Sports Columnists

By Doreen Kent

June 27, 2006 09:56 PM | Link to this

Dear Mr. Bisher:

There is a very important and meaningful way that you and your readers can help.

A bill is coming before Congress by the end of this month - HR-503 - The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act — sponsored by Reps. John Sweeney and co-sponsored by 194 other House members.

This piece of legislation will ensure that no American horse is ever forced to suffer the long and painful journey to slaughter at a foreign-owned plant (1 in Illinois; 2 in Texas) for the culinary desires of foreign gourmands. Horses occupy a unique place in the history of our country, and they deserve better than this.

This is going to be a landmark issue in equine welfare. This vote is going to the House by this coming Friday - June 30th. Your e-mails, telephone calls, and faxes, are needed to encourage your Representative to vote for this bill. With approx. 440 Representatives in Congress, we have to make certain that there are more than the 195 members who sponsor/co-sponsor this bill.

These are the final days in a long journey to do away with horse slaughter in the USA. If this bill fails, I don’t even want to think about the many months, perhaps years before another attempt can be made. It is essential that your representative hear from YOU!

To view house bill HR-503 and its current sponsors, go to http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.503:

To find your legislator, click on http://horse-protection.org/info.php?id=14#rep

then enter your zip code.

You needn’t send anything lengthy. In fact, it’s best to be brief. Dear Representative__:

As one of your constituents, I urge you to support HR-503.

Your name Your address Your phone #

If you love horses and want this barbaric practice of slaughter to stop, please call, e-mail or fax your Congressional representative in Washington TODAY!

Doreen Kent Chesapeake, VA

By Dora J Crow

June 28, 2006 01:02 AM | Link to this

I am sure someone already informed you that the more correct number of slaughtered horses is more like 90,000, per year. It is a travesty that these majestic creatures are treated in this fashion, in this supposed new age. It is archaic, barbaric, revolting, and downright disgusting, and repugnant to even think of. It is hard to believe that it goes on in the US, for profit, for sending overseas, for dinner plates. It makes me think of all our companion animals, would we eat our cherished family dog, or cat? How can this be still happening, and why is it still allowed on US soil? Th HR 503 bill needs to be passed, not just yearly, but a permanent ban on these slaughterhouses.

By Michael Madigan

June 28, 2006 03:29 AM | Link to this

I agree with you that slaughter is barbaric, but in the US horses are listed as “livestock” so presumably banning horse slaughter could lead to banning cattle, swine, and chicken slaughter. Pigs are actually more intelligent than horses and on the same par as cats and dogs, so do we ban pig slaughter too?

This is a complex issue that requires a complex solution.

What do we do with the 90,000 unwanted horses that are slaughtered each year? Do we just euthanize them? If a horse’s life is 30 years, then in 30 years we could have up to 2.7 million unwanted horses with no place to go.

One solution would be to lower the number of horses born each year. How are you going to do that? Kentucky, Maryland, Florida, California and many other states have economies relying heavily on horse farms.

Perhaps we should ban all equine sports all together and let the breeds die out?

I don’t know the answer, but it sounds like banning slaughter is just too simplistic.

By Justan Observer

June 28, 2006 08:51 AM | Link to this

Michael has some great points. I felt the article was of the “don’t kill the pretty animal” theme. The problem is, if you support horse racing, you encourage the over population, and build the supply for slaughterhouse product. Like Profesional ballplayers, only the top <1% ever make the Derby level. When we use Champions (and ‘almost’ Champions) to sire multiple horses in the hopes of finding that “next one”, what do we do with those that don’t make the cut?

By Susan Martin

June 28, 2006 08:59 AM | Link to this

I have viewed horse’s being slaughtered before. Words escape me to tell of the horror. If the American people saw animals being “Slaughtered”, they’d think twice about the meat on their plates. If we don’t eat horses here in the United States, why on gods green earth do we allow for them to be slaughtered here for shipment elsewhere. Also in some states pitbulls have been labeled as “Livestock”, so should we slaughter them to for shipment out of the country. When the price of oil becomes so high, we might be better to the original mode of transportation - horseback. This much is true, one day we all will be held accountable.

