Please read and help! I really need my Democratic friends...

[Solitaire]

I'm posting here, hoping that you all will take the time to sign my petition.

S. 1915 the Ban on Horse Slaughter is being held up by Senator Frist. He has to schedule this for a vote and is not. If we don't get this to the Senate, that means we start all over again. Conrad Burns is also against it, but if we can get enough signatures on this Senators Ensign and Landrieu will have more ammunition.

Please, I'm begging you all to sign this petiton to Senators Frist and Reid:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/615024357

We need 50,000 signatures in one week. Please pass on to everyone you know.

If you don't know about this issue you can read a synopsis at: http://horses.generitek.com and print a flyer, or read more at: www.saplonline.org/horses.htm

Thank you so much,

Solitaire

[Monkeyman]

1. Done

[in_cog_ni_to]

2. Done.

:kick:

[Solitaire]

4. wow..Incognito..

I love your signature.

If only these Senators would listen to us, this bill would have been voted on already. It's all about blood money from foreigners.

Three slaughter plants are owned by a Belgium man in the US and he has earned millions upon millions and paid $5.00 in taxes last year!

And...Belgium doesn't allow horse slaughter! But, /some/ Senators are blocking us. Conrad Burns, Cornyn, and Frist.

Thank you all that have signed!

Feel free to let me know if anyone has quesitons.

Sol

[in_cog_ni_to]

7. Thanks...that says it all, doesn't it? FDR was a wise, wise man.

I hope you get the signatures you need. I hate the thought of those Horses being slaughtered.:cry: How sad. What do they slaughter them for? meat? their hair? Why do they do it?

Burns, Cornyn and cat killer Frist...why am I nor surprised?

[Solitaire]

13. They do it for their meat...

the meat is sent to Europe and Asia. Americans don't eat horse meat - this is the absolute horror of this. And the way they kill them is just /horrific/. Belgium doesn't allow horse slaughter, so our government allows /our/ wild mustangs (thank you, Conrad Burns) and domesticated horses to be killed to be served as a delicacy in Europe and Asia.

To make matters worse - Ferdinand and Exceller, two Kentucky Derby winners were also slaughtered. Ferdinand in Japan- and the sign on the restaurant read: Come dine on a champion. Or something like that. How disgusting is this? And our Government is allowing it, even though 80% of Americans want this stopped. They are not listening. That's why the petition.

Recently, there were two horses sold by the government and they would have gone to slaughter - after these horses served the military!! I believe they were saved by a rescue - and I think it was Habitat for Horses. www.habitatforhorses.org

Something is very wrong with this picture.

In addition, please call your Senators - this is very important. Call Frist and Reid and all of them - a great site for this is: http://capwiz.com/ddal/issues/bills/?bill=8171761&cs_party=all&cs_status=all&cs_state=ALL

this will tell you who is already a co-sponsor. Frist needs to schedule this for a vote and if he doesn't in the next two weeks, we have to start all over again and more and more horses will be killed - for Europeans!

Thank you so much!

Sol :)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

3. Done, and forwarded to friends...

[Solitaire]

6. God Bless you!!

thank you, it means so much to me!

Sol :)

[Earth_First]

5. Done & FWD: n/t

[ToolTex]

8. Done..........

Since I live only 15 miles from one of the two or three horse meat packers in the country, I'm more than happy to add my name.

[Sjoerd]

9. PETITION TO BRING S 1915 (BAN OF HORSE SLAUGHTER) TO THE SENATE FLOOR FOR VOTE

GOD BLESS YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS AND KEEP OUR HORSES.  PETITION
SIGNED.  HAVE FORWARDED TO EVERYONE I KNOW, EXPLAINING THE
URGENCY OF THIS PETITION.

[in_cog_ni_to]

10. Welcome to DU, Sjoerd!

:hi:

[ancient_nomad]

15. Welcome to DU, Sjoerd!

It's nice to see you here and gosh, your first post is on this petition.
Your heart is in the right place and......

