Wyoming Resident Files Complaint Against State Rep Sue Wallis

http://www.animallawcoalition.com/horse-slaughter/article/1486

CHICAGO - Wyoming resident, Patricia Fazio, Ph.D. has filed a complaint with state officials, requesting an investigation of alleged violations of ethics laws and securities fraud by Wyoming State Rep. Sue Wallis (R-Campbell).

Animal Law Coalition (ALC), Equine Welfare Alliance (EWA) and Habitat for Horses Advisory Council (HfHAC) applaud Dr. Fazio and join in the call for authorities to investigate Wallis' activities.

The complaint alleges Rep. Wallis is improperly and even fraudulently abusing her position as a Wyoming legislator. The complaint further alleges that Rep. Wallis not only neglected to recuse herself or disclose her personal financial interest in votes, but that she has actually "sponsored" bills that would materially benefit her or her family.

Wallis has publicly claimed to be forming a business under the name, Unified Equine LLC, which she says will slaughter horses and sell the meat within Wyoming. At the same time, in her capacity as a legislator, she is promoting legislation that would deregulate, promote and favor horse slaughter operations.

Wallis published a web page enticing people to invest in Unified Equine LLC which turned out to be a non-existent entity for months. Also according to the Complaint, the apparent solicitation for investors may have violated other federal and state securities laws.

The fraud on investors may go deeper: Not only is commercial horse slaughter for human consumption illegal in the U.S., as the complaint states, "there is no market in the U.S. for human consumption of horsemeat, nor is there a market for use of horsemeat in pet food". To be a viable business within Wyoming with its population of 544,270, such a facility "would have to ...sell approximately 10,000,000 pounds of horsemeat per year, or 18 pounds for every man, woman and child in the state".

Wallis has also sponsored the "Food Freedom Act", a bill that would eliminate all regulation of food sold directly to the consumer. The bill was dubbed by one health department official as a "fraud".

The bill could allow Wallis' slaughter business to sell contaminated horse meat directly to Wyoming consumers without any form of government oversight, testing or inspection. American horses are not raised for food and are typically administered drugsincluding carcinogens that, according to the FDA, are prohibited in horsemeat sold as human food.

The deceptively named Food Freedom Act would likely also benefit Wallis' family's business which sells homemade jellies and syrups, among other food goods.

The complaint further calls into question Wallis' use of 501(c)3 charitable designations to solicit funds for her promotion of horse slaughter. Wallis has a number of ever-changing, interrelated organizations and websites that solicit funds for allegedly "charitable" or "educational" purposes. But Wallis' efforts appear to be purely political, focused on passing laws from which she can benefit personally and financially.

It is not clear where donations are actually going, and Dr. Fazio requests an investigation into possible commingling of tax exempt and non-tax exempt funds. Wallis has also openly touted her position as a legislator to solicit funding for pro-horse slaughter interests.

Most recently, Wallis has announced she is holding a pro-horse slaughter "summit" in Las Vegas with a hefty price tag for attendees. She was to announce the winner of a raffle for a new pick-up truck. Then according to the complaint, Wallis announced she may not be able to buy the truck and asked raffle participants if she could just keep the money from ticket sales. According to the complaint, Wallis may be "running an unlicensed lottery, and at worst she has attempted to defraud those who bought the tickets at $100 apiece."

According to the Wyoming Minority Floor Leader Rep. W. Patrick Goggles, the complaint has been referred to the Legislative Service Office for review. Dr. Fazio also requested the Wyoming Attorney General as well as the Secretary of State's ethics disclosure and compliance offices to investigate these allegations.

NATIONAL CALL-IN DAY FOR OUR HORSES - TUESDAY, OCT 19TH, 2010

Dear Friends,

The following organizations have joined together to ask you to call on Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday, October 19th and Ask her to schedule a vote NOW on the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act (H.R. 503), legislation to ban the slaughter of American horses for human consumption. Schedule the vote NOW. Tell her she has the power to end immense suffering by scheduling the vote NOW during the remaining session of Congress THIS YEAR! NOW is the time for her to step up and do this. Tell Speaker Pelosi that this bill has 183 bipartisan cosponsors in the House, 28 in the Senate, and tremendous public support.

After you call Speaker Pelosi,(202) 225-0100 or her San Francisco office, (415) 556-4862, call on Senate Majority LeaderSen. Harry Reid702-388-5020 / Fax: 702-388-5030, and Assistant Majority Leader Sen. Dick Durbin(202) 224-2152 or fax (202) 228-0400to schedule a vote on the senate version, S.B. 727. Don’t wait. Do it now. For the horses.

For more information please go to Animal Law Coalition here: http://www.animallawcoalition.com/horse-slaughter/article/1443

What We Can Learn From Secretariat

http://www.humanesociety.org/news/news/2010/10/secretariat.html
October 7, 2010

What We Can Learn from Secretariat

by Scott Beckstead

The story of legendary horse Secretariat is a classic American tale: Against the odds and defying all skeptics, an underdog became a champion and national hero, inspiring millions. Disney's new movie, Secretariat promises to underscore the special role that horses occupy in the American imagination. It also presents an opportunity to celebrate all that we love about our horses and to think again about our responsibilities to these amazing creatures.

A well-earned retirement

Secretariat spent his life surrounded by a loving owner and millions of adoring fans. His owner rewarded his record-setting performance with a pampered retirement and a long, full life. And while few horses could hope for the luxuries he enjoyed, all horses deserve the opportunity he was given: a chance at a second career. In Secretariat’s case, that meant a long life as a breeding sire.

Other horses, after retiring from the track, have proved they can excel at pleasure riding, competitive show jumping, or competitive dressage.

A second career ... or slaughter?

Sadly, though, too many are never given a chance to prove themselves off the track. As long as horse slaughter remains legal in the United States, the greedy and unscrupulous will make a quick profit off horses.

Race horses, who have been trained to trust people, suffer the ultimate betrayal when they are sold at auction then trucked in terrible conditions to foreign slaughter plants, where they are killed and butchered for consumption abroad. Secretariat’s brother, Straight Flush, was awaiting the slaughter truck when rescued by a benefactor who recognized him as the brother of the red chestnut racing star. One wonders how many thousands of Secretariat’s descendants weren’t rescued from that horrible fate.

From the Derby to the slaughterhouse

Even winning the Kentucky Derby is no guarantee that a horse will be spared the horrors of the slaughter plant: witness Ferdinand, winner of the 1986 Kentucky Derby, who was butchered in a foreign slaughter plant after failing to sire winning foals.

The industry takes steps

Thankfully, the racing industry has taken some important steps to ensure the welfare of race horses. A growing number of tracks and racing associations have adopted a zero-tolerance policy toward horse slaughter, banning any trainer that sells horses for slaughter.


Other industry groups have dedicated resources to finding good homes for retired racers. The California Thoroughbred Breeders Association, for example, has created the California Equine Retirement Foundation, dedicated to making sure that every race horse gets a second chance at another career and a good, loving home.

Working toward a happy ending for all

As we celebrate Secretariat’s victories on the big screen, let’s keep in mind that for most race horses, the story does not end at the finish line or the winner’s circle. For too many, the story ends in heartbreak and tragedy.

It is our hope that with the release of this film, the American people will reflect on the effort our race horses make for us in the name of sport and entertainment—and how we will repay that effort when they step off the track for the last time.



Scott Beckstead is The HSUS’s Senior State Director for Oregon and Equine Protection Specialist

The Perfect Time to End the Slaughter of American Horses

The Perfect Time to End the Slaughter of American Horses
Editorial by John Holland


At the moment, the news is rife with stories about the level of equine neglect in the United States, with many of the articles blaming the "unintended consequences" of closing the US horse slaughter plants and calling for them to be reopened. But in reality, we are coming up on a once in a lifetime opportunity to get rid of this abominable practice once and for all. To understand this apparent paradox, one needs to get past unsubstantiated myths to the real forces at play in the market.
First, one needs to understand that it is completely impossible to blame the current glut of excess horses on the closing of the slaughter plants because the closings simply sent the horses over the Mexican and Canadian borders for slaughter. In 2006, the year before the closings, 142,740 American horses were slaughtered, and that number only dropped by 14% the year the plants were closed. By 2008, slaughter was back to the second highest level in almost ten years.

