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.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Thursday, March 29, 2007
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.
##30##
For More Information Contact:
Chris Heyde (703) 836-4300
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.
##30##
For More Information Contact:
Chris Heyde (703) 836-4300
Friday, February 2, 2007
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.
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.
Sunday, January 7, 2007
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/
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
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
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
Thursday, January 4, 2007
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
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
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