Please Help - not directly Kerry related - Horse Slaughter

[_dynamicdems]

I know there are very important issues at stake right now. There are so many battles and we are all spread pretty thin just trying to keep pace with the daily outrages, but this is another really disgusting example of abuse of power by an governmental institution. In November, both the House and Senate acted to stop the barbaric practice of slaughtering American horses for food by cutting federal funding of the mandated inspections required for horse slaughter. (Senator Kerry was one of the senators who voted pro-equine on this issue.) Now the USDA is siding with the horse slaughter industry by trying to slip past us a petition to allow these foreign-owned slaughter houses to fund their own inspections.

USDA Moves to Thwart Federal Law
Public Comments Needed to Encourage Democratic Process


February 8, 2006

Dear Humanitarian:

With the help of constituents like you, we convinced Congress to pass an amendment to the 2006 Agriculture Appropriations Bill that prohibits your tax dollars from being used to fund the federally mandated inspection of horses slaughtered for human consumption—thereby protecting America’s horses from slaughter. The measure was overwhelmingly approved in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, and it was made official on Nov. 10, 2005 when the President signed the bill into law.

However, the horse slaughter industry refuses to give up—and the ban on horse slaughter is at risk as a result. They have found an ally in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) who is willing to manipulate a very clear federal law to allow the foreign-owned slaughterhouses to continue operating.

The USDA has issued regulations approving a petition submitted surreptitiously by the three foreign-owned horse slaughterhouses in the United States that would enable the horse slaughter industry to fund its own inspections. This crooked plot will allow the slaughter of tens of thousands of horses for human consumption in 2006—circumventing Congressional intent and flying in the face of the will of the American people.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Please send comments via mail, email or the USDA website before March 9, urging the USDA to withdraw the regulations that would allow the horse slaughterhouses to keep operating. It is very important that the agency hears from as many concerned Americans as possible.

Here are some issues you should include in your letter:
The USDA should not be considering any proposal that will allow the slaughterhouses to continue operating. Such an action is a clear violation of Congressional intent and federal law.
President Bush signed into law the 2006 Agriculture Appropriations bill, which Congress amended to prohibit horse slaughter by removing funds required to inspect horses intended for slaughter. This was NOT simply a way to alter how inspections are funded.
Docket Clerk
Docket Number 05-036IF
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Food Safety and Inspection Service
300 12th Street, SW
Room 102 Cotton Annex
Washington, DC 20250
E-mail: [email protected]

Online: Go to http://www.regulations.gov , and in the ‘‘Search for Open Regulations’’ box, select ‘‘Food Safety and Inspection Service’’ from the agency drop-down menu, then click on ‘‘Submit.’’ In the Docket ID column, select the FDMS Docket Number (05-036IF) to submit public comments.
Additionally, please write your Members of Congress to urge their support of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, H.R. 503 and S. 1915, if you have not already done so. A permanent ban on horse slaughter is the only way we can ensure that America’s horses will truly be safe. Enclosed is additional information on the bill.

Please share our “Dear Humanitarian” with family, friends and co-workers, and encourage them to submit comments and write their Members of Congress, too. As always, thank you very much for your help!

Sincerely,
Cathy Liss
Legislative Director

[_dynamicdems]

1. This is very sad. Most people don't know the horrors of the slaughter

of these loyal, domestic animals. If you can't relate to horses, just think of your dog or cat. I've owned horses and they are just as loving and loyal as any other pet. They even let us ride on their backs and pull wagons and plows for their human masters. Most of the horses that end up in slaughter were once someone's beloved pet.




Now check out these images (warning graphic slaughterhouse images). These horses are not killed humanely.

http://www.equineadvocates.com/hs/inside4.html

[_dynamicdems]

2. I'm going to try this one last time. Asking for help from Kerrycrats.

Two of my grandchildren happen to be of the equine persuasion and this is an outrage to me personally, but is should also be an outrage to everyone how the USDA thinks it can circumvent our Congress. We know how Senator Kerry voted on this issue.

:kick: