A Sweeping Undercover Investigation of Canada's Leading Equine Slaughterhouses

Chambers of Carnage

A Sweeping Undercover Investigation of Canada's Leading Equine Slaughterhouses

Horse Welfare Group calls for immediate closure of Canada’s horse slaughter plants

Westbank, B.C., March 30, 2010: In late February 2010, the Canadian Horse Defence Coalition (CHDC) received hidden camera footage of horse slaughter practices at Quebec’s Viandes Richelieu and Alberta’s Bouvry Exports - the latter known as North America’s largest exporter of horsemeat. The CHDC has asked a panel of veterinarians, the BC SPCA and the World Society for the Protection of Animals to review the footage, which contains numerous instances of improper stunning and horses showing signs of returning consciousness. 

Early audit results of the footage show automatic failures of both facilities.

The CHDC has compelling proof that puts into question the effectiveness of the assembly-line slaughter of horses. The evidence demonstrates that both the facilities in Alberta and Quebec fail to meet humane slaughter standards used by the CFIA to audit Canadian slaughterhouses.

The CHDC’s June 2008 report on Natural Valley Farms - the now bankrupt horse slaughterhouse in Saskatchewan (http://www.cbc.ca/thenational/indepthanalysis/story/2009/10/01/national-horses-061008.html) documented the inadequate stunning of horses with the penetrating captive bolt gun.

At both plants in the February 2010 investigation, a .22 rifle was used, and again horses were shot incorrectly, with some regaining consciousness. As stated by Alberta veterinarian Dr. Debi Zimmermann: “I conclude that the wary and flighty nature of the horse, coupled with the poorly designed kill plant systems currently in place at Bouvry Exports and Viandes Richelieu, results in unacceptable levels of suffering endured by horses (both in number of horses and degree of suffering), and poses inherent dangers to plant personnel.” Dr. Zimmermann adds: “The shooters are seldom able to adhere to the required protocols for euthanasia by firearm, due to a combination of horse and human factors.”

As there are only two government-approved methods of stunning horses in Canada - captive bolt gun and rifle - and both methods have been shown to cause prolonged suffering in numerous horses, we conclude that these animals cannot be slaughtered humanely in today’s slaughterhouse assembly lines.

The CHDC therefore calls for the immediate closure of Canada’s horse slaughter plants.

To view footage, go to www.defendhorsescanada.org.

For further information, please contact:

Twyla Francois

Central Region Director

T: 204-296-1375

Sinikka Crosland

Executive Director

T: 250-768-4803

Canadian Horse Defence Coalition

info@defendhorsescanada.org

www.defendhorsescanada.org

MO: no laws regarding the welfare of any domesticated animal including dogs, cats, horses, other pets

MO moves bill forward where no laws regarding the welfare of any domesticated animal including dogs, cats, horses, other pets... Public outcry is needed to stop this bill from passing at the final level.

By Laura Allen

Animal Law Coalition

Update April 1: H.B. 1747 has passed the Missouri House of Representatives.  This bill now moves to the state senate.
The version passed by the House is basically the same as the introduced bill, except for one significant change: If this bill becomes law, "[n]o law criminalizing or otherwise regulating crops or the welfare of any domesticated animals shall be valid unless based upon generally accepted scientific principles and enacted by the general assembly." 
Scary language for animals.

This means there could be no local laws regarding the welfare of any domesticated animal including dogs, cats, horses, other pets and farm animals that differ from state laws. Also, any current animal cruelty or animal welfare law in Missouri would be void unless it was "based upon generally accepted scientific principles and enacted by the general assembly." People charged with animal abuse could raise challenges to the law, claiming it was not based upon "generally accepted scientific principles". Possibly, all laws governing animal cruelty or welfare would simply be void because there was no determination of whether they were based upon "generally accepted scientific principles". Arguably, current regulations governing animal welfare and protection would be void as well for this lack of this determination and also because they are not enacted by the legislature; regulations are issued by state agencies.  