Next, it is necessary to understand what really causes neglect, and that is unemployment. After years of studying the relationship between neglect rates and slaughter volumes, I had concluded that there was no relationship whatever. Then I looked at the rates of neglect in Illinois in comparison with unemployment in the state. The correlation was striking.

[GRAPH]

Like most such revelations, it should have been expected, but it was still striking. It perfectly explains the mystery of how the number of American horses slaughtered in the US between 1989 and 2002 could have dropped from 377,078 to 77,713 (almost 80%) with no negative impact on either neglect or horse prices.

This correlation also tells us what we can expect as unemployment goes both up and down. At the moment the US is experiencing high unemployment with national rates hovering just under 10%. As predicted from the above graph, this is causing a high rate of neglect.

So why can I say with complete confidence that we are coming up on the perfect opportunity to end slaughter without significantly impacting the horse market?

There is a second factor at work. As the market for horses remains depressed, many breeders are throwing in the proverbial towel. Every day brood mares and stallions are being sold at auction and on internet sites like Craig's List. This is temporarily increasing the supply and further depressing prices.

The result of this further depression in prices is to convince even more breeders to quit producing. Statistics show breeding is down dramatically in virtually all breeds. The Jockey Club, for example, recently predicted the 2011 foal crop will be the lowest since 1973. Similarly, the American Quarter Horse Association's annual reports shows a 15% drop in revenue for new registrations between 2006 and 2009.

This trend will continue until the economy begins to recover significantly, or the market eventually reaches a new balance. Slaughter cannot help reduce the over supply of horses because the horse meat market is also depressed. Although the export of US slaughter horses in 2008 brought the annual slaughter back its level before the plant closures, the subsequent recession caused a 25.8% drop in exports between 2008 and 2009. The reduction in demand for slaughter horses will likely continue as the effects of new EU drug residue regulations begin forcing horses to be quarantined for 6 months prior to slaughter.

But these two trends are about to merge and provide a wonderful opportunity to end slaughter with little or no impact on the market. As the smaller foal crops reach market age, there will be a reduction supply, and when the economy finally begins to recover, it will bring with it more carrying capacity (demand) for horses. With less supply and more homes available, the number of surplus horses will dip to a record low.

Moreover, there will be a move toward quality. In a recent interview, a struggling breeder in Canada complained she had to sell her horses to slaughter because the market was so low, but in the very next sentence she explained "You have to breed 100 horses to get two good ones." Clearly that business model has been a big part of the problem that gotten us to this point, but few "lotto breeders" appear to be surviving the current market.

Only a deep and prolonged recession could have brought us this opportunity and we have certainly been experiencing just that. It would be a tremendous shame if we missed this coming opportunity. Recent auction reports indicate that prices are already beginning to increase.
What is needed is for congress to pass HR 503 / S 727, banning the slaughter and export to slaughter of American horses. This action could be placed in abeyance until a trigger was reached of unemployment dropping significantly (perhaps under 8%). The result would be a smooth transition to a much more humane equine industry.

Horse slaughter is not a "necessary evil", merely an evil. Now is our opportunity to resign this practice to the dust bin of American history.

John Holland is a freelance writer, the author of three books and an industrial consultant in the field of intelligent automation and knowledge engineering. He frequently writes on the subject of horse slaughter from his small farm in the mountains of Virginia, where he lives with his wife, Sheilah, and their 12 equines. Holland is president of the Equine Welfare Alliance and serves as senior analyst for Americans Against Horse Slaughter, an organization composed entirely of volunteers.

Please take this time to set-up a meeting with your Members of Congress
 

 While Congress is home for the August recess, many members of Congress and candidates running for office use this time to host town hall meetings, attend civic events, political rallies, and meet with constituents at their in-district office.

During this time they are out talking to their constituents and this is a great opportunity to remind them how important HR503/S727 "The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act" is to you and to the American people.

A lot is at stake in the November elections. It is important that lawmakers and candidates remember the important role our horses play in our country.  Please ask your Members of Congress to support the passage of HR503 and S727 "The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act".  Any blockage of this legislation will have a devastating effect on our culture as we know it.  EU countries are banning meat tainted by drugs that are commonly given to horses which include, antibiotics, wormers and bute. While horsemeat is not sold in the US, it is exported from Canada and Mexico to the EU and to Japan, where it is considered a delicacy.  Many of the horses that are brutally slaughtered in Mexican and Canadian slaughter houses come from the US.

Help us end the suffering of our American Horses. How can a country that was built on the backs of our horses ignore the people who wish to give them the quality of life they deserve?

Please, Rise Up and make that meeting for the horses!
 

 Thank you for all you do.

Americans Against Horse Slaughter

• Rise Up
• Get Involved
• Join The Movement

Take Action:

1) Request a meeting with your Representative and Senators to discuss "The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act"

2) Most of your Members of Congress will be attending events in your area during this recess. This is a good opportunity to speak face to face in a location convenient for you.

To Find your Members of Congress, please log on here:

Members of Congress

CALLING ON ALL AMERICANS TO STEP UP EFFORTS TO END HORSE SLAUGHTER

Americans Against Horse Slaughter And WFLF/Humanion Films Call On All Americans To Step Up Efforts To End Horse Slaughter

Powerful Policy Makers join Film as speakers and cast in Humanion Film’s “Saving
America’s Horses – A Nation Betrayed”

Congressmen Ed Whitfield of Kentucky, House Representative Dan Burton of Indiana
and Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana have all joined the film, Saving America’s
Horses. Producers Katia Louise and Debra Lopez have recently interviewed these
powerful policy makers for the film about their thoughts and positions regarding pending
bills that would protect America’s equines from slaughter and protect our wild horses.


Check out WFLF Humanion Films’ new “Action to End Horse Slaughter” preview clip which includes exclusive statements by these powerful policy makers. Special appearances in this preview additionally include Tippi Hedren of the Roar Foundation and Neda DeMayo of Return to Freedom. This special pre-release preview clears the air on misinformation that has been circulated by pro slaughter proponents. Learn more about what you can do to help end this barbaric practice without further delay.

How You Can Help

Please Contact The Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick J. Leahy (Vermont) and all the
Senate Judiciary Committee Members (see list below) and ask them to move S727 out of
committee and on to the floor for a vote to pass The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act.

Next, contact the House Judiciary Subcommittee Members and ask them to move HR503
out of committee and onto the floor for a vote. Members:http://judiciary.house.gov/about/subcrime.html

You can also contact your U.S. representative and your two U.S. Senators and urge him
or her to vote YES on the anti horse slaughter bill by calling the Captiol Switchboard at
202-224-3121

Step up your efforts! Watch the all new exclusive “Action to End Horse Slaughter” preview clip from “SAVING AMERICA’S HORSES – A NATION BETRAYED”  HERE!

BP Connected To Mustang Roundups in the West

(courtesy of The Cloud Foundation)
Media Contacts:


Makendra Silverman
Makendra@TheCloudFoundation.org
Tel: 719-351-8187

Anne Novak
Anne@TheCloudFoundation.org
Tel: 415-531-8454


For Immediate Release
BP and Ruby Pipeline Connection Raises Questions About Removal of Calico Wild Horses from Northwestern Nevada

Bloody BLM roundup results in more than 140 deaths of federally protected animals


Colorado Springs, CO (July 10, 2010)—A contract between the $3 billion Ruby Pipeline project managers, El Paso Corp of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and energy giant, British Petroleum, was uncovered this week by ATS News, the investigative journalism arm of number-one "alternative topics" web site, AboveTopSecret.com. The contract reveals how BP stands to reap millions of dollars from the proposed 675-mile pipeline from Wyoming to Oregon. Ruby would destroy areas of pristine wilderness in northwestern Nevada, formerly home to the majestic wild horses of the Calico Mountains. Ruby Project Coordinator Lars Ecklund said during an April 16 meeting, reported on by the Klamath Falls Herald and News: "Don't think we're going to put this pipe in without making a mess . . . It's going to look like Hiroshima. It's going to look nasty.”


The Cloud Foundation first raised the issue of a possible deal between the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Ruby in January, 2010 when a letter and documents (September 14, 2009-p. 30) from Ruby Pipeline, L.L.C to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) revealed a link between the pipeline and the removal of federally protected wild horses in northwestern Nevada. Digging a 4-6 foot deep and 8 foot wide trench for a 42” diameter pipe would gravely impact five wild horse herd areas. In a written response to questions posed by the Office of Energy Projects (an agency within the Department of Energy), Ruby project consultant, Dan Gredvig, stated that “Ruby will work with BLM to minimize wild horse and burro grazing along the restored ROW (right-of-way) for three years. Possible management actions would be to . . . reduce wild horse populations following BLM policy in appropriate management areas. BLM wild horse and burro specialists were consulted in developing this management approach.” The document is dated February 23, 2009.





“Back in January when we met with an official of El Paso Corp who denied any connection between Ruby and the wild horse roundups, we had no idea that BP was going to be a major beneficiary of the project,” stated Ginger Kathrens, Executive Director of The Cloud Foundation.


The connection between BLM and BP extends to the current Department of the Interior (DOI) Deputy Assistant Secretary of Lands and Minerals Management, Sylvia Baca, who was hired away from BP in June of 2009 by DOI Secretary, Ken Salazar. Baca is well-known at DOI where she served as an Assistant Secretary from 1995 to 2001. Her duties included development of national policy and management direction of BLM, Mineral Management service and Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. Baca also served as the Acting Director of the BLM in the late 1990s when allegations were raised that BLM employees had sold wild horses to slaughter and were involved in wild horses from holding facilities going to slaughter. After the publication of hard-hitting articles by AP reporter, Martha Mendoza, an investigation ensued and a federal grand jury was convened. But before the opening gavel was struck, the plug was pulled on the grand jury for unknown reasons. Kathrens had personal conversations with one of the primary investigators in the case and remembers his belief that there was wrong-doing by BLM employees and his disgust at the mysterious closing of the case before one shred of evidence came to light.

In a PEER (Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility) White Paper released in 1997 on this topic, PEER reported that “On February 19, 1997, the BLM issued a press release announcing the results of an internal investigation ‘which contradicts recent press allegations that wild horses are routinely sent to slaughter.’ Despite this self-proclaimed clean bill of health, the BLM simultaneously announced a series of 20 reforms in the Wild Horse and Burro Program and promised more reforms to come.” Even with the promised ‘reforms’, some of the same employees implicated in the investigation continued working for BLM and at least one is still employed by BLM.

Baca left BLM in 2001 to take a senior management position with BP where her duties included emergency response. During her tenure with BP numerous permits were issued which granted environment waivers—including a waiver for offshore drilling given to the Deepwater Horizon that later exploded, killing 11 workers and continuing to spew ceaseless amounts of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

Secretary Salazar hired Sylvia Baca back from BP in June of 2009.

“In light of the revolving door of BLM personnel shuffling between big energy and BLM as well as the possible connection between massive Nevada wild horse removals and the construction of the $3 billion Ruby Pipeline, we believe there is a need for emergency protections for the last of the mustangs on their legal rangeland,” states Kathrens. “Otherwise, generations of Americans will loose their opportunity to be inspired by these magnificent animals roaming our vast western landscapes.”

To date more than 100 wild horses have died as a result of the Calico roundup and processing, and more than 40 mares aborted their late-term foals. Calico has been called the “bloodiest roundup in modern history” by George Knapp, Emmy Award-winning journalist with KLAS TV in Las Vegas. "The public that the Department of Interior and the BLM serve is not the John and Mary U.S. Citizen public, it's the big corporate agriculture and big oil public that gets all the benefits of exploiting our public lands," he said in the ATS report.

The Cloud Foundation is calling for an immediate moratorium on roundups in the West and for Congressional Hearings into the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program which, left unchecked, will remove 6,000 additional wild horses in the next three months at enormous expense to the American taxpayers and the “protected” mustangs.
###

Links of interest:

BP Connected to Wild Horse Roundups?

http://www.8newsnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=12769788


The Mustang Conspiracy: Sex, Drugs, Corruption, and BP – investigative report http://www.abovetopsecret.com/mustangconspiracy/


Deputy Assistant Director Sylvia V. Baca http://www.doi.gov/archive/bio/baca_bio.html

BLM Contacts and the Ruby Pipeline http://bit.ly/cT6e0a

Ruby Pipeline press release http://bit.ly/74789s

‘Herd-Watch: Public Eyes for Public Horses’ http://bit.ly/9Wvh58

Roundup Schedule- updated July 2010 http://bit.ly/2010roundup

Disappointment Valley... A Modern Day Western Trailer- excellent sample of interviews regarding the issues http://bit.ly/awFbwm

American Herds Blog http://americanherds.blogspot.com/

Mestengo. Mustang. Misfit.
America’s Disappearing Wild Horses
http://www.wildhorsepreservation.com/resources/wild.html


Fact Sheet on Wild Herds & The Salazar Plan http://bit.ly/bfdX1y

Wild Horse and Burro Act http://bit.ly/a7hOeS

Link to this press release online http://bit.ly/BPMustangs

Past Cloud Foundation press releases http://bit.ly/TCFpress

Photos, video and interviews available from:
The Cloud Foundation

news@thecloudfoundation.org



The Cloud Foundation is a non-profit dedicated to the preservation and protection of wild horses and burros on our Western public lands with a focus on protecting Cloud's herd in the Pryor Mountains of Montana.

107 S. 7th St. - Colorado Springs, CO 80905 - 719-633-3842 www.thecloudfoundation.org

The Mustang Conspiracy: Part 2 - BP and The Ruby Pipeline

Go here: http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread590146/pg1

Will Consumer Safety Concerns End Slaughter of U.S. Horses?

Courtesy of Laura Allen (Animal Law Coaliton)
http://animals.change.org/blog/view/will_consumer_safety_concerns_end_slaughter_of_us_horses 

The number of American horses that are slaughtered is driven by a demand in some other countries for horsemeat, where it's usually a pricey delicacy. The demand has dropped dramatically over the years from a high in 1989 of 348,400 horses to 134,059 horses slaughtered in 2008. In 2009-2010, demand has dropped even more. In Europe, in particular, demand in the past year has dropped as consumers have learned of the shocking cruelty of horse slaughter in North America.
The demand for American horsemeat may soon plummet and end altogether, especially in the European market. Indeed, the second largest grocer in Belgium and Holland pulled American horsemeat from the shelves.

But there's more good news for our horses and those calling for an end to the slaughter. Beginning July 31, 2010, the European Union will begin enforcing restrictions on the sale of meat from horses that have been given certain drugs and steroids. This means that, where horsemeat is destined for the E.U., Canadian or Mexican slaughterhouses (where U.S. horses are sent for slaughter) must obtain veterinary records of all drugs or medication provided to the horse in the preceding six months. By 2013, all horses to be slaughtered for human consumption in the E.U. must be accompanied by veterinary records from birth that show the horse has never been given banned substances.
This is impossible for American horses.

2010 Not a Good Year for Horse Slaughter Proponents

 (Courtesy of Animal Law Coalition)

CHICAGO, (EWA) - Equine Welfare Alliance and Animal Law Coalition applaud the grass roots efforts in 2010 that have resulted in a series of political defeats for those who want to bring horse slaughter back to the United States.
Of course, commercial horse slaughter for human consumption remains illegal in the U.S. and no state law can change that. Nonetheless, proponents of the cruel practice have tried to use state legislatures to try to convince Americans to bring horse slaughter back to the U.S.
In Missouri, for example, a bill, H.B. 1747, introduced by state Rep. James Viebrock, purported to allow the state to register and license and even provide inspections for horse slaughter facilities. There was even talk of building a horse slaughter plant in a small town in the state.

For Full Article, Click Here: http://www.animallawcoalition.com/horse-slaughter/article/1343

PERFECTLY HEALTHY HORSES ARE GOING TO SLAUGHTER?

Perfectly healthy horses are going to slaughter?

Watch Jane Velez-Mitchell on HLN at 7PM EST/ 4PM PST, Friday, April 30th to learn more.
http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/issues.with.jane/

About Jane Velez-Mitchell

Jane Velez-Mitchell hosts Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell, a topical event-driven show on HLN with a wide range of viewpoints. Jane’s Man vs. Nature shows focus on pets and animal rights and in 2009, she did a segment entitled “Wild Horses Sold to Slaughter?” A veteran television news journalist, Velez-Mitchell reported for the nationally syndicated Warner Brothers/Telepictures show Celebrity Justice and regularly served as guest host for Nancy Grace, another HLN program. While working on Celebrity Justice, Velez-Mitchell's reporting earned the show two Genesis Awards from the Humane Society of the United States. As a commentator on high-profile cases, Velez-Mitchell has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News and other national cable television programs. Velez-Mitchell previously spent more than a decade anchoring and reporting for KCAL-TV in Los Angeles. She also served as a reporter/anchor for eight years at WCBS-TV in New York City. Velez-Mitchell is the recipient of a Los Angeles Emmy Award and a New York Emmy Award. The KCAL-TV newscasts she co-anchored won three Southern California Golden Mike Awards and an Emmy. She also wrote, directed and produced Dancing Through Life, an award-winning documentary.

TENNESSEE WITHDRAWS PRO - HORSE SLAUGHTER BILL

(Courtesy of Animal Law Coalition)
http://www.animallawcoalition.com/horse-slaughter/article/903

Update April 28, 2010: Following a hearing yesterday before the full House Finance, Ways and Means, Tennessee state Rep. Frank Niceley withdrew his pro-horse slaughter bill, H.B. 1428, and it is now dead for this legislative session.


John Holland, founder and president of the Equine Welfare Alliance, and Paula Bacon, former mayor of Kaufman, Texas, site of one of the last horse slaughter plants in the U.S., testified in opposition to the bill.

Famed singer and songwriter, Willie Nelson and his daughter, Amy Nelson, and granddaughter, Raelyn Nelson, were at the hearing in opposition to this bill but did not testify before the committee.

Paula Bacon described that she was mayor of Kaufman "during part of 27 years we spent trying to deal with this horse slaughter plant." She told the committee that a horse slaughter facility was a "burden to taxpayers...a stigma" and almost forced the city to spend "millions to upgrade ..the waste water treatment plant".

Bacon said that building a horse slaughter facility was "very definitely not desirable economic development." She said the facility does not create good jobs, just a handful of low paying, dangerous jobs. She described the burden on the local hospital because of the horse slaughter plant employees were often injured, even losing limbs.
For the entire Article, Go Here: http://www.animallawcoalition.com/horse-slaughter/article/903

Alberta horse slaughterhouse probed by RCMP

Hidden camera video also prompts food inspection agency investigation


Last Updated: Saturday, April 24, 2010
6:58 PM MT Comments75Recommend50By John Gibson, CBC News

An image from video footage shows a top view of a worker at Bouvry Horse Exports shooting a horse. (Canadian Horse Defence Coalition)

A slaughterhouse in Fort Macleod, Alta., owned by a Calgary company is under investigation by the RCMP over allegations that it has been killing horses inhumanely at its facility.

Police opened the file after the Canadian Horse Defence Coalition made a complaint against Bouvry Horse Exports Ltd, which sells horse meat to international markets.

The animal rights group says a secretly recorded video was sent to them showing horses at the Fort Macleod slaughterhouse being shot and then hoisted away by their legs while still fully conscious.

"It's currently under investigation. We're speaking with the SPCA as well," said Sgt. Brent Hawker, with the RCMP detachment in Fort Macleod.

"If there's a criminal offence that's been committed, we'll lay charges."

'I feel that the footage from the Bouvry plant shows levels of suffering that are unacceptable.'

—Dr. Mary Richardson, veterinarianClaude Bouvry, one of the owners of the plant, denied the allegations of inappropriate slaughtering on Thursday.

"We are supervised at all times, and the SPCA can visit at anytime," he told CBC News in an interview.

Bouvry said six CFIA officials and a veterinarian are always present during the slaughtering process at his facility.

According to the group that made the allegations, workers can be seen in the video repeatedly failing to kill horses with one rifle shot, and then leaving the animals in pain for a prolonged period.

"I feel that the footage from the Bouvry plant shows levels of suffering that are unacceptable," said Dr. Mary Richardson, a veterinarian with the coalition.

Another expert associated with the horse protection group said it appeared many horses were still showing voluntary movements and clearly breathing when they were suspended.

"This indicates these horses were likely conscious as they were being hoisted high into the air with one leg bearing their entire weight, and while their necks were cut down to the carotid arteries on both sides," said veterinarian Dr. Debi Zimmermann.

A horse at Viande Richelieu in Massueville, Que. (Canadians for the Ethical Treatment of Food Animals)

The coalition also complained to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), which oversees the operations of slaughterhouses, alleging that the company has violated meat inspection laws.

The agency confirmed Thursday it has been investigating the company's killing practices at its Alberta plant, and another it owns in Massueville, Que., Viande Richelieu.

"The agency is validating and investigating the allegations presented in the video and actions will be taken to ensure vigilance and respect with regards to appropriate duty of care and humane treatment of animals," said CFIA media relations officer Guy Gravelle.

"The CFIA takes allegations of abuse very seriously and investigates all reports of abuse."

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2010/04/22/calgary-horse-bouvry-slaughterhouse-rcmp-cruelty-inhumane.html#ixzz0m53xsqKD

CHDC Receives Proof that Alberta and Quebec fail to meet Humane Slaughter Standards

(courtesy of Canadian HOrse Defence Coalition)

In late February 2010, the Canadian Horse Defence Coalition (CHDC) received hidden camera footage of horse slaughter practices at Viande Richelieu in Quebec and Bouvry Exports in Alberta - the latter known as the largest exporter of horsemeat in North America. The CHDC has compelling proof that puts into question the effectiveness of the assembly-line slaughter of horses. The evidence demonstrates that both the facilities in Alberta and Quebec fail to meet humane slaughter standards used by the CFIA to audit Canadian slaughterhouses.


To view compilations of the footage obtained, please click the link below.
WARNING: Content is very graphic and could be disturbing to some viewers. http://www.defendhorsescanada.org/ChambersofCarnage.html

Dear President Obama, What Would Lincoln Do?

Dear President Obama,


What would Lincoln do?

No matter the politics of Horse Slaughter in America , there’s one thing that both sides cannot deny, our horses are suffering daily.



Mr. President, if you admired President Lincoln, then you surely must have known about his deep compassion for animals.

Illinois politician William Pitt Kellogg recalled: “Next to his political sagacity, his broad humanitarianism was one of his most striking characteristics.

Historian Charles B. Strozier noted that “ Lincoln ’s lifelong sympathy for animals...was hardly the norm for the frontier.” [1]

Abe Lincoln loved children and animals and often preached against cruelty to animals.

Did you know that when the white House stables caught fire in 1863, President Lincoln had to be restrained from entering the burning structure to rescue six trapped horses?

Mr. President, even you wrote about Lincoln ’s self-awareness and his humility in one of your books. Surely, Mr. President, you must have known about his compassion for animals.

If you admired President Lincoln, you must have known that pardoning the Turkey each Thanksgiving is part of Lincoln’s legacy?


Mr. President, even the theme of your Inauguration was taken from a line in Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address:
“A New Birth of Freedom”

Please Mr. President, please end the suffering of our American horses and give them their freedom and the respectable quality of life they deserve.

President Lincoln once said, "I am not bound to win, but I'm bound to be true. I'm not bound to succeed, but I'm bound to live up to what light I have."

Be true Mr. President… What would Lincoln do?

Americans’ Against Horse Slaughter
AmericansAgainstHorseSlaughter.com

[1] http://www.myhero.com/myhero/go/specialevents/hero.asp?hero=LBC_PetsChildren&eid=1

The HSUS Urges Congress to Ban Export of U.S. Horses to Slaughter

Canadian undercover video shows horses conscious as they are shot multiple times

New undercover video footage released Tuesday by the Canadian Horse Defence Coalition confirms the horrible abuses inherent in the slaughter of our horses for human consumption, and illustrates the need for the U.S. Congress to bar the export of tens of thousands of U.S. horses each year to slaughter plants across the border. At the Bouvry Exports plant in Canada, a chestnut horse is shot three times while a gray mare waits in the kill box. As the chestnut horse panics and struggles—as horses are biologically wired to do—the gray mare is shot. She remains alive and kicking even as two more .22-caliber shots are fired at her face. She languishes. The pattern repeats itself.

