On March 30, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) reacted to the announcement of two successful commercial cloning ventures and additional cloned foals that are expected to be born this spring. “The Humane Society of the United States expresses concerns about subjecting horses to commercial exploitation through cloning,” said a public statement from the organization. “The HSUS condemns this practice and appeals to the equestrian community to join our call for its prohibition in the interests of horse welfare.

“The HSUS is committed to scientific advancement, but only that which has a legitimate social value, something that is entirely lacking in the case of commercial cloning of horses,” the statement said. “The HSUS has itself supported pioneering research to develop an immunocontraceptive vaccine in order to control free-ranging and captive equine populations.

“Along with others in the private and public sector, the HSUS struggles daily with the challenges of providing suitable care for the horses cast off every year by their owners,” it concluded.

For more information on the HSUS visit www.hsus.org