By gillian

June 28, 2006 09:06 AM | Link to this

I’ve been following this issue for some time now and all I can say from my experience is that we need to reduce the number of horses being created each year. There is way too much indescriminate breeding of horses in this country and its all because of money. The only way to eliminate slaughter is to reduce the number of horses that are going there. I could go on and on about this but I’ll leave it at that.

By Rosa Boster

June 28, 2006 09:15 AM | Link to this

Ithink this is horrible. How are these animals put to death? I would just as soom put my dog to death if she became ill.

By Sarah

June 28, 2006 09:17 AM | Link to this

I have not consumed meat since July of 1991, nor do wear leather or have leather in my automobile, or purse or wallet. With that said, here goes: When you chow down on that burger for lunch today…or was it yesterday, what in Gods name is the difference between eating the cow or the horse, ot the family pet, a cat or a dog. It’s the same you hypocrtical idiots, its all the same. If you eat a cow, you’ll eat a dog or a horse, the fact is, you probably already have. So, all of you who are so horrified at the mere thought of eating a dog or a horse, enjoy that buger and your blissfull ignorance.

By Doreen Kent

June 28, 2006 09:23 AM | Link to this

There is an informative “White Paper” on the subject of horse slaughter. Perhaps taking the time to read through it will answer some questions and dispel misunderstanding.

A Study of the Relationship between Horse Slaughter and Reported Cases of Abuse and Neglect - The “Unwanted Horse” Theory Author: John M. Holland – 23 January, 2006

http://horseprotection.org/pdf/Relationship-of-Abuse-to-Slaughter.pdf

Doreen Kent Chesapeake, VA

By animal lover

June 28, 2006 09:28 AM | Link to this

How ironic, Rosa comparing the slaughter of an unwanted horse to putting down a beloved dog. The point of the horse slaughter is to… provide for dog food. Its not people food being produced. Think about that when you buy your next 50lb bag of Alpo.

By KP

June 28, 2006 09:31 AM | Link to this

I agree with Sarah on this “pick and choose” which animal shouldn’t be slaughterd, however I don’t agree on the vegetarian thing.

I’m a member of PETA - People Eating Tasty Animals, and I agree that if someone thinks they’re tasty, they should be slaughtered for the dinner table.

So, big deal if a horse is slaughtered, so are millions of cows, chickens, pigs, fish, etc. each year for my dinner table.

These horses are tools to make money for the owners. And what do owners of businesses do when their tools are worn out or no longer productive? They get rid of or destroy that tool and buy another. It’s no different with the horses.

By John

June 28, 2006 09:31 AM | Link to this

Thanks for the idea Sarah, I think I’ll get two cheeseburgers for lunch today!

By KP

June 28, 2006 09:35 AM | Link to this

I agree with Sarah on this “pick and choose” which animal shouldn’t be slaughterd, however I don’t agree on the vegetarian thing.

I’m a member of PETA - People Eating Tasty Animals, and I agree that if someone thinks they’re tasty, they should be slaughtered for the dinner table.

So, big deal if a horse is slaughtered, so are millions of cows, chickens, pigs, fish, etc. each year for my dinner table.

These horses are tools to make money for the owners. And what do owners of businesses do when their tools are worn out or no longer productive? They get rid of or destroy that tool and buy another. It’s no different with the horses.

By Doreen Kent

June 28, 2006 09:36 AM | Link to this

Response to “animal lover”, there is NO horse meat in dog food. There hasn’t been any horse meat in dog food in decades. The meat from slaughtered horses, slaughtered in the 3 foreign owned slaughter house in the USA, is sent to Europe and Asia.