The CHDC's video footage, titled "Chamber of Carnage," further demonstrates what The Humane Society of the United States has documented for years about horse slaughter: Foreign-owned horse slaughterhouses have set up shop just over the border, and U.S. horses will continue to suffer both during long-distance shipping and then during a gruesome butchering process—all for the culinary whims of foreign gourmands.


To see the "Chamber of Carnage" video, click here. Some horses in the CHDC footage bear tags from the United States Department of Agriculture, indicating animals shown in the video originated in the United States.

"Every day while Congress delays, 'killer buyers' are transporting American horses to Canada and Mexico, and there the animals are meeting an awful demise, often after a painful and harrowing journey," said Wayne Pacelle, The HSUS' president and CEO. "This new investigation affirms again that there is unmistakable cruelty in this industry and it will only end when the Congress passes the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act."


The footage is consistent with similar footage obtained by The HSUS of horses cruelly butchered in foreign-owned plants on U.S. soil as well as that of horse slaughter in Mexico. One theme runs through every investigation – U.S. horses are generally not raised for food and where this trade occurs, there is inherent abuse.

Horse slaughter is not a form of humane euthanasia – something The Canadian Horse Defence Coalition's video clearly shows. Horses are trusting, majestic creatures, and extreme flight animals. They fight or try to flee, and they suffer in these slaughter houses. Approximately 100,000 U.S. horses are purchased by "kill buyers" at auctions across the United States, who frequently outbid good horse owners to secure the fattest, healthiest horses, and are then transported cross-country often with no food, water or rest to slaughter plants in Canada and Mexico, where they are butchered. Despite Canada's regulations and inspection standards for plants that process horses, this investigation shows how ineffective they are at preventing suffering.

Nicholas H. Dodman, D.V.M., one of the world's most noted and celebrated veterinary behaviorists, a founding member of Veterinarians for Equine Welfare, and Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine professor, reviewed the videos for The HSUS and echoed the same sentiment: "Noise, blood and suffering is what you get at the Bouvry equine slaughter plant: Horses kicking after they have been shot, sinking down and rising up; sometimes periods of struggling or paddling before a second or third shot has to be administered. This atrocity goes against all veterinary guidelines for humane euthanasia. Terror and suffering is the rule at this equine house of horrors ... and all in the name of the gourmet meat market."

The HSUS joins CHDC and hundreds of other horse industry and animal welfare groups in calling for the immediate passage of H.R. 503/S. 727 to prevent our horses from the cruelty of horse slaughter for human consumption. This legislation, authored by Reps. John Conyers, D-Mich., and Dan Burton, R-Ind., and Sens. Mary Landrieu, D-La., and John Ensign, R-Nev., has 181 House cosponsors and 29 Senate cosponsors.

-30-

ANOTHER FRONT FOR HORSE SLAUGHTER

(Courtesy of Animal Law Coalition)

Another "Front" for Horse SlaughterPosted Mar 16, 2010 by laura allen

Horse SlaughterPro-slaughter interests have once again used a state legislature to advance their agenda to return horse slaughter to the U.S.


They have pushed through the Wyoming legislature a new law, H.B. 122, introduced by Wy. State Rep. Sue Wallis who is also the self-styled Executive Director of the United Organizations of the Horse, which is said to unite The United Horsemen's Front, The United Horsemen's Alliance, and The United Horsemen's Political & Legal Action Fund. "Front" is probably the most appropo name for this collection of horse slaughter supporters. Front for pro-horse slaughter interests.

For the entire article, click here!

SAY NO TO FEDERAL FUNDING FOR WILD HORSE SALAZOOS!

February 28, 2010


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:

Laura Allen
Animal Law Coalition and Equine Welfare Alliance, general counsel
607.220.8938
lauraallen@animallawcoalition.com

Vicki Tobin
630.961.9292
vicki@equinewelfarealliance.org

Say No to Federal Funding for Wild Horse Salazoos!

CHICAGO, (EWA) - The funding testimony for the planned sanctuaries dubbed by wild horse supporters as "Salazoos" outlined last October by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, will be heard by the Senate Appropriations Committee on Energy and Natural resources on March 3, at 10am.

The outcome of the testimony will decide if our wild horses belong on their western public lands or in "zoos" in the East and Midwest and whether the BLM will commit millions upon millions of future dollars to warehouse wild horses and burros that would otherwise live without cost to the taxpayers in their natural habitat where they have lived for centuries.


The requested funding would increase the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) budget by $42M to purchase one of the seven planned "Salazoos." The Equine Welfare Alliance (EWA) and its over 100 member organizations, Animal Law Coalition, The Cloud Foundation and numerous Mustang advocate and welfare organizations are vehemently opposed to increased funding for the BLM for this incredible financial sinkhole.

America already has a management program in place for our wild equines. It's called the 1971 Free Roaming Wild Horse and Burro Act. It was inspired by a heroic Nevada woman, Velma Johnston, who as "Wild Horse Annie" gave these horses a sanctuary BLM has been trying to destroy ever since it was passed.

A management program for wild horses and burros on public land has yet to be proposed by the BLM or DOI that is compatible with current law. Their answer is to remove wild horses from the land, permit grazing by millions of cattle at below market rates and move our horses to a zoo like setting far from their home. In fact, the BLM was given appropriations to care for the wild horses in holding pens but has appeared to use the funding to round-up more horses. When citizens complained, they were denied access as armed guards prevented them from even viewing horses in captivity.

With no viable management plan in place, it is a disgrace and waste of critical tax payer dollars to increase funding to yet another mismanaged program. The 1971 law calls for wild horses and burros to be managed on their public lands - not in holding pens and not in zoos.

The BLM spent approximately $2M gathering a mere 2,000 animals at its Calico wildlife management area, a cost of $1,000 per horse. Once in holding, the animals will each cost the government approximately $500 per year to warehouse. Worse, the government charges ranchers only about 20 cents of every dollar that program costs taxpayers. "The Salazoo plan is yet another raid on the public funds by special interests", says EWA's John Holland.

BLM has spent more than $2 million in 2009 on a firm that stampedes wild horses with a roaring helicopter. At the Calico Nevada round-up, more than 98 have died as a result, including unborn foals and two babies who lost their hooves after a multi-mile run of terror.

The wild horses and burros represent a mere .05% of animals grazing on public lands. When the 1971 law was passed, wild horses were present on 54 million acres. Since then, over 200,000 horses have been removed along with 22 million acres of public land. Many herds have been zeroed out leaving public land available to return wild horses to their land. Congress should replace the lost acres with good grazing land for the animals BLM wants to place in its Salazoos.

The livestock grazing on public lands alone outnumber the wild horses and burros by over 200 to 1 and are subsidized by taxpayers to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars.

Neither the BLM nor DOI has yet to explain how millions of privately owned livestock are sustainable or how neither agency can find room on the 262 million acres of public land it manages for less than 50,000 wild horses and burros. Neither has explained why the wild horses and burros are being blamed and removed for range degradation when the government GAO studies reflect the livestock are ruining the ranges.

The EWA and ALC call on Congress to deny additional funding and specifically defund wild horse and burro round-ups until the DOI and BLM can provide independent current range population counts, current range assessments and a viable management plan that upholds the 1971 law.

Both Sen. Mary Landrieu and Sen. Barbara Boxer have posed serious questions to the BLM on its management practices. Those questions should be answered immediately with facts, not spin.

Additional details on defunding the BLM for "Salazoos" can be found at Animal Law Coalition, article number 1188.

The Equine Welfare Alliance is a dues free, umbrella organization with over 100 member organizations. The organization focuses its efforts on the welfare of all equines and the preservation of wild equids.

http://www.equinewelfarealliance.org/
http://www.animallawcoalition.com/

BUTE IS BANNED FOR FOOD ANIMALS, OUR HORSES ARE NOT FOOD ANIMALS

 

 

 

 

KEEPING BUTE OUT OF THE FOOD CHAIN

(courtesy Alex Brown and Paulick Report)

Alex Brown is among those in the anti-horse slaughter community who pointed out to the Paulick Report recent changes in Canadian regulations regarding drugs not permitted in horses intended for slaughter in Canada. In this following article, Brown says an extremely high percentage of American-trained Thoroughbreds are prescribed one of the newly prohibited drugs, phenylbutazone, otherwise known as Butazolidin or Bute. What isn’t known is how this new ban will affect the transportation and slaughter of horses from the United States into Canada. – Ray Paulick

---

By Alex Brown
Bute is banned for food animals, our horses are not food animals.