But that is not all this bill does. It was originally introduced to promote horse slaughter and it still does that. Read Animal Law Coalition's report below for more on this bill and what else all of us must do to stop it. 

Missouri state Rep. James Viebrock is the sponsor of H.B. 1747, which basically would also authorize registration and inspections for commercial horse slaughter for human consumption.

The bill proposes that the Missouri Dept. of Agriculture would register commercial horse slaughter operations and certify "that the parts of horses to be processed are fit for human food, and the processing establishment to be operated complies with ... sanitary standards". All registration and inspection fees collected" would "be paid to the director of agriculture and deposited into the state ‘Horse Meat and Product Fund'". Annual inspection fees would be used "to pay for USDA inspection of horse meat products and horse meat processing facilities."

Learn more and take action: Article continues HERE 

AAHS Action Alert:
If you live in Missouri and can help organize a group of constituents, please email us at aahsus@gmail.com.

Thanks for all you do for our American Horses!

American's Against Horse Slaughter

 

Your Help is Needed to defeat Missouri  Legislation H.B.1747!

 

 

Government proposes removal of more than 1,000 horses in Wyoming,

A Message from In Defense of Animals..

Help Stop Another Proposed Wild Horse Roundup

Submit Comments By April 2!

Government proposes removal of more than 1,000 horses in Wyoming,
claiming 1.7 million acres can only support 1,165 horses

Please send the e-mail at this page by April 2 to submit comments to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The BLM is continuing its business-as-usual roundup of wild horses. The latest proposal is to remove more than half of the 1,950 wild horses on 1.7 million acres of Herd Management Areas in southcental Wyoming.
This is the beginning of the BLM’s process to remove wild horses in the Adobe Town and Salt Wells Herd Management Areas in Wyoming. It’s important that we submit our comments now to oppose this newest proposed assault on wild horses.
The BLM claims that the Adobe Town Herd Management Area encompassing more than 472,000 acres can only have 610 to 800 wild horses and the Salt Wells Herd Management Area comprised of nearly 1.2 million acres can only sustain 251 to 365 wild horses.



Please submit your comments today with the form at this page. Protest against another massive Obama Administration wild horse roundup. Public comments must be submitted by April 2, 2010.

MARCH FOR MUSTANGS THURSDAY, March 25th

MARCH FOR MUSTANGS THIS THURSDAY!

  

The March for Mustangs will take place not only by the White House in Washington DC but on the Las Vegas Strip, by the Los Angeles Federal Building and in front of the US Embassy in London.

 

Please see the following link from the Cloud Foundation for more information.

 

http://us1.campaign-archive.com/?u=b16d80346618d3ce64e8e9877&id=4701b8128b&e=0478434c17

Another "Front" for Horse Slaughter

Pro-slaughter interests have once again used a state legislature to advance their agenda to return horse slaughter to the U.S.  

Mar 16, 2010 

With permission by 

Laura Allen, Animal Law Coalition

They have pushed through the Wyoming legislature a new law, H.B. 122, introduced by Wy. State Rep. Sue Wallis who is also the self-styled Executive Director of the United Organizations of the Horse, which is said to unite The United Horsemen's Front, The United Horsemen's Alliance, and The United Horsemen's Political & Legal Action Fund.  "Front" is probably the most appropo name for this collection of horse slaughter supporters. Front for pro-horse slaughter interests.
It's not clear that when Wyoming residents elected Wallis as a state representative, they understood she would act as a shill for pro-slaughter interests.

The new law allows the Wyoming Board of Livestock to "send for slaughter" any abandoned, estray, feral, or abused animals under their control. The Board can already sell these animals at auction so including the phrase "send for slaughter" in the law doesn't add to the Board's current authority.  It just sends the message that horse slaughter is acceptable, even desirable.  