Doreen Kent Chesapeake, VA

By Bill Heller

June 28, 2006 09:36 AM | Link to this

Dear Mr. Bisher, Thank you for drawing attention to horse slaughter. The reality is that we have never been closer to ending this American disgrace and it will end as soon as more Americans learn about it. Thanks to you, many have. - Bill Heller

By Cracker Tuna

June 28, 2006 09:38 AM | Link to this

Sarah - you are a complete idiot who doesn’t know her rear-end from a hole in the wall. Do you like being talked to like that? No? Then don’t get on message boards and rip into entire groups (individuals are a different story) who differ from your opinion - you will convert NOBODY using those tactics. By the way I am a vegetarian and find animal cruelty and consumption repulsive - but you get more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. Also Michael - I’m not sure which politician you work for, but lets not go overboard with the banjo-mouth “well if we do “x” the we’ll have to do “y” so lets just forget “x”…have you ever heard of an exemption?? Wouldn’t it be ironic if when you die God is actually a pig who has been testing the human race all this time?? About as far fetched as an old man with a long white beard I know - but really Michael…better get used to “hot climates”.

By Annie

June 28, 2006 09:39 AM | Link to this

I agree with Gillian, the best way to reduce the number of horses is to stop “manufacturing” them. There should be more forethought put into the purchase/breeding of horses and all animals for that matter. Once you have an animal, you are responsible for them. Living, breathing beings are not disposable!

By Annie

June 28, 2006 09:51 AM | Link to this

I agree with Gillian, the best way to reduce the number of horses is to stop “manufacturing” them. There should be more forethought put into the purchase/breeding of horses and all animals for that matter. Once you have an animal, you are responsible for them. Living, breathing beings are not disposable!

By Debbie

June 28, 2006 10:21 AM | Link to this

I agree with you that slaughter is barbaric. And for dinner plates. Some go for dog and cat food! And Kentucky, Maryland, Florida, California and many other states have economies relying heavily on horse farms. 1% ever make the Derby level. When we use Champions (and ‘almost’ Champions) to sire multiple horses in the hopes of finding that “next one”, what do we do with those that don’t make the cut? That’s a lot of horses to take care of. I wish I could take them all. But I can’t! And I eat cattle, swine, and chickens. But I love horse! I am a Barbaro fan

By alltheprettylittlehorses

June 28, 2006 10:31 AM | Link to this

I will always have fond memories of the beautiful bay horse named “Flash” (short for “Flashing Parade”) who was a resident at the stables in Skokie, IL where I used to ride as a teenager. Flash, a senior citizen in horse years, was said to have been owned by the fighter Joe Louis in earlier days, was trained to show, and was still being ridden and in excellent condition and health. I’m glad no one thought it a good idea to make horsemeat out of him.

By Linda

June 28, 2006 10:41 AM | Link to this

All of you horse people should know that the same outrage happens to Greyhound dog racers who are retired at 5 years old by law - if they make it on the race track to that age. After that, the lucky ones are adopted out through the generosity of volunteer rescue groups. The unlucky are killed! Kind of hard for we as a city dwellers to adopt a horse but we can make a big difference by adopting a greyhound.

By bullock

June 28, 2006 10:42 AM | Link to this

Some of you people posting comments are stupid. You have never owned a horse, delivered a minature baby, watch them come running over a hill when you call them with tails flying, have them eating out of your hand. I could go on and on. Humans domesticated the horses and now it is our responsibility to care for them not eat them.

By John

June 28, 2006 10:47 AM | Link to this

I work for Purina and would like for everyone to know that no horse has been killed by this company for dog food for many years. I don’t think it is possible to obtain dog food rendered from horse meat manufactured by any of the large manufacturers/marketers.

By Pat

June 28, 2006 11:01 AM | Link to this

Thank for the information on the slaughter of these animals.. the date for the bill is June 30.. please everyone contact your representative in DC to vote to stop this horror..

By Debbie

June 28, 2006 11:05 AM | Link to this

Bullock have you ever sold a horse? Where did it go? where is it now? John whats in the wet dog food?

By Lee

June 28, 2006 11:10 AM | Link to this

I love all animals, I have many pets. They are dogs, cats, cows and horses. I am a farmer. The cattle are a big part of our income. If horses are treated differently, what is to stop groups from passing the same thing for cows, chicken or fish?

By Gary Clevenger

June 28, 2006 12:12 PM | Link to this

Why don’t you rant and rave about the millions of human fetuses that are slaughtered in this country annually — oh excuse me, they are only human beings with undiscovered & unrealized potential and contributions to our country — these are horses, give me a break!