[Solitaire]

17. Welcome to DU, Sjoerd! and thank you so much! n/t

[ancient_nomad]

11. Done & KnR

Horse slaughter for human consumption is sooooo wrong. Absolutely barbaric!

Thanks for posting this. I wish every DU member would sign the petition.
I read the Tim Woolley site where daily Barbaro updates are posted. Mrs. Gretchen Jackson, Barbaro's owner, has been very active regarding this bill.
All the posters at his site have been working very hard to pass the bill. The Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand was slaughtered. Such a sad story there.

If anyone is interested here is a link to Tim Woolley's site:
http://tinyurl.com/ybj7ms

[cynatnite]

12. My sister is against this...

Her and her husband have raised horses for years. These slaughterhouse take upwards of 90,000 horses a day from what I read. These animals get sold because they've been injuried, unwanted or the owners can no longer afford to keep them. Hay has gotten so expensive that horses graze from the land until there is no more grass and she has seen these animals arrive at auction under-nourished.

This act will stop those slaughterhouses that prepare the meat for consumption, but it won't stop the horses from being sold for dogfood. Plus there would be a large overabundance of these animals around the country which will lead to more starvation and other problems.

She spoke about California's law that forbids the killing of horses. Those unwanted and unaffordable animals have been set loose in the desert and one a day is killed by a car on average. She said that's not counting those horses that have starved to death.

She doesn't believe this bill has been thought through and doesn't want it to pass unless they can guarantee real protection and care of the horses.

My sister is an avid horse lover. Her and her husband take in neglected horses, care for them and adopt them out. They show horses and take part in rodeos. She loves these animals with a passion and her points are very valid.

[Solitaire]

16. please go to:

www.saplonline.org/horses.htm and watch the video of the slaughter, before you commit to being against this bill.

In addition, I have heard that leaving horses in the desert is an urban legend. And...a bullet to the brain is a lot more humane than what's going on here.

People need to be /responsible/ for their animals. If you cannot afford to euthanize an animal humanely, you shouldn't own one.

This is just an easy way out for those who are not responsible animal owners.

Sol

[cynatnite]

18. When the economy is so bad...

and feeding horses become so expensive, what are these owners to do? The responsible ones take them to auction in hopes that someone else will care for them. Many times they don't know that someone else is buying these animals for a song, then reselling them where they eventually wind up at one of those plants in Texas.

That's not counting those being sold for dogford for the same exact reasons. Just as with the slaughter houses, those horses are many times injured, malnourished or unaffordable.

She sees that this bill has not been thought out at all. There is no recourse for caring for these animals and that bothers her more than anything. Like I said, my sister is an avid horse lover and caregiver for many years. She has the experience and knowledge to know what she is talking about as well as those other people she knows involved in raising and caring of horses.

For the record, I don't need to see the footage. It won't be any different than cows, pigs and other animals killed for food, dogfood and other commodities. Animals are treated badly at places like this, anyway.

[Solitaire]

19. then if we are sending our companion animals, and yes..

I'm talking about horses, to slaughter, then we should also be sending our dogs and cats.

Horses are no different. They carry our children, they carry our police officers our military and without them, we would have never been able to settle in this country.

Your sister is not the only one who owns and cares about horses.

I will also note that rodeos are cruel, but that's another topic.

In addition, killing cattle and pigs is a lot different than killing a "flight animal" with a long neck. They don't often hit the horse in the brain, they miss. Again, you need to watch the video and educate yourself on this topic.

Thanks.

Sol

[cynatnite]

20. You keep missing something very important...

There is no recourse for these animals in this bill. That's my sister's problem with it. She wants it to include the care and a good adoption program for the horses. She wants to see more programs set up using these horses to help with the handicapped, the poor and the troubled. There is more that can be done, but when there isn't some kind of provision to protect these animals other than just shutting down the slaughter houses then the problems that come about afterwards can be worse than the cure.

My sister has done this for almost 20 years. Her and others who do the work she does know what they are talking about. They've been involved in the caring and raising of a variety of horses. They have a clear understanding of what's at stake.

No video that's designed to illicit an emotional response can change the bigger picture. She acknowledges how cruel these slaughter houses can be, but she also knows by experience what else can happen to these animals.

My sister and other horse owners, trainers and caregives want more than just shutting down a few slaughterhouses. That's all this bill will do.

[Solitaire]

22. I'm not missing anything...

there are already cruelty laws in place throughout this country! Why does this bill have to be redundant regarding animal cruelty laws?

And in addition, how can you think that the animal rescue organizations that are frantically running to the auctions to purchase foals, pregnant mares and any horse they can save, will stop helping?

I personally paid for a foal last month to be saved from slaughter - she's a beautiful palmino paint, 4 months old! This has got to stop. Horses are not going to be abused any more than they are now, if this bill passes. In fact, it will be less.

Again, please read up on this:

www.habitatforhorses.org
www.saplonline.org/horses.htm
www.horse-protection.org
http://horses.generitek.com

There are better answers than this /horrific/ death for our companions.

Sol

[cynatnite]

24. I'm on the phone with my sister now...

Most of those organizations are either full or broke. She agrees it has to stop, but better and more alternatives have to be in place. She's also worried about overpopulation as well.

[cynatnite]

29. My sister tells me at those auctions...

Good registered horses are being sold for practically nothing. A few bucks. She bought three registered colts for under a $100. Right now they have over 20 horses and can't take anymore in. No one is either willing or can't afford to take in any more horses. That's another reason why they end up at these slaughter houses.

She doesn't support the slaughtering of these animals for food and neither do I, but some other alternative needs to be found for these animals. Shutting down three slaughter houses when there are others such as those for dogfood are left operating seems rather hypocritical, but yet, who wants their dog to go without?

Euthanizing horses cost a lot of money and that's not counting their disposal after they die. And who wants to walk out and start putting bullets in the heads of horses? That sort of video would illicit a hell of a an emotional response as well.

Yes, we want better for these animals and better is possible, IMO. It's just a matter of being willing to do more.

[Solitaire]

30. ah, so it's better to...

send them off where they can't see them die a /horrific/ death, instead of putting a bullet in their head? Talk about not being responsible!

And let's also discuss the horrific journey to the slaughter house, where they aren't watered or fed for days and then when they arrive they can smell the death and hear the other horses screaming in agony?

I refer you to: http://www.ksdk.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=104394
and http://stlequestrian.com/blogs/daadmin/archive/2006/09/28/Slaughter_horses_saved.aspx and best of all, here the story of how they were rescued: http://hsmo.convio.net/site/PageServer?pagename=lrr_Donate_Horse_Heroes

Again, if one is going to own a horse, they should be able to care for that horse until it dies or until they feel they should humanely euthanize it.

I wouldn't get any animal unless I knew I could take care of it, there is really no difference.

Sol

[cynatnite]

33. We're not talking about just private owners here...

We're talking also about ranchers and farmers who are feeling the economical pinch. They provide just as good of care as you or any other responsible person would do, but money plays a factor because of the rising expense costs. My neighbor owns several horses and she told me a few weeks ago they had to sell a horse in order to be able to afford the others. She may have to sell another before long. There are mitigating factors that can come into play over a period of time such as costs rising.

And yeah, people would get worked up over seeing a bunch of horses shot in the head. Nobody wants to see a horse killed. Period. They are beautiful animals.

My sister mentioned California, Arkansas and Missouri. Their laws in preventing the killing of horses have led to other problems such as starvation. She's getting the article to me about the massive starvation problems in Missouri.

As I said, there is no room for recourse for these animals and looking at the bigger picture, from what she described to me, very few are looking far ahead.

She wants better alternatives for these animals. Not just a temporary one that makes people feel better for the short term. Shutting down three slaughter houses and doing nothing else is just that. A temporary fix with no thought to the future of these horses.

[Solitaire]

31. Ok, just to add to that...

a few more sites, that will really bring this home:


http://www.kaufmanzoning.net/horsemeat/

http://www.kaufmanzoning.net/horsemeat/Confused_D1_1_.htm

http://www.kaufmanzoning.net/horsemeat/Where%20Would%20All%20The%20Horses%20Go.htm

[Solitaire]

46. Oh my goodness!!

I missed what you said!!

There are only 3 slaughter houses in the U.S. There are no slaughter houses for dog food. In fact, you used to see horse meat in dog food and I don't think anyone makes it any longer. I know I never bought that. The first time I saw it I was 19, when I got my Irish Setter and I thought I was going to be ill. Who would feed their dog, horse meat?

There are no dog food slaughter plants!

Sol

[karlrschneider]

25. Your sister deserves a truckload of thanks, but (there's always a but, nu?)

The chances of including any significant amount of funding to do what she proposes (and I would support) are pretty much slim and none. At least stopping the slaughter is better than nothing, isn't it?
There are millions (literally) of other animals in similar situations. People too. Assigning priorities is rarely a simple task. I wish it were not so.

[Solitaire]

26. isn't that the truth, karls?

We would be waiting another 20 years for a bill to provide every perfect guarantee and in the meantime, we won't have any wild horses left at all. The first thing we need to do is stop the slaughter.

Thank you.

Sol :)

[Solitaire]

27. btw, did I also mention that...

thanks to Conrad Burns our wild mustangs are being depleted by helicopter round-ups which are very cruel and harmful? And they too go to slaughter. Our burros too.

Just wanted to make sure we all knew where our tax dollars are going.

Sol

PS I need to go out now, but I will return.

[watercolors]

50. During WW2 many in US ate horse meat!

My family did, nothing wrong with it,it taste just like beef. We eat buffolo, cattle, pigs, chickens, goat. lamb, what is the big deal? They are slaughtered for dog food, as many of the other animals are!

[PreacherCasey]

14. done

[karlrschneider]

21. Did, but I don't think online petitions have much impact.

...

[Solitaire]

23. I am personally sending this to:

Frist, Reid, Ensign and Landrieu next week.

It might not make the bill pass, but it will help get it scheduled.

Everyone needs to call and fax, in addition to this. This is just a showing of hands.

Sol :)

[Violet_Crumble]

28. Unfortunately I can't sign it...

I'm not a US citizen, but the practice of slaughtering horses is a barbaric one and I hope a ban is put into effect and that everyone who can does put pressure on the politicians to do it...

[robinlynne]

32. done and thank-you.

[fooj]

34. Done!

Forwarded this to my friends...

Hope it helps.

[Alamom]

35. Done.

[IndyOp]

36. Done! Good luck. (n/t)

[judaspriestess]

37. Done

[1620rock]

38. Done!

[Vincardog]

39. Done #2,247

[Mojorabbit]

40. done n/t

[bonito]

41. Done & recommended n/t

[MazeRat7]

42. Done.

[GenDem]

43. Signed and sent to my sister-in-law

who owns four beautiful horses.

[Solitaire]

44. thank you all, so very much! n/t :)

[Gelliebeans]

45. glad to sign it :)

[lavendermist]

47. Done and forwarded. n/t

[kdpeters]

48. What's the rationale?

I grew up around cows, pigs, chickens, goats -- on a farm. It was a hard lesson to learn that some of those animals I'd learned to raise would also become food. I don't really know whatever happened to the milk cows when they stopped giving milk, but I know they were sold for slaughter. But it was hard when one day the only one with a name was just gone.

I guess I'm asking if you object only because they're horses, and if so, why? Or do you generally object to slaughtering meat? If so, why does this bill address only horses?

Thanks. I've never really understood the objection to utilizing horses like other animals.

[Solitaire]

52. kdpeters, thank you for asking that question..

Firstly, horses are not part of the food chain. They carry our children, they carry our military (previously in wars, today for other reasons), they carry our police officers. I live in New York City, and our mounted police consider their horses their "partners". There have been accidents where the horses have been killed, while in the line of duty. I have seen their partners crying, because they have lost their partner.

Horses are our "companions", they are companion animals. They are used in many many therapeutic programs for the mentally ill, for people who have lost limbs (some of our Iraq soldiers are in riding programs to help them), and for those with spinal disease.

Horses have helped us throughout the ages. There are many statues of our forefathers sitting on a horse.

Also, the way the horses are killed is simply horrific. Imagine a horse that has served it's masters well, by carrying their children for 20 years and being loved and taken care of and then one day he's crammed onto a truck (please refer to: http://www.longmeadowrescueranch.org/whatsnew.php - you can watch a video on that site of the rescuers saving the horses), with no food or water for two days (they don't feed or water them in transit to slaughter, no water helps to toughen the hide) and then they are put in a "kill pen" waiting to die, while they hear the screams of the other horses being slaughtered. What happens is that they are shot with a bolt gun, but since horses are "flight" animals they try frantically to get away and because of their long necks those attempting to render them unconscious, often miss. They are then hoisted by one hind leg and their throats are slit, so they can then be bled to death. Many are conscious while all of this is going on.

In addition to all of this, our horses are given many drugs and we use many topical ointments on our horses that are labeled "Not for human consumption".

Eighty percent of Americans are against this atrocity that is going on in this country. Why should we be supplying a Belgium entity with horse meat, when his own country has outlawed horse slaughter? Why are we sending our wild Mustangs and Kentucky Derby winners (Ferdinand and Exceller) to be food for France and Japan?

This is the United States and the people want an end to this barbarism.

My question is, why are our Senators not listening to the voice of the people?

Sol

[kdpeters]

56. thank you for your response. I have a few more ?s

Firstly, horses are not part of the food chain. They carry our children, they carry our military (previously in wars, today for other reasons), they carry our police officers. I live in New York City, and our mounted police consider their horses their "partners".

To pick a nit, any living organism that eats and/or is eaten is by definition part of a food chain. Now they may carry your children, but a horse is a pet too expensive a luxury for most children's parents to afford.

There have been accidents where the horses have been killed, while in the line of duty. I have seen their partners crying, because they have lost their partner.

I understand how they feel. I grieved terribly when we had to put my 21 year old cat down. Steve Irwin famously sobbed upon finding an long acquainted female crocodile deceased on the river bank. We grow attached and really grow to love other animals. And some of them, we eat.

Horses are our "companions", they are companion animals. They are used in many many therapeutic programs for the mentally ill, for people who have lost limbs (some of our Iraq soldiers are in riding programs to help them), and for those with spinal disease.

Don't you mean that horses are your companions? To other people, they are food.

Horses have helped us throughout the ages. There are many statues of our forefathers sitting on a horse.

But these are maybe cultural mores, but more likely personal opinions. Those who enjoy eating horses don't share these views. I'm just not keen on making law whose only justification is the opinions of some, even if the majority.

Also, the way the horses are killed is simply horrific. Imagine a horse that has served it's masters well, by carrying their children for 20 years and being loved and taken care of and then one day he's crammed onto a truck (please refer to: http://www.longmeadowrescueranch.org/whatsnew.php - you can watch a video on that site of the rescuers saving the horses)

Some mighty fine people on that website. Did you notice that they rescue other abused and neglected animals besides horses?

http://www.longmeadowrescueranch.org/whatsnew_farmrescue.php

Among the animals are approximately 45 potbellied pigs, 14 goats, eight sheep, three donkeys, three burros, two llamas, a dog and numerous peacocks, chickens and geese.

But this law doesn't seem to address cruelty and neglect, but only human consumption and only horses.

Let me pose this question: If all that inhumane treatment could be sanctioned and punished, and a horse lived long into adulthood running around on a farm, and he could be slaughtered quickly without traumatizing the others, why shouldn't he be eaten?

This is the United States and the people want an end to this barbarism.

That's my point. This is the the United States. If we're going to pass a law making something illegal for everyone, should it not be a logical, consistent, demonstrably criminal act? I don't see the crime when another person thinks of horses in the same manner you think of pigs -- even if eighty-some-odd percent of Americans disagree with that person. Do they have the right to criminalize his opinion just because they're the majority?

My question is, why are our Senators not listening to the voice of the people?

Are you kidding me? They don't even care about the lives of human companions, spouses, sons and daughters if sending them to war was the best decision for political ambitions. You think they care about horses?

Sol

Karl

[Solitaire]

64. Karl...

Americans do not eat horse meat. Why should we slaughter our horses for foreign countries, and for a foreign entity? His country won't allow horse slaughter. Don't you see something wrong with that picture? Horses are not part of /our/ food chain.

Why are we depleting our Mustangs for foreigners to eat? Why are we even touching our Mustangs? We, the American people, pay for that land. They are depleting the Mustangs so that the ranchers can lease the grazing land at a very cheap price.

I'm not quite certain why you have a problem with Long Meadow Ranch rescuing other animals? I don't live in Missouri, but they are either part of the Humane Society of the United States or at least work with them, as they were all part of the rescue of the I-44 accident. I hope you did read about that?

Horses are American's companions, they are not our food. Unless you perhaps live in Belgium where they like to kill other horses for their plates?

And as for laws - it is illegal to slaughter horses in Texas, but yet they are conveniently ignoring the law. And I will say again, Americans do NOT eat horse meat. And as for pigs, I don't eat them, but that's not the issue here.

As for the Senators, well that's the whole problem isn't it?

Sol

[druidity33]

58. what do the Amish do?

or the Mennonites? They have been keeping and tending horses as Transportation for centuries. Have they a humane way to put an animal down? Are you talking about nursing homes for horses? I know that Kosher meat is perhaps the most humanely slaughtered of all. How do Jews deal with horses who have become lame/unproductive?

I understand your objection to slaughtering a horse based on the "companion animal" argument (replace horse with dog and most people hear me here). And i certainly understand the cruelty argument as i have been a Vegetarian for 16 years primarily because i think the Meat Industry is the most nightmarish system of torture mills imaginable.

But i gotta admit, as much as i personally find the idea distasteful, i would not berate someone for eating horsemeat. Also i would disagree that they are out of the food chain. They (and dogs) are eaten in many other countries in the world. I have hunter friends and respect what they do, i have friends who have in lean times eaten turtle, snared rabbit, squirrel, etc. I also think, no matter how young you kill an animal, it's better if it lived "freely" during its time than were it to have lived "confined, drugged, and tortured".

I am sure there is a solution that could benefit all... but i am equally sure that would demand some practical research and the application of FUNDS. Instead of or as well as shutting down these slaughterhouses, why not appeal to the legislature to fund a study as to what ALTERNATIVE can be had.

Keep fighting for what you believe in! Horses are noble creatures and deserve much better than this.

[Solitaire]

65. I'm at a loss as to why...

Americans care about this Belgium entity that owns all three slaughter houses in the U.S.

He makes millions of dollars and pays NO taxes - unless of course you consider $5 a good amount in taxes.

I'm going to say it again, Americans do not eat horse meat, why should we be slaughering our Kentucky Derby winners, wild mustangs, foals and pregnant mares for foreigners to eat?

We also don't eat dogs, or would you like to change that?

Sorry, I'm not understanding your argument, especially since you say you are a vegetarian.

Sol

[druidity33]

71. emotion clouding judgement...

I would beg to differ with you. I know two people (an American couple) that have lived in Montana and they have harvested horse meat on two occasions (their own horses). I also have a friend who has lived in Alaska who i discussed earlier who i asked last night if he had ever eaten horse and he said he would have if the opportunity had presented itself. I also work with a young lady who is from Korea and she says her parents STILL eat dog meat... yes in THIS COUNTRY.

What I DONT UNDERSTAND is why you believe Horses are so much different than other creatures. When horses die or are killed, they are MEAT like nearly any other mammal. As a vegetarian if i held everyone accountable for the Creatures they eat, i would have no friends. I live out in the woods so i understand the need for my neighbors to hunt. There are also MANY horsefarms in my area (western Massachusetts). To be honest the attitude of some of these stable owners in our area leaves a lot to be desired.

I'll repeat that i think what you SHOULD be working on is the HUMANE slaughter of those animals that just cannot be productive in any other way. I agree with the other poster that you will not stop the slaughter of horses by shutting down the houses. Would you rather have them starved to death in a winter field?

When i first read your post i admit, i immediately thought "i'll bet they eat meat... what a hypocrite". Have you ever seen the videos for cattle and chicken "houses"? Do you realize that domestic meat animals are bred in tortuous conditions and kept scarcely alive and fed? They are literally bred, confined, tortured, drugged, mutilated, and then slaughtered. While i understand to some extent what you are saying about a horse being a "companion" animal and that its intelligence warrants consciousness of its predicament, i still personally cannot hold horses to a higher standard as a "companion" animal than the hamster i had as a youth for 6 years and was devastated when it died.

I lived in a horse barn for two months and woke up in my tent every morning to the neighs and nickers of a mother and daughter horse on an old farm in Missouri... it was probably the most pleasant camping/morning routine i have ever had. I would go to the turnip patch and see if there was a good big one for the Ladies as we called them. The Mama horse was ANCIENT and had trouble moving around. The daughter horse was also VERY OLD. The farmer had wanted to put the Mama down, but at one point Mama became sick and daughter horse became so disconsolate, she stopped eating or moving too. He just couldn't put one down and let the other live in such a sad state. He decided to see if the Mama would die of her own accord and would judge what to do with daughter after that event. I arrived on the farm several years after he had made that decision. He told me that the vet wanted $800 for a "painless lethal injection", or that he would recieve $75 from the slaughterhouse. A difficult dilemma. He said he would do it himself if he could be sure the horse wouldn't suffer. That they cost roughly $2-3,000 a year each to feed and shelter, not to mention the time.

What would have been useful to him would have been a farmers home kit for euthanizing a horse ( or the cow that had fallen into a sinkhole and broken both forelegs). The slaughterhouse is really an option that NO self respecting farmer, husbander would want to opt for on an otherwise useful animal... but sometimes it is the only pragmatic option. Which is why i titled this post "emotion clouding judgement". Most of the folk i refer to are hard core Farmers or Woodsmen. They do not own horse farms or stables. Every PENNY counts. They consider their horses utilitarian animals... perhaps more "companionable" than others, but nonetheless, part of the working team that is the farm crew. When a member of that crew is no longer able to perform... well, there's very little "pasture to put 'em out to" if you get my drift.

I guess we'll agree to disagree. I think i understand your perspective. I hope you'll understand if i have my own.

[Solitaire]

72. this is the United States, we are all entitled to voice our own

opinion.

I respect your farmer friend for his humanity.

If I could end slaughter of every animal on this planet, I would do so.

Btw, your Korean friends are breaking the law. You cannot kill a dog in this country without breaking the law, or did they have it imported from Korea? I find that as disgusting as I find eating horse or cat.

And the difference in all of these animals is that some are raised for food and some are companion animals - horses are the latter.

Solitaire

[roody]

57. I do not understand the distinction either, and I do

not eat meat.

[Solitaire]

74. kdpeters...

I just thought you might be interested in this article:

http://www.niagarafallsreporter.com/hanchette182.html

I hope you see this and get to read it. It's interesting and I do believe addresses some of your concerns.

Sol :)

[Raine]

49. Done

:thumbsup:

[Speed8098]

51. I'm there

Human consumption of horses is, to me, as bad as cannibalism.
That may seem extreme, but it's how I feel.

[Solitaire]

69. I agree with you, speed8098

If you've ever loved a horse, it's very understandable.

I feel the same way about my cat and all of the animals I've ever lived with.

:)

[paganlib]

53. signed and fwd........

[Straight Shooter]

54. Done.

Appalling. :(

[otohara]

55. done

[MasonJar]

59. Good grief! I thought that this slaughter had been voted down al-

ready. Everyone of the Kentucky delegation (except the now extinct Anne Northrup). most of whom are unfortunately repugs, voted against slaughtering horses. In Kentucky that is a distinct no-no.

[John Holland]

70. Funny you should bring this up.

The horses have been subjected to some of the dirtiest politics you can find anywhere.

You are probably thinking of the amendment to the 2006 Agriculture budget last year that was supposed to stop horse slaughter by removing the funding for federal inspections of horse meat at the three slaughter plants. It passed overwhelmingly, but Bonilla (R-TX) was the chair of the conference committee. He put a 120 day delay on its implementation. Then, the head of the USDA (appointed by President Bush R-TX) devised a plan by which the slaughter houses could pay for their inspections. This of course was not the intent of congress!

Before all this, Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) blocked the bill in his Agriculture committee for years. He also has strong ties to Texas and the Republican ruling elite. His Ag minority leader during the 108th Congress was Charles Stenholm (D-TX). He coauthored a letter pleading that his colleagues block the bill. It had an unprecedented 225 cosponsors when the 108th ended but never got passed Goodlatte. Stenholm then lost his seat due to redistricting and became a paid lobbyist for the horse slaughter industry!

Yes, the bills all had Republican sponsors, but the ruling elite always found a way to block the will of the people through key gate keepers. Another one of these was Conrad Burns (R=MT), the man who sent the mustangs to slaughter by slipping language into his conference report on the omnibus spending bill.

I know many horse owners who were staunch Republicans a few years ago and are now voting Democratic simply because of what has been done to the horses. This is a great chance for the Democratic party to show America that it is not owned by the cattlemen and special interests and listens to what Americans are saying.

[Kerrytravelers]

60. DUne.

[nam78_two]

61. Too late for R, but heres a K

And I will definitely do it. Thanks a lot for posting!

[Wisconsin Larry]

62. Done and Thank you! n/t

[Sydnie]

63. Done n/t

[Nevernose]

66. What about NAFTA?

If we shut down the slaughterhouses here, and the Canadians and French (via Canada) consume most of the horsemeat, then wouldn't they still be allowed to sell the horses at auction, ship them to Quebec (or wherever), and still kill them for food?

[Solitaire]

67. Hi Nevernose...

The Bill states that the horses cannot be slaughtered or transported for "human consumption".

If you'd like to read the text of the bill, go here: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:S.1915:

Sol :)

[Nevernose]

68. Treaties trump laws, though

i1. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, no Party may adopt or maintain any prohibition or restriction on the importation of any good of another Party or on the exportation or sale for export of any good destined for the territory of another Party, except in accordance with Article XI of the GATT, including its interpretative notes, and to this end Article XI of the GATT and its interpretative notes, or any equivalent provision of a successor agreement to which all Parties are party, are incorporated into and made a part of this Agreement.

To be fair, it's entirely too late on a Saturday night to look up GATT's interpretive notes. :)

1. Except as set out in Annex 315, a Party may adopt or maintain a restriction otherwise justified under Articles XI:2(a) or XX(g), (i) or (j) of the GATT with respect to the export of a good of the Party to the territory of another Party, only if:

a) the restriction does not reduce the proportion of the total export shipments of the specific good made available to that other Party relative to the total supply of that good of the Party maintaining the restriction as compared to the proportion prevailing in the most recent 36month period for which data are available prior to the imposition of the measure, or in such other representative period on which the Parties may agree;

b) the Party does not impose a higher price for exports of a good to that other Party than the price charged for such good when consumed domestically, by means of any measure, such as licenses, fees, taxation and minimum price requirements. The foregoing provision does not apply to a higher price that may result from a measure taken pursuant to subparagraph (a) that only restricts the volume of exports; and

c) the restriction does not require the disruption of normal channels of supply to that other Party or normal proportions among specific goods or categories of goods supplied to that other Party.

We can pass all the laws we want -- if they're a violation of the NAFTA treaty, the courts will just overturn them and ship the horses off to Canada anyway. Still, this law is a good start, but only a first step.

If we can move onto sterilization of some wild horses and mandatory radio-tags for domestic horses (preventing abandonment), we'll be going in the right direction.

[Faux pas]

73. Done and r'd. n/t