The United States Food and Drug Administration released a document in 2003 establishing that phenylbutazone (Butazolidin, or Bute) is not fit for horses intended for the food chain.  According to the document, Bute is a carcinogen, as determined by the National Toxicology Program.  The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) recently released a document establishing revised guidelines or horses intended to be slaughtered in slaughter houses in Canada.  In that document there is a list of substances that are not permitted for horses intended for the human foodchain, regardless of when the substance is ingested.  No quarantine period for these substances.  They are simply banned.  Bute is on that list.

Data compiled by the Daily Racing Form indicates that in 2009 99% of horses that ran in California pre-raced on Bute (7391 out of 7443).  In a similar study of Suffolk Downs runners, 92% of horses pre-raced on Bute (1062 out of 1158).  As I ask trainers about their use of Bute for pre-racing, trainers tell me they pre-race on Bute regardless of the condition of the horse.  It is not because the horse is unsound, it is because we can and it does not slow the horse down for the race itself.

As horsemen we know that pre-racing on Bute is only one example of when Bute is administered to our racehorses.  Many horses train on Bute as part of their daily regimen. 

Is it not time now to ask our racing leaders to publicly support an end to slaughter, or at least ban racehorses from the food chain.  It is clear that racehorses are not fit for human consumption from a food safety standpoint and knowingly allowing this practice to continue cannot be justified.  
We should perhaps also ask the same question of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). A vet, more than anyone, knows that our racehorses are administered Bute, and they now must undersrtand that Bute is prohibited for food animals.

UNDER THE GUISE OF EUTHANASIA

Slaughter Alert Part Three


Under the Guise of Euthanasia

© Wild for Life Foundation
Part 1 of a 3 part series
Feb 15, 2010
By Katia Louise

Part 3 of 3: Under the Guise of Euthanasia


Pro slaughter lobby pushing to open horse slaughter plants in 23 states across the US

Article Highlights:

In a recent report by Animals’ Angels USA, where investigations of horse slaughter focused on conditions and treatment of horses at slaughter plants, auctions, feedlots and during transport investigations, it was found that “the instant a horse is designated a ‘kill horse’, handling and treatment change radically from that normally given horses.

• Auction employees use wooden sticks, striking horses with full range of motion and force
• auction workers hitting in face and jabbing in eyes
• transport driver whipping horses over the head, hips and legs

A 2008 report by the Canadian Horse Defense Coalition revealed unacceptable practices regarding the stunning and slaughtering of horses inside the plant. The CHDC report states, “They did not necessarily ensure accurate hitting of the horses with the captive bolt”; further that, “systemic neglect, cruel handling, poor slaughter practices, resulting in immense suffering.”

In 2004 the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found the most frequent violation noted by inspectors in slaughter houses was ineffective stunning, meaning "in many cases ..a conscious animal reached slaughter" in violation of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act.

The USDA affirms that, “Humane stunning procedures are required by the Humane Slaughter Act of 1978, and multiple stuns of an animal are considered INHUMANE.”

According to the Act, animals should be stunned into unconsciousness prior to their slaughter to ensure a quick, relatively painless death.

"The captive bolt is not a proper instrument for the slaughter of equids, these animals regain consciousness 30 seconds after being struck, they are fully aware they are being vivisected." -Dr. Lester Friedlander, DVM & former Chief USDA Inspector

As reported by the USDA, ...FSIS observed deficiencies include: overcrowding of animals in holding pens resulting in animals not being able to get to the watering troughs; improper stunning of both normal and downer animals.

The USDA further reports that Employees in three of the five remaining plants used devices such as whips, a length of garden hose, or plastic tubing to drive the animals.

As documented by Animals’ Angels in their 2008 investigation of the Juarez, Mexico Horse Slaughter Plant, horses are killed with a “puntilla knife.(3) “Such a barbaric practice does not render the horse unconscious, it simply paralyzes the animal. The horse is still fully conscious at the start of the slaughter process during which the animal is hung by a hind leg, its throat slit and its body butchered.”(4) – Dr Nicholas Dodman BVMS, MRCVS, and Founding Member Veterinarians for Equine Welfare

Despite countless instances of documented cruelty ...law enforcement agencies continue to look the other way, fines are not enforced and America's dirty little secret goes on and on.

Proponents argue if horse slaughter plants were reopened in the US, that horses would be protected from cruelty by the Humane Slaughter Act which is enforced by the USDA FSIS inspectors; however findings indicate that inspectors have become paper pushers and don’t have access to the slaughter area on a regular basis. “We are the people who are charged by Congress with enforcing HSA, but most of our inspectors have little to no access to those areas of the plants where animals are being handled and slaughtered,” said Arthur Hughes, President of the National Joint Council of Food Inspection Locals.

Many policy makers are being mislead, and or bought out by special interests. Many of those who oppose a ban of horse slaughter have been misled to believe that there are allegedly too many so called “unwanted” and “excess” horses and/or that horse slaughter is purportedly humane.

Proponents are pushing for Americans “to accept and embrace the idea of using horse meat for human consumption”. Legislative action is mounting in 23 states encouraging foreign interests to invest in horse slaughter plants and there are aggressive lobbying efforts to reverse the court actions in Texas and Illinois to re-open horse slaughter plants.

Read Part Three in it's entirety HERE

Read part one of this report to get the facts about the UOH’s newest campaign effort; a nationwide so-called 'Do Not Slaughter' registry.

Read part two of this report to see how the humane argument as supported by the AVMA and the AAEP has been used to influence and mislead certain industry leaders and US policy makers.

Learn more:

Saving America’s Horses - A Nation Betrayed

Horsemeat Derived from Any U.S. Horse Can Never Be Regarded as Safe for Human Consumption

Fact Sheet: Medications and US Horsemeat
(courtesy of Veterinarians for Equine Wefare)
http://www.vetsforequinewelfare.org/

Veterinarians for Equine Welfare (VEW) welcomes the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's new policy regarding equine health and medical treatments, but also remains cautious about its actual implementation and impact.

The policy recently announced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) with assistance from the Veterinary Drug Directorate (VDD) of Health Canada was in response to stricter requirements recently mandated by the European Union. The new policy states that, "it will be mandatory for all CFIA inspected facilities in Canada engaged in the slaughter of equines for edible purposes to have complete records for all animals (domestic and imported) presented for slaughter. These records will include unique identification for each animal, as well as a record of medical treatments administered to the animal for the six-month period preceding slaughter."

It is the united opinion of the VEW that it is beyond the scope of our profession to comment on the culinary practices of any person or country; however, consumer safety of meat produced in our country is very much a responsibility that veterinarians must carefully consider.

Horses, unlike traditional food animals in the United States, are not raised or medicated during their lifetime with the intent of one day becoming human food. Because American horses are not "intended" for the human food chain, throughout their lives they will often have received medications that are banned by the FDA for use at any time during the life of food animals. Click here for list of drugs prohibited for use in horses slaughtered for human consumption.

Approved use of medications in food animals is specifically contingent upon observation of recommended withdrawal times. Withdrawal times have been experimentally determined in traditional food animals; however, withdrawal times for these drugs have not been established in horses. Thus, medications that are FDA approved for use in traditional food animals come with specific withdrawal schedules printed on the packaging, while the same medications, purchased for horses do not include the requisite withdrawal schedule, but simply state "NOT FOR USE IN HORSES INTENDED FOR FOOD".

Unlike the United States, European Union and United Kingdom member countries have a distinct safety policy with regard to horses entering the food chain. All EU/UK horses must carry "equine passports" in which the animal is declared to be either "eligible for slaughter as human food ", or "not eligible for slaughter for human food".

Any EU or UK horse, which has ever received a medication that is banned for use in food producing animals, is forever prohibited from entering the food chain. All food animal approved medications that are prescribed and administered to horses in the EU or UK have strict withdrawal schedules printed on the packaging and all such medications must also be recorded on the equine passport. The EU/UK system is designed specifically to ensure the health and safety of humans that consume horsemeat. In contrast, even with the new CFIA policy American horses treated with medications that are absolutely prohibited by the EU will still be entering the food chain.

