Washington, DC (January 9, 2008) – Veterinarians for Equine Welfare (VEW) has just issued a new white paper entitled “Horse Slaughter – Its Ethical Impact and Subsequent Response of the Veterinary Profession.” The white paper was created to address misinformation being circulated by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and other organizations opposing a potential ban on horse slaughter in the US and exportation of horses for slaughter.
In December of 2007 several VEW veterinarians met with legislators in Washington, DC to discuss the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (H.R. 503/S. 311), a bill that will prohibit the slaughter of horses in the US or their export for the same purpose. They were shocked by the amount of misinformation purposely being spread by the AVMA and groups including the horse slaughterhouses themselves who are all part of a coalition called the Horse Welfare Coalition.
To address this, VEW has released a white paper clearing addressing the inaccuracies. The paper contains detailed supporting information, something largely absent from materials produced by the pro-horse slaughter advocates.
“I submitted a letter to the editor of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association in response to the AVMA’s latest ‘fact sheet’ on horse slaughter but it was rejected,” stated Dr. Nick Dodman a co-founder of VEW. “It is a shame to see a professional organization work so hard to undermine something such as the horse slaughter ban based on speculation and unsubstantiated information.” Dr. Nick Dodman went on to say, “as veterinarians we are bound a code of ethics to prevent animal suffering, not hinder animal protection measures in order to promote economic interests.”
A recent release from the AVMA points to the dramatic increase of horses being sent to slaughter in Mexico from the US. While the increase is disconcerting, advocates of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act have always indicated this would happen without passage of the federal ban. It has been because of opposition to the bill by the AVMA and other pro-horse slaughter groups that the federal ban has thus far failed to pass. . Had they worked with those advocating the humane treatment of horses, horse slaughter and the export of horses to Mexico would have been halted years ago and enormous animal suffering would have been relieved.
“It is time to stop the rhetoric and political backhanded tricks that have been blocking passage of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (H.R. 503/ S. 311),” said Dr. Theo Antikas, another co-founder of VEW. “We must all work together for positive change that will help end the suffering of tens of thousands of American horses.”
To view “Horse Slaughter – Its Ethical Impact and Subsequent Response of the Veterinary Profession”, click here: http://www.vetsforequinewelfare.org/white_paper.php
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Email: info@vetsforequinewelfare.org
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Sunday, January 06, 2008
A New Year, A Great Plan
Please make the calls needed below and remember to keep calling Congress each day. Help end their suffering!
This is a brilliant plan by John Holland who has been a very big voice for our horses and is so well respected in America for his involvement to stop horse slaughter. I am honored to work along side him as we put an end to transport and slaughter of our horses.
Finally, we are receiving the press, thanks to John.
http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/2008/01/024.shtml
January 5, 2008
The increasingly powerful anti-slaughter lobby in the United States has signalled its intention to target two major US horse bodies over their pro-slaughter stance.
In their sights are the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA).
The anti-slaughter lobby has succeeded in getting the three abattoirs that slaughtered horses for human consumption shut down.
However, they are concerned that federal law still allows the shipping of horses across the borders into Mexico and Canada for slaughter.
Cruel slaughter practices have been exposed in Mexico.
They are seeking a federal law change to not only outlaw slaughter, but prevent American horses being shipped beyond its borders for slaughter.
Organiser John Holland said it was time the anti-slaughter movement went on the offensive.
He accused pro-slaughter advocates of setting up phony "welfare" organisations and using the offices of organisations such as the AVMA and the AQHA to "project an agenda that has no motivation but greed".
"Since their position has no morally acceptable justification, they simply create one.
"Most recently they are getting third-rate reporters to pump out completely fabricated stories like the ones about horses being abandoned around the country.
"Having produced this documentary 'proof', they trolled the darkest recesses of the bowels of congress to find someone who would have no problem with propagating their poison. The most recent denizen to emerge to their beckoning calls was Senator Larry Craig.
Senator Craig, he said, had stained the Senate floor with objections based on "stories so rank that no self respecting dead fish would be found wrapped in them".
Mr Holland said playing defense had no upside and was merely damage control.
"We must be ready to counter this detritus, but that alone is not enough."
He accused the AVMA and AQHA of hypocrisy and deceit. "We must take the battle to them on ground they think safe."
Anne Russek, the director of media relations for the Virginia Equine Council, described the American Quarter Horse Association as one of the main suppliers to and supporters of the horse slaughter industry and one of the main opponents to the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (AHSPA).
"Pro-horse slaughter organisations such as the American Quarter Horse Association have been working hard to mislead Congress and employ underhanded tactics to block the will of the majority of Congress and the American people," she said.
"While the AQHA argues it opposes the AHSPA because there is a so-called 'unwanted horse problem' it is the main producer of foals in the US - with tens of thousands of new registrations every year - and is actively promoting the mass breeding of more foals.
"This irresponsible breeding programme rewards the bottom feeders of the horse industry such as killer buyers and assorted auction racketeers."
The AQHA, she argued, was more concerned about protecting "hefty profits" obtained by certain mass breeders through slaughter and "keeping pace with several anti-animal agribusiness lobby groups".
The council has organised a campaign in which it asks anti-slaughter supporters to contact NBC's Oklahoma City affiliate KFOR to objects to its intended broadcasting of the AQHA's World Championship Reining Show on January 12.
She also urged lobbyists to contact the station's headquarters in New York to lodge similar objections.
John Holland said the AVMA can expect to feel heat, too, from the anti-slaughter movement.
"When we are done, no veterinarian will want the AVMA decal to deface his or her door," he said.
"None of this will change our ongoing work on Congress. That has become a well oiled machine. It is simply a matter of making these organisations realize they will find us pulling back the covers in everything they do."
This is a brilliant plan by John Holland who has been a very big voice for our horses and is so well respected in America for his involvement to stop horse slaughter. I am honored to work along side him as we put an end to transport and slaughter of our horses.
Finally, we are receiving the press, thanks to John.
http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/2008/01/024.shtml
US anti horse slaughter lobby to target key groups
January 5, 2008
The increasingly powerful anti-slaughter lobby in the United States has signalled its intention to target two major US horse bodies over their pro-slaughter stance.
In their sights are the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA).
The anti-slaughter lobby has succeeded in getting the three abattoirs that slaughtered horses for human consumption shut down.
However, they are concerned that federal law still allows the shipping of horses across the borders into Mexico and Canada for slaughter.
Cruel slaughter practices have been exposed in Mexico.
They are seeking a federal law change to not only outlaw slaughter, but prevent American horses being shipped beyond its borders for slaughter.
Organiser John Holland said it was time the anti-slaughter movement went on the offensive.
He accused pro-slaughter advocates of setting up phony "welfare" organisations and using the offices of organisations such as the AVMA and the AQHA to "project an agenda that has no motivation but greed".
"Since their position has no morally acceptable justification, they simply create one.
"Most recently they are getting third-rate reporters to pump out completely fabricated stories like the ones about horses being abandoned around the country.
"Having produced this documentary 'proof', they trolled the darkest recesses of the bowels of congress to find someone who would have no problem with propagating their poison. The most recent denizen to emerge to their beckoning calls was Senator Larry Craig.
Senator Craig, he said, had stained the Senate floor with objections based on "stories so rank that no self respecting dead fish would be found wrapped in them".
Mr Holland said playing defense had no upside and was merely damage control.
"We must be ready to counter this detritus, but that alone is not enough."
He accused the AVMA and AQHA of hypocrisy and deceit. "We must take the battle to them on ground they think safe."
Anne Russek, the director of media relations for the Virginia Equine Council, described the American Quarter Horse Association as one of the main suppliers to and supporters of the horse slaughter industry and one of the main opponents to the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (AHSPA).
"Pro-horse slaughter organisations such as the American Quarter Horse Association have been working hard to mislead Congress and employ underhanded tactics to block the will of the majority of Congress and the American people," she said.
"While the AQHA argues it opposes the AHSPA because there is a so-called 'unwanted horse problem' it is the main producer of foals in the US - with tens of thousands of new registrations every year - and is actively promoting the mass breeding of more foals.
"This irresponsible breeding programme rewards the bottom feeders of the horse industry such as killer buyers and assorted auction racketeers."
The AQHA, she argued, was more concerned about protecting "hefty profits" obtained by certain mass breeders through slaughter and "keeping pace with several anti-animal agribusiness lobby groups".
The council has organised a campaign in which it asks anti-slaughter supporters to contact NBC's Oklahoma City affiliate KFOR to objects to its intended broadcasting of the AQHA's World Championship Reining Show on January 12.
She also urged lobbyists to contact the station's headquarters in New York to lodge similar objections.
John Holland said the AVMA can expect to feel heat, too, from the anti-slaughter movement.
"When we are done, no veterinarian will want the AVMA decal to deface his or her door," he said.
"None of this will change our ongoing work on Congress. That has become a well oiled machine. It is simply a matter of making these organisations realize they will find us pulling back the covers in everything they do."
Into a New Year
I am as frustrated as any other person who has fought to ban transport and slaughter of our American Horses.
Quit is NOT a word in my vocabulary and I will be more determined to make sure these bills are passed by Congress this year.
Please call Congress at 800-828-0498 or 800-459-1887. Ask to speak to your State Representative and Senators. As them to please co sponsor the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (AHSPA). As far as I know, the bill numbers are still the same H.R. 503 in the House of Representatives and S. 311 in the Senate.
If you have a few minutes, please write a letter and email it to the media. Request them to please do a story and speak on behalf of the 80% of Americans who want slaughter and transportation to slaughter stopped in America.
I feel the media can get us an early vote and stop the brutal transport and murders of our horses.
Thank you all who have helped us get this far, we need you all to keep speaking for those who have no voice.
Quit is NOT a word in my vocabulary and I will be more determined to make sure these bills are passed by Congress this year.
Please call Congress at 800-828-0498 or 800-459-1887. Ask to speak to your State Representative and Senators. As them to please co sponsor the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (AHSPA). As far as I know, the bill numbers are still the same H.R. 503 in the House of Representatives and S. 311 in the Senate.
If you have a few minutes, please write a letter and email it to the media. Request them to please do a story and speak on behalf of the 80% of Americans who want slaughter and transportation to slaughter stopped in America.
I feel the media can get us an early vote and stop the brutal transport and murders of our horses.
Thank you all who have helped us get this far, we need you all to keep speaking for those who have no voice.
Warrant issued for driver and owner of horses in fatal Wadsworth accident
I would have liked to have seen more severe charges, but for now, at least these horses are receiving recognition for the nightmare they have been through. For those we lost, you are forever in our hearts and we will stop transport in your memory.
chicagotribune.com
Arrest warrants issued for owner, truck driver of horses in trailer crash
Driver, horse owner face multiple counts of animal cruelty
By Andrew L. Wang
Tribune staff writer
9:14 PM CST, January 4, 2008
Lake County authorities have issued an arrest warrant for the owner of dozens of Belgian draft horses involved in a trailer accident that killed 19 of the animals.
Keith Tongen, 49, of Brownton, Minn., who has surrendered ownership of the horses, was charged in a warrant issued Wednesday with four misdemeanor counts of cruel treatment of animals and one count of failure to provide humane care and treatment of animals, according to court records.
The truck's driver, James Anderson, 34, faces identical charges, according to his warrant.
No one answered Friday at a phone number listed in Anderson's name.
Tongen said he was surprised by the charges because, to his knowledge, he didn't break any laws. What's more, he said, it was in his best financial interest to see that the horses arrived safely at auction.
"It's an unfortunate incident. We all hate to see animals die," he said.
Police have not made contact with either man, said Sgt. Christopher Thompson, a Lake County Sheriff's Department spokesman. Anderson, of McLeod, N.D., has a court hearing scheduled for Monday on traffic citations related to the crash.
Bail for both men was set at $100,000.
The Oct. 27 crash occurred at U.S. Highway 41 and Wadsworth Road in Wadsworth. Fifty-nine horses were being transported in a double-decker trailer that authorities said was designed for cattle and swine, not horses. Some of the Belgians were more than 6 feet tall and weighed thousands of pounds.
The trailer collided with another vehicle and toppled over, trapping the horses inside. Firefighters, veterinarians and horse enthusiasts from the area spent hours extricating the horses from the wreck.
As of Friday, 40 of the horses were still alive, said Donna Ewing of the Hooved Animal Rescue and Protection Society, the Barrington group overseeing adoptions of the surviving horses.
Nearly all are with new owners, Ewing said, with the exception of four younger horses that have recently recovered from a respiratory illness.
Anderson was cited for disregarding a red light, failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident and not having a bill of lading.
Tongen said that the horses were en route to Verndale, Minn., from Millersburg, Ind. when the northbound tractor-trailer overturned. Investigators have not found evidence to the contrary, Thompson said.
Federal regulations prohibit the use of double-decker trailers to transport horses to slaughter.
A state investigation formed the basis for the charges, said Dan Kleinhubert, chief of the misdemeanor division.
Though no regulations explicitly set guidelines for the size and design of trailers used in horse transport, the investigation suggested that the trailer in this instance was not designed for such large animals.
"Look at the size of the compartments and compare them to the heights of the horses," said Mark Ernst, Illinois state veterinarian, whose office is part of the state Department of Agriculture.
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