From: Regina Anderson
Date: Friday, October 03, 2003 13:28:52
To: Texas Congressman Ron Paul
I am writing to request your support in
co-sponsoring HR857 - The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.
As a businesswoman, horse owner and horse
rescue volunteer, I believe the slaughter of American horses by foreign owned
slaughterhouses in the US must stop. The vast majority of Americans do not
advocate the slaughter of horses for the dinner table of wealthy Europeans.
Our horses are part of an American tradition, they
helped build this country. Our horses are NOT raised as food animals as other
livestock (cattle, swine, lamb etc.) And, it is NOT true that only the old,
sick, or lame horses are sent to slaughter. I have personally attended
auctions in Texas and have bid against the so-called "killer
buyers". I have seen the "killer buyers" bid against
families wanting a horse for their children. These were not old, lame or
sick horses!
I also fostered for 8 months a registered
Thoroughbred, a beautiful mare, who was pulled from the killer pens at an
auction by the rescue that I volunteer for. She was 6 years old and was
sent to the auction because she threw her last owner. The rescue
determined she had a minor back problem, sent her to the vet to have a simple
adjustment, brought her back to me and my 20 year old daughter got on her
bareback and rode her through our pasture. This lovely, gentle horse was
destined for someone's dinner plate!
The issue is not only that horses are not raised
as meat animals in the US and that we don't eat horsemeat in the US, the issue
is also the inhumane way they are trucked to slaughter, the inhumane way they
are handled at the slaughter houses and that the process of the captive bolt
in itself is inhumane in the slaughtering of horses and often does not render
the horse unconscious.
Please support this bill and become a co-sponsor.
I look forward to hearing from you or your staff in regard to the support of
HR 857.
Thank you.
Regina Anderson