The new law also states that the Board "may enter into agreements with licensed meat processing plants to process meat from livestock disposed of by slaughter.  The processed meat shall be sold to:
(Cont'd) 


Laura Allen is founder and executive director of Animal Law Coalition, a 501c(4) non-profit that provides animal legal news and resources to attorneys, government officials, teachers, students, animal welfare advocates and the public to encourage them to join the fight against animal cruelty. Animal Law Coalition also drafts and lobbies for legislation and gets involved in litigation to promote animal welfare. Laura has been a trial and appellate attorney for more than 20 years, practicing in several state and federal courts. She is a member of the Bar of the U.S. Supreme Court, several professional associations, and advisor to animal welfare organizations. Ms. Allen has lobbied for the passage of legislation to ban horse slaughter in the United States and has drafted state resolutions to support that effort. Laura Allen is a Co-Founder of the Wild Capture Awareness Campaign, a board member of Wild for Life Foundation, an Executive Advisory Board Member for the WFLF Humanion Films feature documentary film project, "Saving America's Horses, A Nation Betrayed".

Il Rep Sacia pulls his bill to legalize horse slaughter from the agenda for this legislative session

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Illinois Bill to Restore Horse Slaughter Withdrawn for Lack of Support

Springfield, IL (March 11, 2010) – Yesterday State Representative Jim Sacia (R – Freeport) pulled his bill to legalize horse slaughter from the agenda for this legislative session.  The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) appreciates his recognition of horse slaughter as a controversial issue and his decision to withdraw it from consideration.

This was the third time in as many years that Representative Sacia had introduced legislation aimed at overturning the state’s widely supported ban on horse slaughter.  In the two previous years, the House voted against his proposal.  Support for maintaining the ban remains strong with the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor.

“We are much relieved by Representative Sacia’s decision.  We look forward to working together with all the members of the Illinois General Assembly on ways to improve the welfare of horses in the state.” said Chris Heyde, deputy director of Government and Legal Affairs for AWI.  "We are looking at positive options and slaughter is certainly not the right step."

##30##

For More Information:

Chris Heyde, 202-337-2332

____________________________

CHRIS HEYDE

Deputy Director

Government and Legal Affairs

ANIMAL WELFARE INSTITUTE

900 Pennsylvania Ave., SE

Washington, DC 20003

www.awionline.org ~ www.compassionindex.org

URGENT: CALLS ARE NEEDED TO STOP HORSE SLAUGHTER

Rep. Jim Sacia says he has the votes to repeal the ban on horse slaughter in IL!  

Your calls are needed now.  

For those who reside outside of IL, let them know that this is a National Issue because they intend to slaughter horses from across the country.

"Horse slaughter is a license for cruelty and corruption. Please help stop the return of horse slaughter plants in the US. Take action now!" - Katia Louise, West Coast Coordinator AAHS , Filmmaker: Saving America's Horses

Learn more:

http://www.animallawcoalition.com/horse-slaughter/article/1138

TAKE ACTION NOW! A VOTE CAN HAPPEN AT ANYTIME!

Dear Friends,

Please see the following alert from AWI.  Once again, your help will make that difference in keeping our horses safe from slaughter.

 

IL Bill HB 4812 can come up for a vote any time now!

 

Please make the call on behalf of our horses. 

Thanks for all you do.

American's Against Horse Slaughter

 

URGENT ACTION NEEDED!

March 2, 2010

Urge your Representative to vote NO on HB 4812
A bill to reopen cruel horse slaughter plants in IL
VOTE COULD TAKE PLACE ANY DAY – CALL NOW!

Dear Humanitarian,

Urgent calls are needed to protect equine welfare in the state of Illinois. Please contact your State House Representatives to help preserve the 2007 Illinois ban on horse slaughter which ultimately resulted in the closure of the last remaining horse slaughter plant in the United States.

To no surprise, the Illinois State House Committee on Agriculture and Conservation passed HB 4812, a bill to reopen cruel horse slaughter plants in the state. State Rep. Jim Sacia, introduced the bill to repeal the state ban, paving the way for horse slaughter to reappear in Illinois. As has been discussed and voted on many times before, the slaughter process subjects horses to extreme cruelty and an inhumane death. Supporters on both sides of the issue agree that we have a nationwide crisis right now, and something must be done to save these majestic beings from cruelty. We disagree, however, on how to handle the problem. The Animal Welfare Institute does not believe subjecting horses to the trauma of slaughter by captive bolt or being stabbed in the neck by puntilla knife is the answer.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn reiterated his desire to protect the welfare of animals this weekend, “As long as I am governor, we're never going to pass any kind of legislation that allows cruelty toward animals, whether it be dogs, cats or any other living things.”

We are confident Illinois House and Senate representatives are strongly opposed to HB4812, and will vote NO on the bill. However, Representative Sacia has begun to employ a new tactic to garner support for the bill. Claims that the bill has no chance of passing and a vote in favor of the bill as a political nod to Rep. Sacia have started to swirl around the State Capitol. Representatives must not play political games with this bill, which holds the lives of about 100,000 horses annually. It is critical that you urge your representative to vote NO on HB 4812.

Also, please reiterate the fact that Illinois horse rescues will not accept any money as once offered by Rep. Sacia, in an attempt to appease the animal welfare community. Illinois horse rescues submitted a letter to the State House denouncing the acceptance of monies collected from slaughtering horses. Ask that your Representative to record a NO vote on the bill with or without amendments.

It is unfortunate that the Illinois General Assembly and individuals from Illinois and around the country must continue dealing with this issue year after year, but we must remain vigilant against any and all attempts to overturn the 2007 ban on horse slaughter. It is a shame that our limited resources must be used to repeatedly engage in this fight, rather than expend the resources further protecting horses.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

The Illinois House will bring take up HB 4812 at any time now. The exact date is not yet set but may appear soon. Please contact your Representatives today to register your opposition to this inhumane bill. To find House member contact information, visit www.ilga.gov/ house or see below.

For your convenience, below is a list of talking points to aid in placing calls and drafting emails. Again, please take action for the horses today. They are counting on us!

Talking Points:
Please apologize for having to call your representative on this issue yet again. The Illinois General Assembly resolved this issue back in 2007, but Rep. Sacia continues to take up everybody’s time with this unpopular bill. No matter what is said, please vote NO on HB 4812. Soundly defeating this bill (once again) will send a message across Illinois and the U.S. that horse slaughter and efforts to promote it are not acceptable. Strongly oppose HB 4812 and any amendments because horse slaughter is a cruel and unnecessary practice. The Illinois General Assembly banned horse slaughter by an overwhelming majority in 2007, and Rep. Sacia’s bill, HB 4812, must be rejected. There is no evidence to support Rep. Sacia’s claims that the slaughterhouse closure has led to an increase in horse abandonment or abuse. Horse slaughter itself is abuse because of the way in which horses react to the stress of slaughter plants and the multiple hits required to immobilize a horse. Ending horse slaughter stopped an overt form of animal cruelty and has only been good for the horses. The state ban is important. The animal welfare community, equine rescues and the majority of Illinois residents DO NOT support the overturning of this ban no matter what Rep. Sacia may claim.
If Rep. Sacia actually cared about the welfare of horses he would support the federal ban on horse slaughter which would stop the export of horses from the U.S. Please ask your representative to urge Rep. Sacia to discontinue his attempts to overturn the horse slaughter bill. Your representative should also urge Rep. Sacia to support the federal bill, Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act (H.R. 503/S.727), in order to truly advance the welfare of equines in Illinois if he is truly concerned with the welfare of our horses. H.R. 503/S.727 ensures horses from Illinois and all over the U.S. will no longer be hauled to Canada or Mexico for slaughter.

Please share this "Dear Humanitarian" eAlert with all family, friends, colleagues and fellow horse enthusiasts! Also, please take a minute to visit AWI’s Compassion Index at www.awionline. org/takeaction and take action on the federal Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act (H.R. 503/S. 727). For more information on horse slaughter, you may visit www.awionline. org.Thank you for all you do on behalf of the horses!

Sincerely,
Chris Heyde
Deputy Director
Government and Legal Affairs
Animal Welfare Institute
House Member D/R Phone # Email

Edward J. Acevedo D (217) 782-2855 eacevedoed@ilga. gov
Luis Arroyo D (217) 782-0480 repdistrict2@ yahoo.com
Suzanne Bassl R (217) 782-8026
Mark H. Beaubien R (217) 782-1517 strepmbeaubien@ aol.com
Daniel V. Beiser D (217) 782-5996 dvbeiser@sbcglobal. net
Patricia R. Bellock R (217) 782-1448 rep@rbellock. com
Maria Antonia Berrios D (217) 782-1032 repberrios39gmail. com
Bob Biggins R (217) 782-6578 bobbiggins@comcast. net
William B. Black R (217) 782-4811 wbblack@sbcglobal. net
Mike Boland D (217) 782-3992 ilrepmikeboland@ aol.com
Mike Bost R (217) 782-0387 rep.bost@hotmail. com
John E. Bradley D (217) 782-1051 repjohnbradley@ mychoice. net
Dan Brady R (217) 782-1118 dan@rep-danbrady. com
Rich Brauer R (217) 782-0053 brauerri@ilga. gov
Daniel J. Burke D (217) 782-1117 burkedj@ilga. gov
William D. Burns D (217) 782-2023 repwillburns@ att.net
John D. Cavaletto R (217) 782-0066 john@joncavaletto. com
Linda Chapa LaVia D (217) 558-1002 chapa-laviali@ ilga.gov
Franco Coladipietro R (217) 782-8158 franco@il45. com
Sandy Cole R (217) 782-7320 representativesandy cole@comcast. net
Annazette Collins D (217) 782-8077 collinsar@ilga. gov
Marlow H. Colvin D (217) 782-8272 repcolvin@sbcglobal .net
Michael G. Connelly R (217) 782-8028 Repconnelly48@ gmail.com
Elizabeth Coulson R (217) 782-4194 Coulson@ilga. gov
Fred Crespo D (217) 782-0347 fred@fredcrespo. com
Tom Cross R (217) 782-1331 tom@tomcross. com
Barbara Flynn Currie R (217) 782-8121 repcurrie@sbcglobal .net
Shane Cultra R (217) 558-1039 shanecultra105@ yahoo.com
John D'Amico D (217) 782-8198 johnd@ilga.gov
Monique D. Davis D (217) 782-0010 davismd@ilga. gov
William Davis D (217) 782-8197 williamd.hds. state.il. us
Anthony DeLuca D (217) 782-1719 repdeluca@sbcglobal .net
Lisa M. Dugan D (217) 782-5981 lisadugan@sbcglobal .net
Kenneth Dunkin D (217) 782-4535 kendunkin@msn. com
Jim Durkin R (217) 782-0494 jimd@ilga.gov
Roger L. Eddy R (217) 558-1040 reddyunit1@aol. com
Keith Farnham D (217) 782-8020 krfarnham@gmail. com
Sara Feigenholtz D (217) 782-8062 feigenholtz@ ilga.gov
Robert F. Flider D (217) 782-8398 bobflider@repflider .com
Mary E. Flowers D (217) 782-4207 flowersme@ilga. gov
LaShawn K. Ford D (217) 782-5962 lkf@ilga.gov
Mike Fortner R (217) 782-1653 mike.fortner@ sbcglobal. net
Jack D. Franks D (217) 782-1717 jack@jackfranks. org
John A Fritchey D (217) 782-2458 mystaterep@aol. com
Paul D. Froehlich D (217) 782-3725 statereppaul@ sbcglobal. net
Esther Golar D (217) 782-5971 esthergolar@ sbcglobal. net
Careen M. Gordon D (217) 782-5997 staterepgordon@ sbcglobal. net
Jehan A. Gordon D (217) 782-3186 repjehangordon@ gmail.com
Deborah L. Graham D (217) 782-6400 st.rep.graham@ sbcglobal. net
Julie Hamos D (217) 782-8052 julie@staterephamos .org
Betsy Hannig D (217) 782-8071 betsyh@ilga. gov
Greg Harris D (217) 782-3835 greg@gregharris. org
Kay Hatcher R (217) 782-1486 vote4kay@att. net
Elizabeth Hernandez D (217) 782-8173 repehernandez@ yahoo.com
Jay C. Hoffman D (217) 782-8018 hoffman@legis. state.il. us
Thomas Holdbrook D (217) 782-0104 NA
Constance A. Howard D (217) 782- 6476 howardca@ilga. gov
Eddie Lee Jackson, Sr. D (217) 782-5951 NA
Naomi D. Jakobsson D (217) 558-1009 naomi@naomijakobsso n.com
Charles E. Jefferson D (217) 782-3167 staterepchuck67@ aol.com
Kevin Joyce D (217) 782-8200 kjoyce@hds.ilga. gov
Renee Kosel R (217) 782-0424 rkosel@ilga. gov
Lou Lang D (217) 782-8400 reploulang@aol. com
Michael J. Madigan D (217) 782-5350 mmadigan@hds. ilga.gov
Sidney H. Mathias R (217) 782-1664 repmathias@hotmail. com
Frank J. Mautino D (217) 782-0140 patti76th@ivnet. com
Karen May D (217) 782-0902 karen@repkarenmay. org
Emily McAsey D (217) 782-4179 repEmily@gmail. com
Michael P. McAuliffe R (217) 782- 8182 macauliffe20@ yahoo.com
Kevin A. McCarthy D (217) 782-3316 kevmac37@sbcglobal. net
Jack McGuire D (217) 782-8090 jmcguire86@sbcgloba l.net
Deborah Mell D (217) 782-8117 deborahm@ilga. gov
Susana A. Mendoza D (217) 782-7752 staterepmendoza@ gmail.com
David E. Miller D (217) 782- 8087 repdavidmiller@ sbcglobal. net
Bill Mitchell R (217) 782-8163 repmitchell@ earthlink. net
Jerry L. Mitchell R (217) 782-0535 repjmitchell@ comcast.ne
Donald L. Moffitt R (217) 782-8032 moffitt@grics. net
Rosemary Mulligan R (217) 782-8007 repmulligan@ usa.net
Richard P. Myers R (217) 782-0416 repmyers@macomb. com
Elaine Nekritz D (217) 558-1004 enekritz@repnekritz .org
JoAnn D. Osmond R (217) 782-8151 osmondjoann@ aol.com
Harry Osterman D (217) 782-8088 hjo17@aol.com
Brandon W. Phelps D (217) 782-5131 bphelps@yourclearwa ve.com
Sandra M. Pihos R (217) 782-8037 sandrapihos42@ gmail.co
Raymond Poe R (217) 782-0044 poe@ilga.gov
Robert W. Pritchard R (217) 782-0425 bob@pritchardstater ep.com
Randy Ramey, Jr. R (217) 558-1037 staterepramey55@ aol.com
Dennis M. Reboletti R (217) 782-4014 dennisreboletti@ sbcglobal. net
Davis Reis R (217) 782-1018 repreitz@egyptian. net
Al Riley D (217) 558-1007 rep.riley38@ sbcglobal. net
Robert Rita D (217) 558-1000 robertbobrita@ aol.com
Chapin Rose R (217) 558-1006 chapin@chapinrose. net
Jim Sacia R (217) 782-8186 JimSacia@aeroinc. net
Angelo Saviano R (217) 782-3374 skip@saviano. com
Timothy L. Schmitz R (217) 782-5457 info@timschmitz. org
Darlene J. Senger R (217) 782-6507 sengerstaterep@ gmail.com
Carol A. Sente D (217) 782-0499 senteforstaterep@ gmail.com
Michael K. Smith D (217) 782-8152 repmikesmith@ gmail.com
Keith P. Sommer R (217) 782-0221 sommer@mtco. com
Cynthia Soto D (217) 782-0150 csoto@ilga.gov
Ron Stephens R (217) 782-6401 ron@repstephens. com
Ed Sullivan, Jr. R (217) 782-3696 ILhouse51@sbcglobal .net
Andre M. Thapedi D (217) 782-1702 rep32district@ gmail.com
Jill Tracy R (217) 782-8096 jilltracy@jilltracy .com
Michael W. Tryon R (217) 782-0432 Mike@miketryon. com
Arthur L. Turner D (217) 782-8116 gene@turnerforillin ois.com
Patrick J. Verschoore D (217) 782-5970 pverschoore@ legis.state. il.us
Ronald A. Wait R (217) 782-0548 repwait777@aol. com
Mark L. Walker D (217) 782-3739 repmarkwalker@ gmail.com
Eddie Washington D (217) 558-1012 washington60th@ aol.com
Jim Watson R (217) 782-1840 jimwatson@localnetc o.com
Dave Winters R (217) 782-0455 repwinters@aol. com
Karen A. Yarbrough D (217) 782-8120 kyarbrough@ilga. gov
Michael J. Zalewski D (217) 782-5280 michaelz@ilga. gov

CO Bill to Give Tax Dollars to Promote Horse Slaughter

By Laura Allen, Animal Law Coalition

CO Bill to Give Tax Dollars to Promote Horse Slaughter Act Now!!
Under S.B. 139, legislators are considering a bill that would require the state tax return to contain a provision that would allow citizens to indicate they want taxpayer money to go to the Colorado Unwanted Horse Alliance to "assist in its efforts" to "find solutions" for "unwanted horses". The solution being the re-opening of U.S. slaughter houses.  A fund would be set up in the state treasury called the "Unwanted Horse Fund" where this money to be distributed to this private corporation would be collected.


Studies attached below have shown that stories about "abandoned and unwanted" horses are largely untrue, planted in the media by horse slaughter proponents that want people to believe this is because of the closure of U.S. slaughter houses. They have repeated the myth of the "abandoned and unwanted" horses over and over until people believe it.  In fact, slaughter is driven by a demand for horse meat generally as a delicacy in some other countries, not numbers of "abandoned and unwanted" horses in the U.S.  More than 92% of horses purchased and sent for slaughter are healthy, not abandoned, unwanted, starving or otherwise neglected. So it is not a service for "abandoned and unwanted horses"; it is a brutal enterprise that profits from animal cruelty.

Also, the salvage or secondary market for horses is created by over-breeding; slaughter enables over-breeding that results in what are more accurately described as "excess" horses, not "abandoned and starving" horses. Without slaughter, there would be less incentive for overbreeding and fewer "excess" horses.
The answer to any animals in need of care is not to line the pockets of a lucrative industry that would torture them and sell their meat as a delicacy for considerable profit.  However the Unwanted Horse Alliance may disguise itself, as a charitable, a public service, whatever, know that it is a front for pro-slaughter interests.

WHAT YOU CAN DO
This bill has already passed the Senate Agriculture Committee by a vote of 5-1. The bill is now in the Appropriations Committee. We must stop this nonsense and fraud on the taxpayers. This bill is set for hearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee this Friday, March 5, 2010 at 7:30 a.m. in Senate Committee Room 356. Find committee members here (just click on their names for contact info) and write (faxes are best) or call and urge them to vote NO on S.B. 139!

 Go here or here to find a list of Colorado senators with contact information. Write (faxes or letters are best) or call and urge them to vote NO to S.B. 139! Don't wait. Do it now.
For more on other bills spreading the disinformation of the pro-slaughter lobbyists and how you can help defeat them.....

By Laura Allen, Animal Law Coalition,
http://www.animallawcoalition.com/horse-slaughter/article/1242