Yes, it is very sad when people act irresponsibly. Still does not make it okay to allow the animals to be slaughtered. It only emphasizes the need to enforce the animal neglect/cruelty laws that we have.
Thank you. Humane Harvesting in every state, or at least Region is only fair to these marvelous animals that we have been blessed with. Here, out West, horses are being released in the desert to fend for themselves, which they can't do. I have a friend who's nephew in law has a ranch in Nevada. If you shake a can of grain, twenty or more horses come that are not theirs. So very sad. Beccy
----- Original Message ---- From: Dorothy Miller <dmiller@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: Ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2008 11:38:28 AM Subject: [RC] Fw: Horse Slaughter Bill HR 6598
I received this today from Jim Steers; some of you may know him as having been around vetting rides forever. He mostly does Ride & Tie now, but I believe he's done endurance as well.
My current job includes investigating complaints of large animal abuse. Many of these complaints regard starving horses and I expect it to be worse this year. Please do your part to protect our equine friends and contact your reps to vote NO on this bill. Slaughter is a horrible thing to consider, but its a better way to die than the slow agony of being starved.
Dorothy Miller
Quincy, CA
If the attachment doesn't come through, it is a letter from the American Association of Equine Practitioners urging a "NO" vote on this bill. You can call the Capitol Hill operator at 202 224-3121 to connect you to your representative's office to urge him/her to vote NO. The vote is today...please call.
Subject: HORSE SLAUGHTER BILL, H.R. 6598 +++++NEEDS YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION
Dear Everyone, As most of you know I have devoted my professional life to the welfare of the horse—as a horse owner, advocate, and equine veterinarian. As such, you might think I would urge you to contact your representative and senators to pass this bill. Not so. This bill has unexpected consequences that will lead to the worse kind of cruelty —namely, horses will be turned out to starve. This has been a common practice for many years but on the very small scale; pets of all species are turned loose when people move, run out of money, or just don't want the keep the animal for what ever reason. But now, with the energy crisis, foreclosures on "Horse Ranchettes", and the high cost of horse feed, we are in a "HORSE CARE CRISIS": Horses are being turned out by their owners on the "range" because they can't afford to feed them; nobody else wants them; the slaughter houses are closed down and, if this bill passes, it will be a criminal act to transport horses to Canada or Mexico where they can be slaughtered. The BLM has so many surplus horses and burros for which they lack range and do not have funds to buy feed, that they are contemplating euthanizing the surplus animals. How will they dispose of these carcasses? Cremation? Burial? Feed the poor? The most humane and economic solution to this horse care crisis is to reopen the equine slaughter houses, allow horses to be sold at auction yards and transported to these slaughter houses, and humanely killed for animal and human consumption. Yes, I know that most of you can't imagine eating horse meat, nor am I advocating you do so. But I do want you to be aware that, if you are not a vegetarian, that the species of animal you eat is a cultural thing. Our 4-H kids raise all kinds of animals from rabbits to lambs and calves, knowing these "pets" will be eaten after they are auctioned off at the fairs. In much of Asia dog meat is a delicacy and, even in Hawaii, our fellow Americans use dogs at luaus when pork is not readily available—I have to admit canine meat was rather tasty. During WWII, horse meat was not rationed and many Americans ate i When I was home on leave, my sister in law had "steak" in my honor. It was delicious and very tender, and when I commended her on this, Margaret said, "Jim, you just had your first taste of horse meat". The best report I have seen on this subject is "The Alberta Horse Welfare Report: A report on horses as food producing animals aimed at addressing horse welfare and improving communication with the livestock industry and the public." [February 2008. www. afac.ab.ca]. Please act now: Every law maker in Washington has their own Web Site: ie, <Boxer.senate.gov> < Feinstein.senate.gov> <woolsey.house.gov>