FW: [FOSHFriends] Sample Letter Re: [RC] Celebration and List of Proposed Recipients - Marjorie Carman
Hi
I know this is not Endurance related ,but this is for the horse I guess I am naïve did’nt
realize the USDA would have this trouble this is from another list please read
it and make your own decisions .
-----Original Message----- From: FOSHFriends@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:FOSHFriends@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Teresa Sent: Monday, August 28, 2006 8:10
AM To: FOSHFriends@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [FOSHFriends] Sample
Letter Re: Celebration and List of Proposed Recipients
Dear Friend of the Sound Horse,
As you are probably already aware, there have been conflicts this
week at the TWH Celebration, between NHSC DQPs and the USDA VMOs
assigned to ensure that sore horses are not allowed to be shown.
These conflicts have led to mob behavior, threats against USDA
personnel, and ultimately, the departure of those personnel from the
showgrounds on Friday August 25th out of concern that Tennessee
Highway Patrol would not be able to provide them adequate
protection.
It has been rumored that USDA personnel may be instructed by their
superiors to either not attend the remainder of the Celebration, or
to "back off" on their insistence on full and proper enforcement.
Pressure for this move has been coming from the Walking Horse
industry and those members of Congress close to the industry. We
are hearing that some efforts to urge the Secretary of Agriculture
to pull the USDA from the Celebration will be made as early as this
Monday, August 28, 2006.
It is imperative that all sound horse owners contact key
Administration and elected officials on Monday to tell them that the
USDA should be allowed to do its job, and oversee the inspections at
the Celebration.
President Bush may be hearing from some in the big lick WH industry,
and needs to hear from us, too. Secretary of Agriculture Mike
Johanns, Animal Care Administrator Dr. Ron DeHaven and Animal Care
Deputy Administrator Chester Gipson are responsible for
administering the USDA's Horse Protection Program.
Sens. Frist and Alexander of TN are receiving a great deal of
pressure from the WH industry. Rep. Gordon of TN is an old friend
of the industry, but needs to hear of your opposition to
interference with USDA enforcement efforts. Rep. Harold Ford, Jr.
of TN is a Democrat running for Frist's Senate seat, and we believe
has recently gotten involved in this issue on behalf of the industry
in hopes of attracting statewide votes.
You should also copy your letter to your own U.S. representative and
2 U.S. Senators – to find their contact information, visit
www.congress.org and type your zip code in the box on the left.
The following sample letter may be cut/pasted and sent as-is, or you
may change it, or write one of your own. Letters should be faxed or
emailed (with the subject line "TENNESSEE WALKING HORSE
CELEBRATION") and calls should also be made. Contact information is
as follows:
President George W. Bush
Email: president@whitehouse.gov
Phone: (202) 456-1414
Fax: (202) 456-2461
Mike Johanns, Secretary of Agriculture
Email: Mike.Johanns@usda.gov
Phone: (202) 720-3631
Fax: (202) 720-2166
Dr. Ron DeHaven, Adminstrator, Animal Care, USDA/APHIS
Email: Ron.DeHaven@usda.gov
Phone: 202-720-3668
Fax: (202) 720-3054
Dr. Chester Gipson, Deputy Administrator, Animal Care, USDA/APHIS
Email: Chester.A.Gipson@aphis.usda.gov
Phone: 301-734-4980
Sen. Bill Frist
Email (click on Send Message, then scroll down to Compose Your Own
Letter, at www.frist.senate.gov)
Phone: 202-224-3344
Fax: 202-228-1264
Sen. Lamar Alexander
Email (click on Send Message, then scroll down to Compose Your Own
Letter, at www.alexander.senate.gov)
Phone: 202-224-4944
Fax: 202-228-3398
Rep. Bart Gordon
Email (click on Send Message, then scroll down to Compose Your Own
Letter, at www.gordon.house.gov)
Phone: 202-225-4231
Fax: 202-225-6887
Thank you for taking the time to make these contacts, for the sake
of the horses!
Keith Dane, USDA Liaison for
Friends of Sound Horses, Inc.
SAMPLE LETTER:
President George W. Bush
Mike Johanns, Secretary of Agriculture
Dr. Ron DeHaven, Adminstrator, Animal Care, USDA/APHIS
Dr. Chester Gipson, Deputy Administrator, Animal Care, USDA/APHIS
August 28, 2006
Dear Sirs,
I am writing to you as one of the many thousands of owners of sound
(non-sored) Tennessee Walking Horses in the state of Tennessee and
across the United States.
It is my understanding that during the opening days of this year's
TWH National Celebration show, there have been conflicts between
horse industry inspectors licensed by the National Horse Show
Commission (NHSC) and the USDA personnel present to oversee
inspections. These conflicts have led to mob behavior, threats
against USDA personnel, and ultimately, the departure of those
personnel from the showgrounds on Friday August 25th out of concern
that Tennessee Highway Patrol would not be able to provide them
adequate protection.
It has been rumored that Horse Protection personnel may be
instructed by their superiors to either not attend the remainder of
the Celebration, or to "back off" on their insistence on full and
proper enforcement of the Horse Protection Act.
It is the experience of many eyewitnesses that at NHSC shows, proper
inspections are often not conducted by industry inspectors, and the
requirements of the Act and Regulations are not always followed. It
is critical to the proper enforcement of the HPA that USDA personnel
oversee the inspection process at the national championship show for
this breed, which compelled Congress to pass a federal law to
regulate it, and which continues to reward sored horses.
I support the full enforcement efforts of USDA Horse Protection
personnel, and I expect the Department to fulfill its responsibility
to enforce the Act by ensuring that those personnel attend and
oversee the 2006 Celebration. Failure to do so would be a
dereliction of the Department's duties as mandated by Congress.
Do not succumb to the mob mentality of some in the TWH industry and
bow to their pressure to interfere with USDA enforcement efforts.
This industry and its inspectors continue to warrant close USDA
scrutiny and oversight in order to ensure proper enforcement of the
Act. The media, the humane community and the American voter will be
watching how this situation unfolds.
Sincerely,
(Your name)
Cc: Senator Bill Frist
Senator Lamar Alexander
Rep. Bart Gordon
Rep. Harold Ford, Jr.