It is the strong position of VEW members that absent any formal regulation or structure by the United States with regard to medications and food safety withdrawal schedules for equines entering the food chain, horsemeat derived from any U.S. horse can never be regarded as safe for human consumption.

Furthermore, VEW member veterinarians strongly object to the AVMA and AAEP position in favor of horse slaughter for human consumption. For the AVMA and AAEP to condone the human consumption of meat derived from equines that have not been raised or medicated in a manner consistent with food safety regulations is, in our opinion, unethical, disingenuous, and dangerous.

Click here to view the entire CFIA policy and list of drugs covered. To read VEW's statement regarding our strong opposition to slaughtering horses for human consumption please visit http://www.vetsforequinewelfare.org/.

Horse Slaughter - Research Proves It's a Demand Driven Business

Trends following the closing of the US plants show several unmistakable relationships. First,
horse slaughter is clearly driven by demand and not by the number of available horses or even
the slaughter capacity.   By John Holland

For the Full Report:  Horse Slaughter Trends from 2006 through 2009

IS THIS WHERE AMERICA IS HEADED?

What's It Going To Take To Save America's Horses

What’s it Going to Take to Save America’s Horses?
AAHS and WFLF Call On Congress To Step Up For Our American Horses

In a continuing joint effort, Americans Against Horse Slaughter and WFLF Humanion Films are calling on Congress to expedite passage of HR503, The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act which would end the slaughter of equines, both domestic and wild and halt the export of our horses to Canada and Mexico for slaughter.

During the past Presidential election, then, Senator Obama pledged to support animal rights issues. “I think how we treat our animals reflects how we treat each other and it's very important that we have a president who is mindful of the cruelty that is perpetrated on animals." Senator Obama said.

With strong track records on animal protection issues, both President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden co sponsored past legislation to end horse slaughter.

The BLM’s round of the Calico wild horses has become known as one of the most cruel and unwarranted wild horse roundups our country has ever witnessed. Hundreds of thousands of calls to the President by concerned citizens continue to be ignored.

Concurrently, our young and healthy horses (race horses, show horses, ponies and wild horses) continue to be transported across our borders to Canada and Mexico to be slaughtered for the sole purpose of wealthy dinner plates overseas. The transport is cruel and inhumane as horses are shipped for days in crowded trucks going without food, water or rest.

The passing of federal legislation to end these cruel horse slaughter activities in America is long overdue. With support from the majority of the American people, we have to ask, “What’s it Going to take Mr. President, to Save America’s Horses?”

See the WFLF video clip presenting this question to the President.

AAHS & WFLF ASKS ASKS ALL AMERICANS TO PLEASE TAKE ACTION!

Please take a minute to see if your U.S. Representative is already a cosponsor of H.R. 503 and if your two U.S. Senators are co sponsors of S727. If your Representative and Senators are not yet cosponsors, please make a call and ask them to cosponsor the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act.

To reach your federal legislators, please call the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121, or for your convenience, you can use this toll-free number 800-828-0498 and ask for a legislator by name (or ask for extension, last 5 numbers of legislator's office phone)

WFLF Humanion Films is in production on the feature documentary film entitled “Saving America's Horses - A Nation Betrayed”. The mission of the film is for the protection of all equines from slaughter.


Humanion Films is the film label under Wild for Life Foundation (WFLF), a California nonprofit public benefit corporation organized for the purpose of protecting animals from cruelty and protecting wildlife from extinction.


Americans Against Horse Slaughter is a non funded grassroots movement comprised of constituents from all 50 States. Their only mission is to end horse slaughter and the transport of horses to slaughter through the passing of Federal legislation

RISE UP FOR OUR AMERICANS HORSES!

America's Horse Slaughter Trade Faces a Massive Hurdle

(Courtesy horsetalk.co.nz)

America's horse slaughter trade faces a massive hurdle as Canada takes the first steps in complying with tough new European Union rules, effective from July 31.


From January 31, horse owners selling animals directly or indirectly to slaughter in Canada must complete and sign a form detailing the medications used in the preceding six months.

While there is list of medications that require a withholding period of six months, others such as the common anti-inflammatory drug, phenylbutazone, or bute, cannot be given to horses at all if they are to enter the human food chain.
The new Canadian requirements, especially as it relates to bute, is likely to hit so-called kill buyers hard, who may struggle to obtain the background of each animal to satisfy European Union requirements. (clicke here for the entire article) http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/2010/01/163.shtml

STATE LEGISLATORS CONTINUE TO PASS LEGISLATION AND RESOLUTIONS LINING POCKETS OF FOREIGN INVESTORS

Horse Slaughter Proponents Begin 2010 Disinformation Campaign

(COURTESY ANIMAL LAW COALITION)

South Dakota's legislature has already this session passed a resolution, H.C.R. 1003,  calling for the return of horse slaughter to the U.S.  The resolution,   exhorts Congress to defeat the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act, H.R. 503/S.B. 727.
GO HERE FOR ENTIRE STORY: http://www.animallawcoalition.com/horse-slaughter/article/1162

STOP FEEDING OUR RACEHORSES TO THE WEALTHY OVERSEAS!

Join Me In the Campaign to End Horse Slaughter and the Transport of our Horses across our borders

to be slaughtered for the sole purpose of wealthy dinner plates overseas!

Barney Beagle for Americans Against Horse Slaughter

RISE UP and TAKE ACTION FOR OUR AMERICAN HORSES!

Dear Friends,

Last week we sent you a statement that was issued to Americans Against Horse Slaughter by Chairman John Conyers Jr. stating that the transportation and slaughter of horses for human consumption is cruel and inhumane, and that he intends to continue his efforts to stop this terrible practice.

As you can see from the alert below, Chairman John Conyers Jr. is keeping his promise. Let's continue to support his efforts and Rise Up for our Americans Horses!

Watch for more information from us in the very near future on how you can provide some additional help for the cause.

Please see the alert below courtesy of Animal Law Coalition. 

A hearing has been set on Feb. 2, 2010 before a Congressional subcommittee on H.R. 503, the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act, a bill that would stop the export of American horses to foreign slaughter houses for human consumption and basically end the commercial trade and transport of American horses for slaughter for human consumption.   Go here for more information and how you can take action to help pass this bill:
http://www.animallawcoalition.com/horse-slaughter/article/567

Join Me in the Crusade to End Horse Slaughter!

STOP ILLINOIS STATE REP. SACIA'S EFFORT TO REPEAL THE IL BAN ON HORSE SLAUGHTER

(Courtesy Animal Law Coalition)

Stop IL state Rep. Sacia’s effort to repeal the IL ban on horse slaughter for human consumption! Despite failing in 2008 and 2009 to pass a repeal of the IL ban on horse slaughter for human consumption, Rep. Sacia is trying again. Go here for more information and how you can help stop this latest bill. http://www.animallawcoalition.com/horse-slaughter/article/1138

Katia Louise (WFLF) Appointed West Coast Regional Coordinator For AAHS

New West Coast Regional Coordinator for AAHS


Philadelphia, PA (Americans Against Horse Slaughter) Jan. 13, 2010

American's Against Horse Slaughter Welcomes Katia Louise from WFLF As Our New West Coast Regional Coordinator

AAHS is very pleased to announce the appointment of Katia Louise as our West Coast Regional Coordinator. "With the AAHS membership growing by leaps and bounds, we find it necessary to implement Regional Coordinators." said Shelley Abrams co founder of Americans Against Horse Slaughter. This year promises to be very active in our fight to end horse slaughter and having someone the caliber of Katia Louise in this position will prove to be a great asset.

As highly regarded spokesperson and champion for the health and welfare of both wild and domestic equines, Katia's been working to end horse slaughter since 2004. Ms Louise is a Broadcast Journalist, Talk Show Host, Filmmaker, Actress and a lifelong animal advocate. Earlier this year she produced "Saving America's Horses" an audio documentary for international radio which in part inspired the making of the film currently in production, “Saving America’s Horses – A Nation Betrayed”. As Executive Director of WFLF Humanion Films, she formed a national coalition of the top anti-slaughter equine experts and pro-horse specialists which in 2009 officially teamed up efforts with AAHS to raise even more awareness for this cause.

Americans Against Horse Slaughter is thrilled that Katia has agreed to join us as the West Coast Regional Coordinator. She is looking forward to working with our members.