By Sadie

June 28, 2006 12:23 PM | Link to this

Are horse breeders regulated or licensed in any way? Doing so and requiring a contribution to a horse retirement facility as part of the licensing fee might help. The same issues apply to the dog and cat overpopulation problem. Too many backyard breeders and unthinking owners.

By AC

June 28, 2006 12:35 PM | Link to this

I know I will be persecuted for this but I have to say my peace. Let me begin by saying that I too am a horse lover, currently I have a 2 yo PMU foal, a Belgian Gelding, who I am training. I have a Master’s Degree in Equine Reproductive Physiology, for my thesis research I was trying to uncover the mechanisms in which the mare cycles in and out of anestrous in to the breeding season. For years people have been trying to get the mare in settled early in the season to have their foal in accordance with the “racing calendar”. My research involved studying ovarian tissues of mares, yes the university did maintain research herd, but we could not use those animals as they were also used for teaching and for the students to work with and train as part of the curriculum. In order to get the tissues I needed we went to an equine abattoir, to collect tissues from animals that were already going to be euthanized. It should be noted that my research is leading into a better understating of the reproductive cycles of mares. In addition to collecting the ovarian tissue we also collected legs to allow the students to study the complexity of the tendons and bones of the horses lower legs. Furthermore, ask any horse owner about the complication of fescue toxicity in mares and foals, ask them if they have ever had a mare red bag (where the placenta detaches before the foal is born, basically starving the foal for oxygen as it passes though the birth canal), or having a mare who has a foal but no milk to feed the youngster, during my days at the university I experienced all of these scenarios. The research I did, in which we collected the ovarian tissues directly relates all of these problems faced by the horse owner. With out being able to collect the tissues at the an abattoir, the research would never have progressed and horse and people would have suffered. It is also worth mentioning that we contacted local farms to let them know we needed tissue, and if they were going to humanly euthanize an animal, could we harvest the ovaries to help other animals. Granted the trip to the equine abattoir was unsettling, it was a necessary evil to further understand the biology of the horse. I should also note that the USDA has very strict guidelines to make sure all animals, horses included are euthanized in the most humane manner possible. I have talked with some vets who feel euthanasia by physical means to induce death are more humane than chemical euthanasia as the loss if consciousness much faster. No I don’t like the fact that so many animals end up there, but part of the problem is people, breeding animals irresponsibly, and thus unable to care for them. It seems everyone wants to treat the symptoms instead of the disease its self, which is ignorance of people. in response to previos posts, They are right most horse meat is sold over seas to other countries like France, they pay $3-4.00 a pound, far to expensize to put into dog food.

By Peter

June 28, 2006 12:42 PM | Link to this

Gary,

I will not defend the number of abortions any more than the billions of farm animals killed for human consumption. I am repulsed by both.

I find that there are far too many abortions, but I also think far too many animals are killed for their meat, as well. Even if one is a meat-eater, there is a definite limit I think everyone should eat. One does not need to eat one to two pounds of meat a day to get sufficient protein, if they truly do at all. I’m sure that many people do need meat at all, but that is a different matter.

I myself only consume seafood, and I only do this to make my wife happy as a compromise.

I think all creatures should be given the utmost respect, whether they be unborn fetuses, animals, trees, whatever. It is my hope that one day there are no more abortions and no more animals killed for human comsumption - I imagine that technology will lead us to the day when both things are the case.

By Chris Brandon

June 28, 2006 01:04 PM | Link to this

AC,

Where did you do your graduate work? I did my Masters in equine reproductive physiology (from the stallion side of things) at UGA’s vet school. I had several friends working on equine ovarian physiology as well. Left the equine repro world to do my Ph.D. in equine receptor pharmacology.

I also had the unpleasant experience of spending many a hour in an abboittoir. Not too fun….

Chris Brandon

By AC

June 28, 2006 01:17 PM | Link to this

Chris,

I did my graduate work at Southern Illinois University, I was looking for Dopamine receptor mRNA in the ovarian tissue, in later reseach they found the receptor protien was indeed being expressed. They have expanded into cattle, piggy backing the horse work inorder to get funding. Much more money out there for cattle researh than horses. Adam

By Angela

June 28, 2006 01:24 PM | Link to this

Not only is the slaughter itself alarming but, the horses are treated so inumanely, tortured before deathy. If you google horse slaughter houses and see the pictures and read the articles it will just about lead you to tears…

By Cathy Purcell

June 28, 2006 01:31 PM | Link to this

The main problem with this issue is that the facts have not come out!
I can’t take it anymore!

Horse & Family Magazine recently, and more accurately described the 7 steps that are actually followed in today’s 3 horse processing (slaughter) plants, and the horses are treated very humanely. Every step of the process is designed to give the horse a peaceful, immediate death before any processing is done. They are not “stunned” because a captive stunning bolt is not, and never has been used. Their throats are NOT slit. A “penetrating captive bolt,” one of the most humane methods of euthanasia approved by the American Veterinary Medical Associaion, is used.

The chutes are designed to calm the horses because of their tendency toward flight. In fact, an expert in horse behavior from Texas A&M says that when the horses see that they can’t flee, they calmly follow the horse in front of them. A former Congressman recently visited the Fort Worth plant and found this to be true.

Are all the people who are against slaughter ready to keep and pay the minimum $25,000 that it takes to care for a horse its entire life???? Wake up! Hundreds of thousands of unwanted cats and dogs are euthanized each year, and yes, some of them would have made perfectly good pets. But no one stepped up to the plate to take them in. Local county shelters across the country use our tax money to pay for the euthanasia, and there is no public outcry about this. At least with the euthanization of horses, private money, not public, is used, and the owner has the peace of mind of knowing the horse is put down in a regulated, humane manner, under the watchful eye of a veterinarian.

Instead of banning slaughter, we should use the millions of dollars being spent on full page ads and lobbying to educate horse owners on responsible breeding and to institute a regulation system for horse rescue facilities, where horses are often mistreated because of lack of funds.

I’m going to worry about how horses are treated when they are alive — not raise heck about what happens to the carcasses after they are dead. Besides, exporting horse meat helps our trade balance, and it helps our environment to have these huge carcasses processed and exported. I’m not arrogant and judgmental enough to worry about what is eaten in Japan, France, Belgium and Canada, to keep filling our land fills with horse bodies. The meat is sold ground and as steaks in butcher shops, and it’s lean and low in cholesterol. Live and let live - I say.

But the part that upsets me the most is that the “Humane” Society of the United States, a bloated $111 million dollar group that recently received a “D” grade from the American Institute of Philanthropy is leading the anti-slaughter charge. They’ve even privately admitted that they keep drumming up sensationalized anti-horse slaughter stories in the media because it makes them more money!! Come on America! We’re smarter than this. Since America’s largest horse organization (American Quarter Horse Association) and the largest veterinarian group (AVMA) don’t think HR 503 should pass, neither should you! You think you know more about the well being of horses than they do? Or are you wallowing in ignorance, blindly letting HSUS lead you astray? This bloated association, with its posh offices in Washington, D.C. doesn’t even have any veterinarians on its Board!! A lot of lawyers - but no vets, and the group is supposed to be advocating animal welfare. They are not connected to any local humane society; they just use the word “humane” in their title to evoke that image. The state attorney general in Louisiana is currently investigating HSUS for potential mishandling of the $30 million they raised for animals affected by Hurricane Katrina.

If you don’t want your horse to go to slaughter, don’t sell it an auction. It’s that simple. But don’t be so arrogant and ignorant as to suggest that your fellow horse owners don’t have the right to do so, if they choose this humane, legal, regulated option. The processing plants treat the horses well. If they didn’t, they would end up with the low-value, discolored meat that results when an animal is put down under stress. The real facts are at [AnimalWelfareCouncil.org[, and [commonhorsesense.com].

by Cathy Kay

By AC

June 28, 2006 01:34 PM | Link to this

Well SAID CATHY!! (applause)

By Steve

June 28, 2006 01:45 PM | Link to this

I love human beings for their compassion. No one on this planet gets through the day with out a juicy dose of denial. I’m a meat eater, by the way. So, it’s okay to slaughter animals, just not the pretty ones? Frankly I think piglets are cute, but as I write that I’m hearing a jingle “I love those baby back, baby back”. I watched the news last night. There was a clip of a man who was taking in a Russian orphan for the Summer. He was crying. Wouldn’t have had to cry if he’d never met the kid. Cows have the most beautiful eyes. Soldiers have been rendered incapable of killing their enemies after having met and spoken with them. Not that there’s a solution. We’ve got to eat and despite what a vegetarian wil tell you, our bodies are set up to digest at least some meat. Just seems like our compassion for other living things should be less segmented.

By Rebecca

June 28, 2006 05:37 PM | Link to this

Cathy Kay I would like to respond to your post. Currently The AVMA does site the capitive bolt has a humane alternative with proper head restraint, which I can assure you is not used, they do not restrain the heads and cattle prods are often used to speed along the lines of production. If you own horses you must know what a high flight animal they are, they panic in these situations, they slip, they fall they rear and get stuck. Cavel in IL also has had several humane and wastewater violations over the years also. That said the horror in the houses is not the worst of it. Transportation in double decker cattle trailers for hours and even days on end no food, water or rest, packed in with strange horses, injuries and death do occur. Along with the fact many are placed and shipped with injuries, have you ever seen a foundered horse or a horse with a broken limb? Imagine the pain of trailer travel on these animals. Pregnant mares, mares with foals at their sides, I mean it is almost unimaginable that this go’s on. We have humane laws on the books now that are disregarded trying to toughen up are laws on humane care won’t work, this needs to stop. This is NOT humane euthanisia, this is slaughter for human consumption and profit. People need to start taking responsibility for what they bring into the world and take home, horses are NOT food animals in our country. As for your statement regarding the Humane Society and AQHA, for the record not a member of the Humane Society but your correlation is laughable. AQHA could care less, they want you to breed and cull and register, it’s what they do, money? Please enlighten me as to how much money the AQHA has directly used in “helping” any horses in need. TB organizations have certainly stepped up to the plate, Quarter horses are the #1 slaughtered horse in US and AQHA is the riches equine association. You do the math. The AVMA is in a pickle if they take the capitive bolt out of what they consider acceptable for horses they fear a firestorm but like AQHA many, many members do not agree.

By Rebecca

June 28, 2006 05:51 PM | Link to this

I wanted to add also the professor I believe you are referring to is Dr. Temple Grandin who is indeed at the forefront of making the slaughter of all our food animals more humane. You can certainly correct me with viewable facts but there is currently no squeeze boxes being used in any of the horse slaughter plants, she has stated they are a more humane option however and many are now being used with other livestock facilities.

For the record I am not a PETA member and yes I am a lacto/ovo vegetarian but my family eats meat which I buy from a local humane farmer. I am not out to stop all processing of all meat but I do believe horse slaughter in the US should be made illegal. Yes this is a cultural issue a humane issue as well as an emotional issue with me. I have researched all processing of all our food animals and believe the slaughtering of our horses for food cannot be made to be humane. If you want to shoot your horse and eat him go for it. If you want to donate your horse to a zoo or the hounds and have a skilled hand shoot them, go for it. The processing and climate up to the slaughter house can never be a humane option for our equines, this I truly believe, the facilities logically can’t be made to facilitate a humane end and slaughter in the numbers needed for profit……………….Rebecca Rebecca

By Jimmy Hair

June 28, 2006 07:59 PM | Link to this

WOW!!! Mr. Bisher, you have certainly touched a nerve! For what it’s worth, I’m struck by the thoughtful, intelligent, (largely) civil discourse your article elicited. Quite a difference from the normal (largely) sports-idiot dribble. Which is to say that there are obviously alot of unthoughtful, uncivil yahoos spending their time responding to the football/baseball/basketball debate, and they are curiously absent (Thank God) from this debate. Isn’t it great to know that there are indeed intelligent, civil, and thoughtful sports fans out there reading your stuff?

