Petition seeks law to save horses

A PETITION seeking legislation to uphold a ban on the export of live horses for slaughter was launched in Dublin yesterday.

The broadcaster Tracey Piggott, who presided at the launch, was the first signatory to the petition, organised by the Irish Horse Welfare Trust (IHWT).

IHWT said it was formed in 1999 to protect and rescue horses in Ireland. But its brief soon grew to protest against the cruel practice of exporting live horses for slaughter to Britain, France and even Italy.