Americans Against Horse Slaughter is a non funded, grassroots national movement comprised of supporters of a federal ban on the slaughter and the transport to slaughter of American horses for human consumption overseas. Americans Against Horse Slaughter has no other agenda, other than to stop the brutal slaughter of American horses.

Contact: Americans Against Horse Slaughter/www.americansagainsthorseslaughter.comemail: aahsus@gmail.com

MAN'S BEST FRIEND CAMPAIGNS TO END HORSE SLAUGHTER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MAN’S BEST FRIEND CAMPAIGNS TO END HORSE SLAUGHTER

Americans Against Horse Slaughter launches a new public awareness campaign inspired by pet lovers and concerned citizens from across the country.

Philadelphia , PA (Americans Against Horse Slaughter) January 11, 2010 - Americans Against Horse Slaughter was contacted by hundreds of concerned citizens, and other animal advocates after their recent discovery of American horses being slaughtered for the sole purpose of human consumption. The meat is then shipped to foreign countries overseas to be served as a high price delicacy.

"Are our dogs next?" says Lori Colon of Wadsworth IL . "This is unbelievable and a disgrace! I thought horses are considered our pets, our companions! We don't eat horse meat here!" continued Colon.

"I think the recent press about the wild horse roundups has shed light on our country's dirty little secret, horse slaughter", said Shelley Abrams, co founder of AAHS. “The wild horse advocates and organizations that have worked for so many years to protect the wild horses have done a wonderful job of creating mass awareness to the general public through the media and that has inspired the lay person to learn more.” Abrams added.

While the wild horses are in the forefront right now due to the unconscionable round ups taking place around the country which also put them at risk for slaughter, it is important to remember that our thoroughbreds, quarter horses and all breeds of horses are currently being inhumanely slaughtered for human consumption every day.

Americans Against Horse Slaughter is calling on all animal lovers and animal advocates to rise up against this brutal practice of horse slaughter by voicing their concerns to their Congressman and their two U.S. Senators and asking them to co-sponsor The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act; House Bill HR503 and Senate Bill S727.

Chairman John Conyers, Jr. issued a statement today thanking all the members of Americans Against Horse Slaughter (AAHS) for their unwavering support of HR503, The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act.:


“The transportation and slaughter of horses for human consumption is cruel and inhumane, and I intend to continue my efforts to stop this terrible practice. We now have 176 cosponsors to H.R. 503,and support for the bill continues to grow. The support of Americans Against Horse Slaughter (AAHS) is critical to passage, and I appreciate and commend their efforts.”

AAHS would like to thank Congressman Conyers Chairman of the Judiciary committee for his recognition of our efforts and assure him that we will continue to work closely with his office to pass HR503.

Americans Against Horse Slaughter is a non funded, grassroots national movement comprised of supporters of a federal ban on the slaughter and the transport to slaughter of American horses for human consumption overseas. Americans Against Horse Slaughter has no other agenda, other than to stop the brutal slaughter of American horses.

Contact: Americans Against Horse Slaughter (americansagainsthorseslaughter.com)

Email: aahsus@gmail.com

Freedom for "Freedom!"

FROM  THE CLOUD FOUNDATION:

Media Contact:

 

Makendra Silverman

Makendra@TheCloudFoundation.org

Tel: 719-351-8187

 

 

For Immediate Release

 

Icon of Freedom—Wild Black Stallion Escapes BLM Capture

 

Winnemucca, NV (January 6, 2010)—Today the Cloud Foundation honors the Calico wild stallion, named “Freedom” —an inspiration to mustang roundup protestors worldwide. On January 2^nd Freedom escaped Bureau of Land Management (BLM capture) by fighting his way out of the roundup corrals, jumping a six-foot fence, and smashing through a barbed wire fence to run fee again in the wild. A storm of protests is growing following on the heels of Las Vegas, San Francisco, Chicago and Ketchum Idaho last week with more planned in Los Angeles and Lexington today, Denver and Albany, NY on Thursday, Boston on Friday and Las Vegas on Sunday. Protests in New York City, London, Santa Barbara, Toronto and Rome are being planned.

 

Still photos and the corresponding report from Elyse Gardner, humane observer, with ecologist Craig Downer document Freedom’s capture as well as his escape and are available on line. Link here.

 

“This was an awe-inspiring, do-or-die effort demonstrating the wild horse’s loathing of captivity and his primal need for freedom,” said Craig Downer, Nevada Wildlife Ecologist.

 

"This wild stallion's defiance calls us to back him up by telling Congress we refuse to have such actions done in our names,” says Terri Farley, celebrated children’s author of the Phantom Stallion series. "Congress must attach strings to BLM's budget so that the Bureau is forced to cowboy up and admit our remaining mustangs are not responsible for the damage to the range."

 

The Cloud Foundation with 190 other organizations, celebrities and scientists joined by thousands of members of the public from coast-to-coast have called on the President to stop this high-jacking of our American mustangs by a rogue government agency. 

 

“Freedom’s escape has rallied horse advocates across the globe,” says Lise Stampfli Torme, a San Francisco Bay Area Mustang backer adding, “His example is a lesson in values. Just as Freedom has boldly fought for liberty, we will continue to fight the BLM’s outrageous and inhumane roundups as well as their broken range management system that favors ranchers and other commercial interests, placing them above the law and the will of the American people. This must stop. The People's horses must remain wild and free.”

 

Despite their federally protected status on legally designated ranges, and an Act of Congress that states the lands on which they roam should be managed “principally” for their use, the Bureau of Land Management is continuing the roundup in Calico. The agency expects to remove more than 2,500 wild horses from Nevada’s last wild horse stronghold—the Calico Mountains.

 

Wild horse advocates assert that BLM is rushing to roundup 12,000 wild horses and burros based on faulty census figures and what may be a deal made with the builders of a massive natural gas pipeline project—the Ruby Pipeline.  Even BLM personnel have said that the Calico wild horses are not impacting the range as expected, despite their numbers exceeding what they (BLM) term “appropriate management levels.“ Cloud Foundation and other mustang and burro advocates dispute the BLM horse levels citing an internal system that is deeply flawed, arbitrary and indiscriminately applied without benefit of proper environmental review. (Full report and link to testimony online here).

 

“The BLM is spending more than $30 million dollars to quickly eradicate an irreplaceable piece of American living history. I ask myself, what’s the rush? Is it only pressure from ranchers? Does the BLM fear the ROAM Act will pass? Is it to clear the land for the Ruby Pipeline project, or is it something else?” asks Ginger Kathrens, Executive Director, The Cloud Foundation.

 

President Obama continues to stonewall on the issue, with only a “no comment” from his spokesperson following months of requests from the American public for his intervention.

 

###

 

Links of interest:

 

Freedom’s Escape & Roundup Report: http://humanitythrougheducation.com/

 

Video Overview of Calico horses and current roundup

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-0OK3i1YFI&feature=channel

 

Video Footage of Calico Roundup

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl0keG49kQU

 

12.28.09 USA Today: “Activists Decry Wild-Horse Roundups” 

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2009-12-28-horses_N.htm

 

Mestengo. Mustang. Misfit. 
America’s Disappearing Wild Horses

http://www.wildhorsepreservation.com/resources/wild.html

 

Frequently Asked Questions on Wild Horses 

(http://www.wildmustangcoalition.org/id44.html)

 

Ruby Pipeline Information

(http://americanherds.blogspot.com/2009/11/crunching-calico.html)

 

Stampede to Oblivion: An Investigate Report from Las Vegas Now  (http://www.lasvegasnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=11285225)          

Craig Downer, wildlife ecologist: interview Nevada roundup (http://vimeo.com/7135462)

Crunching Calico- An American Herds Report

(http://americanherds.blogspot.com/2009/11/crunching-calico.html)

 

Updated 2009-2010 Roundup Schedule

http://thecloudfoundation.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/roundupschedule2010_3pp.pdf

 

Unified Moratorium letter and signatories

(http://www.thecloudfoundation.org/index.php/news-events-a-media/action-alerts/207-moratorium-letter-to-president-obama-and-secretary-salazar)

 

Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971

(http://www.thecloudfoundation.org/index.php/news-events-a-media/news/resources/216-whbact)

 

Photos, video and interviews available from:

The Cloud Foundation

news@thecloudfoundation.org

www.thecloudfoundation.org