To the Editor:

As I began to write this letter I was drawn to the inclusion of a mule named Rosie on your websites front page. Can we imagine the tens of thousands of Rosie's being slaughtered each year simply to satisfy a culinary delicacy? Very sad! Now DeKalb is about to rejoin the two other foreign owned horse slaughter plants in the US in supplying this delicacy, just as the nation begins to reject such cruelty through the growing support of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.

As I read the article about Cavel's rebuilding, I wanted to share my own personal experience during a visit to the Cavel horse slaughtering plant a couple of years ago. I was witness to wanton and calculated cruelty at the hands of individuals who under regular laws would have been easily cited for unimaginable animal cruelty. However, because American's don't consume horsemeat and most have no idea the practice exists, little if any enforcement exists. Despite false claims (just one of many) by slaughterhouse operators, NO USDA inspector was present while I was inside the facility. As I watched callous workers savagely beating terrified horses on their face, head, neck and back my colleague, a licensed veterinarian, went to find the required USDA inspector. Not to our surprise they were nowhere to be found.

Reject this cruel and dishonest industry that claims young, old, sick and healthy horses. A despicable practice that thrives on horse theft and dishonest horse sales to acquire companion animals, federally protected wild horses and foals born as a discardable byproduct of the Premarin industry all for the profit of a foreign owned family.

Sincerely,
Chris Heyde
________________________
Chris Heyde
Policy Analyst
Society for Animal Protective Legislation
Tel: (703) 836-4300
Fax: (703) 836-0400