Animal Fairy Charities

The Animal Fairy National Fundraising Campaign
$5.00 from every purchase will be donated to Dreamchaser PMU Rescue, Horse Rescue of North Scottsdale, Arizona Equine Rescue or Tierra Madre Horse Sanctuary

The ANIMAL FAIRY has finally arrived!!! For those of you not familiar, the ANIMAL FAIRY is the guardian of all animals. He helps the sick, abused and neglected and he's there to accompany them on their final journey across the Rainbow Bridge . But he needs some helpers.

Please take a moment to read the LEGEND behind the ANIMAL FAIRY and see why you may have been chosen to help him on his mission.

Please help us spread the word! $5.00 from every purchase from my blog will go to Dreamchaser PMU Rescue, Horse Rescue of North Scottsdale, Arizona Equine Rescue or Tierra Madre Horse Sanctuary. Click the link to animalfairycharities.org to order and please mention Campaigning For Barbaro AZ blogspot. Holiday Ornament $19.95 Desk Piece Ornament $24.95.

U.S. House of Representatives Votes to Stop Horse Slaughter, Again

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
U.S. House of Representatives Votes to Stop
Horse Slaughter, Again

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Aug. 2, 2007) – Once again, Congress has voiced its opposition to horse slaughter. The U.S. House of Representatives today approved an amendment to the 2008 Agriculture Appropriations bill that will temporarily bring horse slaughter to a halt by stripping funds from the federally required inspection of slaughter-bound horses. Without the inspections, the slaughter cannot proceed.

Introduced by U.S. Representatives John Spratt (D-SC), Ed Whitfield (R-KY), Nick Rahall (D-WV) and Ben Chandler (D-KY), the amendment ensures that horse slaughter stops while Congress considers the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (AHSPA), a permanent ban on this abhorrent trade. The measure must now go to the U.S. Senate for consideration.

The amendment is almost identical to one that passed overwhelmingly in the U.S. Congress two years ago, with the addition of language to prevent the U.S. Department of Agriculture from circumventing the will of Congress – as it did in 2005 when the slaughter continued.

More than 100,000 horses were brutally slaughtered in the United States last year at three foreign-owned slaughterhouses for human consumption in Europe and Asia. Tens of thousands more were exported for slaughter in Canada and Mexico. Currently, Cavel International (DeKalb, IL) is the last remaining horse slaughter plant in operation in the country. The only other plants, both in Texas, were effectively closed down earlier this year under state law.

A hearing on Aug. 16 in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit will determine whether Cavel International will remain open or be forced to shut its doors, following last April’s passage of a similar law that was signed by Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.

“Once again, when the entire House has the chance to vote on ending slaughter, support for a ban is overwhelming. Sadly, a few politicians and misguided business associations continue to thwart the Democratic process by stalling enactment of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act,” said Chris Heyde, deputy legislative director of the Animal Welfare Institute. “I implore these individuals to stand with the majority of Americans who support a ban on horse slaughter and allow this measure to move forward.”

The American public, over 500 animal protective organizations, horse industry organizations and veterinarians all support the effort to end the slaughter of America’s horses. Congress must now pass the AHSPA (H.R. 503/S.311) to end the slaughter of American horses nationwide and ensure that they are not exported elsewhere to be killed for those who wish to eat them.

The Animal Welfare Institute applauds the continued leadership of the sponsors of legislation to end horse slaughter. The organization also commends Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) for supporting efforts to protect America’s horses from this cruel industry and those who want to exploit their suffering.

The Animal Welfare Institute, founded in 1951, is a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by humans. Our legislative division is leading the national campaign to end horse slaughter and advocating passage of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. For more information, please visit www.awionline.org and www.saplonline.org.

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CONTACT:
Chris Heyde, (703) 836-4300

http://www.awionline.org/legislation/news/2007/house_ag_08.htm

Section 123 of Farm Bill No Longer an Issue

Humane Society Applauds House Agriculture Committee for Removing “Great Federal Power Grab” from Farm Bill, and Eliminating Earmark for Veal


July 7, 2007


WASHINGTON (July 7, 2007)—Late last night, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture released its latest mark-up of the 2007 Farm Bill, and The Humane Society of the United States thanked the committee for removing a little-known but far-reaching provision that had threatened to nullify dozens of animal welfare and food safety laws enacted through democratic decision-making at the state and local level, as well as removing a $12 million subsidy for the veal industry.

Section 123 of Title I of the Farm Bill – included in an earlier draft by the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry but removed from the version released last night – had specified that "no State or locality shall make any law prohibiting the use in commerce of an article that the Secretary of Agriculture has (1) inspected and passed; or (2) determined to be of non-regulated status."

