Anti-Slaughter News

[gwenrowdy]

This is an e-mail update I got from the HSUS today. The headline was "Horses Betrayed By the USDA: Agency Plans to Continue Slaughter".



Dear Judy,

I am writing because U.S. Department of Agriculture might put all of your hard work to save horses from slaughter at risk, and we desperately need your help.

We had a remarkable year for horses during 2005. With help from dedicated advocates like you, we:

Convinced the U.S. House of Representatives to pass an amendment by a landslide vote of 269-158 to prevent the use of tax dollars to promote horse slaughter.
Then we secured a big 69-28 vote in the Senate in favor of an identical amendment.
Finally, when it appeared that the conference committee might remove the horse slaughter language entirely, we worked together again to ensure that the ban stayed in the final bill (with an added 120-day delay for implementation).
We all celebrated these tremendous victories as the year closed, anticipating that on March 10, 2006, horse slaughter in America would stop for the remainder of the year, paving the way for more progress and a permanent ban.

But now, the horse slaughter ban is in danger again and we need your help to save it!

Never did we imagine that the USDA, an administrative agency charged with carrying out Congress' will, might betray Congress and the Americans they represent. But it appears that the agency might try to side-step this new law by finding a way to continue inspections of horses for slaughter, and thereby continue its involvement with the cruel and un-American horse slaughter industry. The USDA is seriously considering a petition submitted by the foreign-owned slaughter plants that would create a whole new manner of paying for horse slaughter, an effort that directly undermines Congress' mandate.

Tell the USDA to respect the will of Congress and enforce the slaughter ban.

Americans don't eat horsemeat -- there simply is no domestic demand for it. But last year, more than 90,000 American horses were either killed in one of three foreign-owned slaughterhouses in the United States or shipped to Canada or Mexico for slaughter. Our thoroughbreds, show horses, mustangs, carriage horses, and family ponies are shipped in inhumane conditions and butchered.

This new development means that the thousands of horses who were to be spared are again at grave risk. We cannot let this happen. Take action today to help stop USDA from engaging in this inhumane slaughter for export.

1. Take action. Contact USDA Secretary Johanns and urge him to shut down this illegal and undemocratic usurpation of Congress' authority. Click here to contact USDA now.

2. Spread the word. The USDA needs to hear from as many Americans as possible. Ask your friends and family to contact them as well. Click here to tell five friends to take action now.

Knowing that thousands of our loyal and trusted companions have already been slaughtered is simply devastating. Please, stand with us and do everything you can to spare the lives of our horses. Together, we will stop this horrible practice.

Sincerely,

Wayne Pacelle
President & CEO
The Humane Society of the United States

P.S. If you are having trouble with the links in this message, you can take action by cutting and pasting this URL into a new web browser window:
community.hsus.org/campaign/FED_2006_horseslaughter_usda

Copyright ©2006 The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) | All Rights Reserved.
The Humane Society of the United States | 2100 L Street, NW | Washington, DC 20037
[e-mail] | 202-452-1100 | www.hsus.org

[schwung]

This is not good news. I'd like to understand better what this new petition to create a "whole new manner of paying for horse slaughter" says. I don't really understand it, unless they are considering allowing the slaughterhouses to pay for their own inspectors (something the bill was quite clear on, correct?

[safehorses]

Last time I asked about this on the against slaughter board and at Habitat for Horses, the feeling was that the anti slaughter people were sending a message to the USDA to not even try to allow private inspectors or else they'd raise a big stink publicly...I'll check out those two sites today to see what they think of this HSUS email. To be honest, I don't think the long time anti slaughter people like the HSUS much.

[safehorses]

Uh oh...I guess this is a real threat. I just sent in my letter to the USDA.

[fototropic]

I got the same letter from the HSUS and just sent my letter to the USDA. I guess they don't really think much about the democratic process do they? "And, its one, two, three what are we fighting for?"
Pam

[schwung]

Cross-positing from another bulletin board:
www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jan-07-Sat-2006/news/5248634.html

This article gives a little more insight into how the slaughter houses are trying to get around the law:

"Plant managers have asked the Agriculture Department to grant them an emergency rule expanding a "fee-for-service" program under the Agriculture Marketing Act. Plants now use the program for meat inspections of exotic game like deer, elk, reindeer, antelope, water buffalo, bison and rabbits, petitioners said.

