The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals put a temporary hold on horse slaughtering facilities that were set to open as early as this week.

Animal rights groups secured an emergency injunction after a federal judge in New Mexico threw out their lawsuit. The hold will apparently stay in place until the 10th Circuit can hear the case.

The National Congress of American Indians, the Mescalero Apache Nation of New Mexico, the Oglala Sioux Tribe of South Dakota and the Yakama Nation of Washington have supported the issuance of permits for the plants.

The Navajo Nation originally supported the permits but President Ben Shelly changed his mind after hearing complaints from elders and animal rights activists.

Get the Story:
Federal appeals court temporarily halts NM, Mo. companies’ plans for horse slaughterhouses (AP 11/4)
Court puts horse slaughter on hold again (The Albuquerque Journal 11/5)

Related Stories:
Judge clears way for opening of horse slaughtering facilities (11/4)
Navajo Nation leader no longer supports horse slaughtering (10/08)
Yakama Nation struggling to deal with wild horse population (09/11)
Navajo Nation president explains support for horse slaughter (08/12)
Judge requires bond of nearly $500K in horse slaughter lawsuit (8/9)