The HSUS had advocated for the removal of this provision, and was joined by a wide array of consumer groups and environmental and farming organizations, including the National Association of Counties, National Conference of State Legislatures, Consumers Union, Environmental Defense, Rice Growers of California, and American Corn Growers Association.

"We are grateful to Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson and Livestock Subcommittee Chairman Leonard Boswell for removing Section 123 from the Farm Bill," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS. "This provision was an overreach and we are glad the committee pulled the provision. We look forward to working with the committee on other provisions to construct a Farm Bill that includes animal welfare provisions supported by the American people."

If passed, Section 123 could have stricken numerous state and local laws—ranging from prohibitions against horse slaughter to bans on the cruel treatment of farm animals. Because the wording of the section would have prohibited state laws on any article that the Secretary of Agriculture has "inspected and passed," The HSUS feared it was so broad that it could have been used to threaten animal welfare laws that do not even relate to food production, such as restricting abusive puppy mills and the ownership of dangerous exotic pets.

In addition to Section 123, another provision removed from the new version of the Farm Bill was a $12 million subsidy for the U.S. veal industry. This earmark had been previously offered as an amendment by Rep. Steve Kagen (D-Wisc.) and approved by a subcommittee vote of 8 to 6. Veal consumption has been on the decline primarily because Americans view the practice of keeping young calves in small crates as inhumane, and last year Arizona became the first state to ban veal crates. The HSUS had advocated for the removal of this earmark and expressed its thanks to the committee for declining to reimburse this industry for previous losses.

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization—backed by 10 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty—on the web at humanesociety.org.


____________________________________________________


Email or Fax info:

To email your Representative, please go to the
following site and enter your Zip Code.

http://www.house.gov/writerep/

http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

If you get done with the calls, as there are only two a day, please follow with email and/or FAX.

When emailing, please include the following links.

http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2007/05/24/news/news01.txt

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-070524horsesmay24,1,4604685.story

They mention our rescue attempt at Cavel.

Also include ANY or all of the links at:

http://wwwcampaigningforbarbaroaz.blogspot.com/

Here are some, but not all of them:

http://www.saplonline.org/horses.htm

http://www.hsus.org/

http://www.saplonline.org/slaughtervhumaneeuth.htm

http://www.hsus.org/video_clips/stable_to_slaughter.html

The Veterinarians for equine welfare is a good argument for the AVMA being pro-slaughter. Many vets have broken away from the AVMA because of that and have formed the "VEW:"

http://www.vetsforequinewelfare.org/index.php

Here is a video (not graphic) about Cavel from Debra WI:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM4IGqAoOEI

ALSO, Please email this link to John Holland's study in Horsetalk:

http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/features/horseslaughter-123.shtml


Here is a tribute to the rescue efforts of the FOB ! ! !

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2007/jun/01/donations-are-pouring-in-to-help-rescued-horses/


Please remember to use the National Strategy points located here:

http://www.timwoolleyracing.com/wiki/index.php/Horse_slaughter#Current_Strategy


THANKS !

Illinois governor OKs banning slaughter of horses for food

The Associated Press


SPRINGFIELD, Ill. --Horse lovers got a gift Thursday from Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich: a law making it illegal to slaughter horses for human consumption.

Blagojevich said he was proud to sign the law, calling it "past time to stop slaughtering horses in Illinois."

A slaughterhouse in DeKalb has been shipping horse meat overseas, where it is sold for people to eat. The practice has outraged people who feel horses are more like pets than livestock.

Animal rights advocates say the Cavel International plant is the only remaining facility in the United States that slaughters horses for human consumption.

A phone call to Cavel's plant went unanswered Thursday evening.

Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United States, called on the federal government to ban the practice nationwide and to ban exporting horses for slaughter.

"Thousands of horses face grueling trips to slaughter facilities in Canada and Mexico unless Congress acts now to protect them," Pacelle said in a statement.

He said federal statistics show that 100,800 horses were slaughtered in the United States in 2006. Another 30,000 were sent to Mexico or Canada for slaughter.

Illinois lawmakers passed the ban after an appeal from actress Bo Derek. In a statement today, she applauded the end of the "cruel, bloody trade in horsemeat."

Opponents of the new law say there's no reason to treat horses differently from cattle or other farm animals. They say the horses are killed humanely and the slaughterhouse creates jobs.

--

The bill is HB1711.

We Win in the Senate Committee!

S 311, the Senate Bill to BAN horse slaughter was marked up today in the Senate Committee on Science, Commerce and Transportation by a vote of 15 to 7. For individual votes, go to the Tim Woolley Forum:

http://forums.prospero.com/timwoolley/messages?msg=8055.230

This is a HUGE victory! Thanks to all of you who have called, faxed, and emailed! We will keep you posted as to further strategy.