The Agriculture Department's top lawyer indicated USDA was open to the idea, stating in a Dec. 7 letter to lawmakers that their new law "does not prevent horse slaughter," only taxpayer funding of inspectors.

"It merely prohibits expenditure of funds to pay the salaries and expense of personnel to inspect horses," said the attorney, James Michael Kelly, USDA acting general counsel.

"USDA is authorized to provide fee-for-service inspection of horses presented for slaughter if such inspection service is requested," Kelly added."

[rainydayride]

Ok guys.. it's Monday so the DC offices are open again. Let's get those calls and letters going.

Incidentally, the fax number for Johanns' office is

Fax [phone]

[rainydayride]

Here's the text of the letter I faxed this am...

Secretary Mike Johanns
USDA
Washington, DC

Dear Secretary Johanns,

Last fall, both the Senate and the House of Representatives, responding to the wishes of their constituents, overwhelmingly passed the Ensign Amendment to the Agricultural Appropriations bill, banning the use of US tax dollars to inspect horses and horsemeat being sent out of the US for human consumption. This amendment passed due to the work of thousands of concerned citizens, working through their elected representatives to end the slaughter of US horses, whether in one of the three remaining slaughter houses in the US or after export to facilities in Canada, Mexico and Japan.

It is very disturbing to learn that USDA is considering circumventing the wishes of US citizens, by responding to petitions from the foreign owners of the Illinois and Texas slaughterhouses asking to declare horses to be exotic animals, thus allowing for direct payment of inspectors. To do this would be to toss aside the intent of US voters for the sake of foreign profits, with thousands of horses paying the ultimate price this year with their painful, terrified deaths.

The USDA is part of the Executive Branch of the US Government, charged with implementing the acts of Congress, which reflect the will of the people. This citizen and voter asks you not to betray that duty. Implement the cessation of any inspection of horses for slaughter by March 10, 2006.

[gypsygirl]

You know it seems as it stands right now only the people who care about the horses are involved in the important voting and correspondence. It seems to me that if these slaughterhouse owners are foreign and are trying to slip through our country's loopholes here and there, well maybe we could use that to our advantage and address the public (people who don't really care whats in the Ag bill or the wording or anything for that matter) with the conflict of them being foreigners and trying to take advantage of our country and our wishes as Americans. This is what the American people want and this is our country. If you want horse slaughter do it in your country and don't try to take advantage of our cournty. I think the good ole boys in the USA would hop on that and get involved. There are so many Americans that don't care about many things, but they are the ones that stand up and count when their country and heritage is being abused. It just might be the extra votes and voices needed to run some stars and stripes up these foreigners back sides!!! I wonder if any of the campaigners for these polatitians have thought about that and how many extra votes they could get in the middle of a conflict like this from the non voters. I wonder?

[safehorses]

Hey, I just called the number you listed above Bryn and they directed me to a new number and asked me to pass it along to others who will call. That new number is 202-690-3774.

The gentleman on the phone was very polite and just listened to what I had to say. I told him that if the Secretary allowed these slaughterhouses to remain open, he would not only be circumventing the clear intent of both Houses of Congress, but he would also be sending a clear message to the thousands of people who got involved in getting these amendments passed that the will of the people is secondary to the welfare of three small, foreign owned slaughterhouses. I asked him to tell the Secretary to think very hard before sending that message to the American people.

It was super simple and if any of you reading this haven't called, please do it. The guy taking my comments said that they were getting a lot of calls about this issue and we need to keep it up and keep sending the message until the Secretary hears us.

And like Bryn, I left my name, but you don't have to and they don't ask for it.

[cardicorgi]

Nice concise statement, Safe.

I emailed the Secretary of Ag., his underling Chuck Conner, and their congressional liaison Branden Forsgren - don't know if this is as an effective medium, but I gave it a shot. I figured since it was in my own words it might have more impact than a form letter.

If anyone else is interested in emailing, here is a link to the USDA email directory: [ftp]http://ds.usda.gov/[/ftp]. Click on "Office of the Secretary" - it lists them alphabetically by first name.