By Freddy

June 28, 2006 08:09 PM | Link to this

Here is one undeniable fact: in the USA, horses are NOT raised for food. Period. They are raised for other purposes and end up at slaughter when their perceived value for those other purposes is less than their price to the kill buyers. (I say “perceived” because it all depends who is watching an auction on a given day — many previously expensive show horses end up at auction (note that horses are stolen and then sent to auction sometimes…) — go to www.ac4h.org to see some of the registered champions of various breeds that were rescued from European dinner plates!) In this country we do not make a practice of cultivating relationships with or intensively training animals we intend to eat. And when we do slaughter cows, pigs, etc. we do NOT indiscriminately send pregnant or injured animals to the abattoir. These animals are raised for food in a structured way, they are bred for it, and their lives are regimented. None of these things is true for American horses.

By Leroy Rogers

June 28, 2006 09:59 PM | Link to this

If the people of the world were as concerned about the welfare of human beings as they are of animals, what a wonderful time to live! I know so many animal lovers, however, when eating out, they choose the finest of steaks! Please explain! If you eat nothing but veggies, I can understand. But…………..

By Doreen Kent

June 29, 2006 01:03 AM | Link to this

Despite the word that Congress would vote on HR-503 by June 30th, most likely this will not be voted on by Congress until they reconvene July 10th.

Please use that time to write to your representative in Congress and to notify others that feel that horse slaughter must be stopped urging them to do the same.

To find your legislator, click on http://horse-protection.org/info.php?id=14#rep

then enter your zip code.

If you love horses and want this barbaric practice of slaughter to stop, please call, e-mail or fax your Congressional representative in Washington TODAY!

I am sick to death of hearing that there is a comparison between livestock slaughter and horse slaughter.

Cattle, chickens, and pigs are raised strictly for FOOD - some for breeding to create more FOOD. Their lives are short, they are herd animals, they’re not pets, companions, or workers. Because livestock slaughterhouses are abundant throughout the USA, these animals do not go through arduous trip that horses have to go through to get to their bolt in the head and throat slit demise. Livestock slaughterhouses are subject to insections far more stringent than the 3 foreign owned slaughterhouses. Plus, any of us who are repulsed by slaughter of any kind have the option of not being meat eaters. We can all eat nuts and fruits and vegetables and then worry about the migrant workers who toil at their task being paid meager wages and living sub-standardly.

1% of the horse population is slaughtered each year simply because it is financially feasible to do so - not because there is truly a need to end the lives of these horses. Many horses are stolen or acquired from owners by nefarious means. Kill-buyers at auctions pay sellers up to $400 each for a horse. That’s the reason why horses are sent to slaughter - MONEY, MONEY, MONEY.

In response to Cathy P. who is under the misguided impression that horse slaughter is humane, I ask that she and anyone else who has the stomach for it to view the slaughter videos at the following web-site. REMEMBER MY WARNING - you must have the stomach for it.
http://www.saplonline.org/slaughtervhumaneeuth.htm

By The Exceller Fund

June 29, 2006 01:03 AM | Link to this

Your information about Rich In Dallas is completly inaccurate. Rich In Dallas was RETIRED from racing and donated to THE EXCELLER FUND. The Exceller Fund was started in 1997 by a group of racing fans to honor Exceller’s memory by providing a second chance to racehorses once they were done on the track or breeding shed.

The Exceller Fund LOANED Rich In Dallas to Old Friends to help the fledgling group with publicity for their initial fundraiser.

Rich In Dallas is enjoying retirement in Virginia and makes public appearances at various horse show events.

You can view Rich In Dallas’ BLOG on The Exceller Fund website at wwww.excellerfund.org

By Drexel Gal

June 29, 2006 03:54 AM | Link to this

The clash of politically-correct animal rights activists.

On the one hand, we have those who are appalled at the “slaughter” of animals for food.

On the other, we have those who will welcome that food for other animals.

Sort of like the Marge Schott dichotomy, when feminists were torn between supporting the only female owner in baseball’s Major Leagues, and her comments about black players.

What IS a liberal to do?