SLAUGHTER IS OVER!

For Immediate Release

COURT DECLARES HORSE SLAUGHTER TO BE ILLEGAL

Washington, D.C. (March 28, 2007) - In a 51-page opinion issued just hours ago, United States District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly held that the slaughter of horses in America violates federal law. In her opinion, issued in response to a lawsuit filed in February 2006 by the Society for Animal Protective Legislation (SAPL) and other humane organizations and individuals, Judge Kollar-Kotelly ruled that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) violated the National Environmental Policy Act by failing to conduct an environmental impact review of its decision to allow the continuation of horse slaughter.

“Tonight, after years of legislation and litigation, America’s three horse slaughterhouses can no longer kill horses for human consumption,” states Chris Heyde, deputy legislative director for the Society for Animal Protective Legislation. “We call on Illinois-based Cavel International to work with the humane and rescue communities to find permanent safe homes for the hundreds of horses who were slated for slaughter, to give them a second chance at life.”

The rule that was vacated by the court, was promulgated by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service to create a fee-for-service inspection process for horses slaughtered for human consumption. The rule circumvented a Congressionally approved amendment to the FY 2006 Agricultural Appropriations Act that cut federal funding for the required inspections. Because of continuing resolutions approved by Congress to fund the government, today's ruling is effective immediately.

There are three horse slaughterhouses in America, one in Illinois and two in Texas. Though the Texas plants were recently forced to stop slaughtering horses for human consumption when an appellate court upheld a Texas law making it illegal to sell, possess and transport horsemeat for sale for human consumption, the Illinois plant has been killing approximately 1,000 horses per week.

“The American public has overwhelmingly opposed the slaughter of America’s horses for human consumption and now the courts have declared horse slaughter to be illegal,” adds Heyde. “While horses will no longer be butchered in the U.S. they can be hauled under appalling conditions to a similarly brutal death in plants across the U.S. border. Congress must pass federal legislation to extend the protections to all horses and to send a clear message to those few who profit from this barbaric trade."

Currently pending in Congress are H.R. 503 and its Senate companion measure, S. 311, which would ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption and prohibit the transport of horses outside of the United States for slaughter.

The Society for Animal Protective Legislation, the Animal Welfare Institute's legislative arm, is the unsurpassed leader in obtaining laws to benefit animals in need, including the protection of domestic and wild horses. More information is available at www.saplonline.org/horses.htm.

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For More Information Contact:
Chris Heyde (703) 836-4300

Sheriff Joe Arpaio's Letter

To the members of the 110th Congress of the United States of America:

As Sheriff of the third largest Sheriff’s Office in our nation and as law enforcement professional that puts animal cruelty and abuse cases as a top priority, I call on you today to end the slaughter of America’s horses for human consumption and other purposes.

I ask you to consider how horses helped build America. Not only did they transport our forefathers from the east coast to the west coast, they have been and remain an invaluable tool to the nation’s law enforcement agencies. Horses provide entertainment in the arenas and race tracks; they are therapy animals for the mentally challenged as well as for many of our soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan; and perhaps most importantly, horses are the faithful and beloved companions of millions of our constituents.

And yet, I have been shocked and saddened to learn that thousands of American horses now end up on the dinner plates of wealthy European and Asian consumers as an expensive, exotic gastronomic delight.

How shameful it is that we as Americans, who would never dream of eating horse meat, would yet allow the export of it as a food source to other countries for the sole purpose of greed.

Adding insult to injury, it isn’t even American companies profiting from this shameful business but rather three foreign companies which are making millions of dollars of profit conducting these slaughter houses here in our country. At the hands of these operators, the very animal which did more to build this great nation than any other, meets a cruel, painful, long and demeaning death.

Isn’t it our responsibility as humans to take care of the creatures which share this earth with us? Or at the very least, can we not honor the American horse with a humane, painless and dignified death?

You members of Congress write and enact the laws of the land. You help set the standards by which we are measured as a nation. Remember - a nation will be judged by how it treats its animals. For that reason, I urge you to enact a law that will honor the American horse and ban the slaughter of equine which have served this great nation since its beginning.

As Sheriff of Maricopa County for 14 years, I have a good read on the public and how it feels about issues such as animal cruelty. If the American people were to become acutely aware of these horse slaughter houses –their purpose for being and their methods of killing–your constituents would rightly be as outraged as I am.

You represent the American people. Do what is right for them and for their much-loved horses. Ban the practice of slaughter.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio
Maricopa County
Phoenix, AZ.

Senators and Representatives for Arizona

Top five House leaders (Pelosi, Hoyer, Clyburn, Boehner and Blunt)
Top four Senate leaders (Reid, Durbin, McConnell and Lott)

Bill to BAN Horse Slaughter S311


Sen. John McCain CO-SPONSOR !
(R- AZ) 202-224-2235 202-228-2862
CO-SPONSOR !
602 952-2410
http://www.house.gov/htbin/wrep_findrep?HIP371375906.9740.620


Sen. Jon Kyl (R- AZ) 202-224-4521 202-224-2207
602 840-1891
Tucson (520) 575-8633
http://kyl.senate.gov/contact.cfm



Bill to BAN Horse Slaughter HR 503

Rep. Rick Renzi (R - 01) 202-225-2315 202-226-9739
928-587-3417
VOTED YES: ASK TO COSPONSOR

Rep. Trent Franks (R - 02) 202-225-4576 202-225-6328
623 776-7911
VOTED NO

Rep. John B. Shadegg (R - 03) 202-225-3361 202-225-3462
602 263-5300
VOTED NO

Rep. Ed Pastor (D - 04) 202-225-4065 202-225-1655
602 256-0551
VOTED NO

Rep. Harry E. Mitchell (D - 05) 202-225-2190 202-225-3263
480-755-3343
WAS A CSOPONSOR AND VOTED YES

Rep. Jeff Flake (R - 06) 202-225-2635 202-226-4386
480 833-0092
VOTED NO

Rep. Raul Grijalva CO-SPONSOR !
(D - 07) 202-225-2435 202-225-1541
(928)343-7933
CO-SPONSOR !

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D - 08) 202-225-2542 202-225-0378
(520) 512-0012
NEW: ASK TO COSPONSOR

To email your Representative, please go to the following site and enter your Zip Code.

http://www.house.gov/writerep/

Ideas

Let's use this thread just to brain storm!

Joyce Moore posted on TWR that we should boycott organizations which are pro slaughter. For example, the Appaloosa Club and the AQHA are both pro slaughter. I have paints, so I will be checking out their position on slaughter and will not renew my registration if they are on the wrong side!

Barb

AZ FOB's Meet

Barb, Sherry, Daryl and Rosemary met for the second time at a fifties diner and discussed strategies for our anti slaughter campaign.

Daryl is working on a myth-buster booklet we can use when talking to officials, or even our neighbors down the street. It is a point-counter point presentation. If somebody says, “What about the 90,000 horses,” Daryl has an answer! If they counter with, “Well the AVMA says it’s humane,” Daryl has an answer! He is working hard on it and we appreciate his efforts.

Rosemary brought along the letter Sharon wrote for the Tucson Citizen. It is a wonderful letter, well written and very poignant.

But, wait a minute; Daryl is on the phone with Senator Ensign’s aide Mike, using Sherry’s minutes! Here’s what Mike said:


“Our voices have been heard! All the calls we made DID MAKE A DIFFERENCE! He says we need to START CALLING NOW. Don’t wait for a new bill to be introduced. Call your state representatives in the House and the U.S. Senate N O W. Don’t stop and don’t wait!

We continued our meeting with other plans in the making. Earlier in the day we met with a board member from the Arizona State Horseman’s Association (ASHA), a voice they listen to here in Arizona. So now, we will be attending a meeting with ASHA to get them to back us on the issue.

Daryl will be putting together golf tournaments to help out the Last Chance Horse Rescue. Rosemary and Barb also discussed helping out some local rescues.

Sherry is in the process of setting up a meeting with our now famous Maricopa County Sheriff Arpaio. He is an animal lover and goes after animal abusers. He is AWESOME!

We will all be contacting law enforcement agencies that use horses in their mounted patrols, to find out what they do with their retired mounts.

It was a very productive meeting to stop the insanity of horse slaughter.

NOW, get out there and CALL YOUR STATE REPS! ! !

Barb, Sherry, Daryl and Rosemary

AZ FOB's Meeting

We will be meeting at Indian Bend and the 101 on Friday, January 5th at 1 o'clock at the Fifties Diner. Come if you can make. If not, we will post a report here sometime after the meeting. (How's THAT for leaving it wide open! The report could be next year some time!)

We will be discussing: an informational pamphlet that Daryl put together, a meeting with Sheriff Arpaio, and how we can best network with other organizations.

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

Barb AZ

Horse Show at West World

If you're on the east side (Sherry, Pat, Melissa) or nearby (Daryl, Rosemary, Natalie), my daughter will be showing on Saturday, January 6th at the Arizona National Livestock Show at West World. It is a very nice National show, if you'd like to stop in. We're pre-registered, so show should start around 8 A.M. It's an early day and a long one, but it's lots of fun.

Heidi will be showing our rescue horse, Freckles, a 26 year young quarter horse. We would normally show our baby in the halter classes, but she cut her leg open last Friday. I doubt we will take her.

Hope to see you there.

Barb

Welcome Arizona!