[Gingersmom-Tate]

I ALSO SPREAD THE WORD AT WORK, I WORK FOR A LARGE COMPANY, SOME PEOPLE WERE SO SHOCKED TO LEARN PEOPLE EAT HORSES..SHOCKED. ALSO, EVEN THE NON HORSE PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE USDA IS TRYING TO SIDE STEP THE ENSIGN BILL.

[safehorses]

As if we needed more motivation...but this picture was taken by someone with Habitat for Horses. It was taken outside of the Dallas Crown slaughterhouse in Kaufman, TX. The caption of the picture is: Why?



Pictures like this upset me, not because they are gross, but because they make me feel helpless. But they also make me more motivated to keep working towards ending slaughter. Please, if you haven't called the Secretary of Agriculture yet to register your complaint against do it on Monday morning. Thanks.

[gwenrowdy]

This was the newletter I received from HSUS today:


Trouble with links or images? View this message online:
community.hsus.org/humane/notice-description.tcl?newsletter_id=3739282.

February 8, 2006

Dear Judy,

I am writing to relay some shocking news. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that it is ignoring Congress and thumbing its nose at all of your hard work to save American horses from slaughter for human consumption. In light of today's outrageous action, the horses need you now, more than ever.

As you know, we had a remarkable year for horses during 2005, winning two bipartisan, landslide votes in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate to prevent the use of tax dollars to fund horse slaughter inspections. President Bush signed the final ban on November 10, 2005, and it is scheduled to take effect on March 10, just a short month away. This was a huge victory for America's horses and those of us who want to protect them from cruelty and abuse. The law meant that horse slaughter would be prohibited for the rest of the year.

People like you across the nation were with us each step of the way during this legislative battle. Your hard work carried the day for horses, and the will of the people prevailed in Congress. Unbelievably, the USDA, with its ties to the livestock industry, says it will not implement this Congressional mandate. These bureaucrats are hell-bent on allowing the slaughter of America's horses!

Tell the USDA to respect the will of Congress and enforce the horse slaughter ban.

It's not every day that animal advocates win a landslide vote in Congress to stop a cruel practice. We are disgusted that this victory is being stolen. This new development means that the tens of thousands of horses -- who were to be spared from slaughter -- may face a grim and bitter passage to slaughter this year, despite Congress's efforts to save them. Take action today to stop the USDA from betraying the horses and subverting the will of Congress and the American people.

1. Take action. Contact the USDA and urge the agency to shut down this illegal and undemocratic scheme to slaughter horses. We need a permanent ban now more than ever. After you contact USDA, you will be prompted to contact your lawmakers so they know we have no time to waste -- we must pass permanent legislation to protect our horses from slaughter. Members of Congress should be as angry as we are that the USDA is circumventing their clear directive. Click here to contact USDA and Congress now.

2. Spread the word. Congress needs to hear about USDA's outrageous actions from as many Americans as possible. Ask your friends and family to contact their elected lawmakers as well. Click here to tell five friends to take action now.

Americans don't eat horsemeat -- there is no domestic demand for it. But last year, more than 90,000 American horses were either killed in one of three foreign-owned slaughterhouses in the United States or shipped to Canada or Mexico for slaughter. Our thoroughbreds, show horses, mustangs, carriage horses, and family ponies are shipped in inhumane conditions and butchered.

Knowing that hundreds of thousands of our loyal companions have already been slaughtered is simply devastating. Please stand with us and do everything you can to spare the lives of our horses. Together, we will stop this horrible practice. I know we can prevail, but all of us must take action.

Sincerely,



Wayne Pacelle
President & CEO
The Humane Society of the United States


Copyright ©2006 The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) | All Rights Reserved.
The Humane Society of the United States | 2100 L Street, NW | Washington, DC 20037
[e-mail] | 202-452-1100 | www.hsus.org

[lessonlearned]

I called the USDA again today and instead of leaving a message at the main switchboard I was transferred to the "Packing and Slaughter Division." When I asked if the USDA planned to allow foreign investors to pay private inspectors the woman said yes. When I asked if there was any possiblity of them reconsidering this plan she said no.

She did, however, take my name. Gee thanks.