like to be clarified on this. It would be nice for them to shut down for good in my opinion and I'm sure the horses would be very greatful. All the slaughterhouses will be shut down one day if everyone pitches in to help. Not speaking up is the worst thing to do. There is no excuse for it. Ex :one person says "As long as I don't eat the meat, it's one less problem for them to deal with." Thats not true! because of that person, many more lives were put to a painful end. Money has nothing to do with it either. Do anything you can to help these horses. They devoted their lives to completing ours and this is how we repay them?! keep them in the pasture and off dinner plates! STOP THE SLALUGHTER!!! END THE PAIN!!! "
someone wrote on Mar 24, 2007 9:56 PM:
" why is it that all you people have so many bad things to say I think you need to remember that the people who work are no different than you an I, they have a job to do, they pay taxes, spend money in our town I dont hear anyone here complaining about the illegels in our town who collect welfare and work off the books and send opur money back to mexico and have their nasty trash filled yards that make our town look bad. I would rather see a horse put down that die in a field and rott at least some one is killing them in a humane way if you think this is wrong go buy the horses and you spend you money taking care of the america was built by people baying and selling everything who are we to gripe they are still animals not people WE STILL SELL HUMANS ITS CALLED WAR "
SpeakUpForKaufman wrote on Mar 24, 2007 10:21 PM:
" Now that crown is closing, does that mean the mayor will start working on other things...like the pathetic state of the square? "
Matt wrote on Mar 25, 2007 6:47 PM:
" Anyone supporting a foreign owned company that uses an American resource and pays almost 0 federal tax is a fool. No animal did more for this nation than the horse and to allow a foreign owned company to exploit an American resource is a slap in the face to our independence and our society. There are other animals raised for food in the United States that these slaughter houses can process... in competition with U.S. owned companies...on an equal playing field. "
Remember our rep wants this to stay open wrote on Mar 25, 2007 10:22 PM:
" Remember when its time to vote. Betty Brown has worked to keep this plant open. Going so far as to submit bills to the Texas House with language that would have allowed it to continue to operate, she needs to be defeated in the next election. "
Ruth Meadows wrote on Mar 26, 2007 6:44 AM:
" From the time a horse is born, we humans tell that horse to "trust us". We will take care of you if you just trust us, we say. Then we use that horse up and throw it away like so much garbage. I have heard people say of a horse that "babysat" their grandchildren while they learned to ride, "well it's no longer of any use to me, so I need to get something out of it." People, you got all the horse had to give! You owe that horse a peaceful retirement. That is the very least you can do for that horse that served you so well. And if you can't afford to take care of the geriatric horse, you don't need to have horses. People need to start being more responsible. And we don't need to sit back and assume that horse slaughter is over. It isn't. We need to contact our representatives and let them know how we feel so that laws can't be changed to make slaughter legal. Please keep fighting for the noblest of all creatures. "
R. Anderson wrote on Mar 26, 2007 7:23 AM:
" It's about time - they have been operating illegally all this time. I have seen the horses going in there - double deck cattle trailers and stock trailers crammed full of horses. Kaufman will be a better place without this horrible place and now it the time for people to be responsible horse owners. I hope one day to drive by and Dallas Crown will be completely gone! "
Angela Sotelo wrote on Mar 26, 2007 7:33 AM:
" I am glad Dallas Crown has finally decided to obey Texas law. But this is not the end, everyone needs to contact their represenatives and incourage them to vote for the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act and stop the slaughter, the sale and the transportation of American Horses to slaughter for human consumption.
Angela K. Sotelo
Founder and VP Lonesome Dove Equine Protection
Protecting America's Heritage "
MJ Wilson wrote on Mar 27, 2007 12:41 PM:
" Wonderful News, Couldn't be happier! Hope they stay closed, and let the town of Kaufman burn the building down!
"
Its A Start wrote on Mar 27, 2007 12:45 PM:
" I hope the laws continue to be enforced and this business sees there is no future in TX and that all the employees find new jobs "
CW wrote on Mar 28, 2007 7:13 AM:
" To close Dallas Crown is a coup! Perhaps the folks who are now jobless can find something better for their livelyhood. My question is how in the world was DC ever allowed to start up in Texas in the first place? The law was on the books in 1949 and Kaufman allowed them to slaughter horses anyway. Why wasn't DC kept from opening and why were they allowed to continue their nasty work? "
Sandra Church wrote on Mar 28, 2007 12:54 PM:
" Thank you for informing us about this plant closing because it is wonderful news for the horses that could've died there in the future. But Congress needs to pass the AHSPA to keep the horses from being sent to Mexico for an even more cruel slaughter process. Only a few people profit from the slaughter of horses and they can simply find employment in the beef, pork or poultry industry. American horses are not bred or born to be butchered. "
Terri wrote on Mar 28, 2007 1:01 PM:
" I am happy to see DC shut down. To those who complain about having to pay unemployment, I don't think it's going to break you since you are also paying for the slaughter houses with your hard earned money that is taken out in taxes whether you believe it or not. So quit crying, they'll find better jobs, maybe even at a legit slaughter house if that is what they enjoy doing. If you want to worry, think about all the auto workers who are being laid off as we speak and will be collecting your tax money.. lol As for the horse slaughter houses, they've only been able to continue to operate because they do alot of lying to the public, alot of legal maneuvering and alot of paying off politicians under the table. It's better that these plants cease operation and if they have to continue to operate, they need to retool to handle actual "food" animals. I hope to see the ban go federal so that we owners don't have to worry about our horses disappearing and ending up at slaughter! "
Kirk Monigold wrote on Mar 28, 2007 2:18 PM:
" I feel it is more likely that there are a lot of illegals working at the plant and they need to be deported. I will also not feel sorry for anyone engaged in illegal activity and especially one that offends the majority of americans.
I am disgusted by their attempt to appear humane in practice when the cruelty starts at the auction and ends only after death.Good bye Crown and good ridence. "
Angela Valianos wrote on Mar 23, 2007 7:26 PM: