My
conversation with Dr. Steve Hicks,
The letters Dr. Hicks referred to on March
25 from the vet schools at
Hicks’ March 25 testimony reads,
“Let me give you a list of the organizations that are for allowing this
option of horse slaughter plants to stay in existence.
The American Association of Equine Practitioners which is the largest
equine veterinary organization in the world.
Their position is they are for this.
We have letters from several veterinary schools.
Oklahoma State University, California Veterinary School at Davis, Texas
A&M University stating that in their opinion that these plants….without
these plants the potential of abuse for these unwanted horses is much greater
than what these horses face at the plants.”
He told me that every vet in Betty Brown’s
district supports HB 1324. I said,
“Every vet?”
“Yes, every vet,” he said.
I said, “How do you know that?”
He said, “Because I called and talked to
them.”
I said, “Did you talk to David
Costello?”
He said, “No.”
I laughed, “He’s the vet closest to
Dallas Crown. He’s my vet.”
He said, “Does he have an equine practice?
I only called vets who have an equine practice.”
I said, “Of course he has an equine
practice. His wife raises horses.”
He said, “That doesn’t mean he has an
equine practice.”
I said, “He definitely has an equine
practice. He put my horse to sleep
for me.”
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I asked him if he approached Betty Brown or if she approached him. He said he approached her and told her that if she would sponsor this bill he would give it his full attention.
He said that the other parts of the country
suffer from not having the slaughter option because they don’t have a place
for their unwanted horses.
I asked him how many horses he thought there
were in the
He mentioned that there used to be a horse
slaughter plant in
He did not believe that 90% of slaughtered
horses came from outside
MNash