Subject: National Horse Protection Coalition Launches
Website
The National Horse Protection Coalition is a collection of horse
industry organizations, humane groups and equine rescues from around the US, all
dedicated to ending horse slaughter. The NHPC's primary goal is to work
towards passage of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.
Everyone working together to end slaughter are making great strides. In addition
to launching the Coalition, here are some of the recent highlights:
-- Co-sponsor list for H.R. 857 has now gone over the mark of 160.
-- Nick Zito, two-time Kentucky Derby Winning trainer and a Director of
the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, has been named as national spokesperson
for the Coalition.
-- Media coverage for the Coalition's recent efforts on numerous
television stations in Louisville, Kentucky and in newspapers such as the
Washington Times, Courier-Journal, Roll Call and The Hill.
-- Hiring the nation's premier lobbying firm, Barbour Griffith &
Rogers, and the former chief of staff to U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell, Hunter
Bates, to coordinate legislative efforts.
-- Pro Bono support from Nina DiSesa, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer
of McCann-Erickson New York, one of the nation's largest advertising agencies.
-- Hiring the nationally-renowned pollster Jan Van Lohuizen to conduct
public opinion surveys re: horse slaughter. Mr. Van Louhuizen's client list
includes President Bush, Senator Mitch McConnell, Senator Jim Bunning and
Congressman and Kentucky Governor-elect Ernie Fletcher, to name but a few.
-- Extremely strong poll numbers from critical states like Kentucky, Texas
and Utah demonstrating overwhelming public support for legislation to ban horse
slaughter and overwhelming rejection of arguments commonly made against a ban (e.g,.
the public strongly disagrees with statements such as "sale for slaughter
is important to making horse ownership more affordable" or "a ban
would lead to further regulations that would make owning and racing horses much
more difficult").
-- Hiring a former NBC News correspondent to produce a documentary
highlighting the unique status of horses in American society and the need for
legislation to ban slaughter.
The list of organizations who are opposed to the slaughter of horses include
Churchill Downs Inc., The National Thoroughbred Racing Association, New York
Racing Association, New Jersey Racing Commission, Utah Quarter Horse
Association, We are reaching out to all of these organizations and others to
invite them to formally join the Coalition.
Organizations already part of the NHPC include: Akindale Farm (NY), Fasig-
Tipton Company, Inc., Blue Horse Charities, Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation,
Hanover Shoe Farm, Walnut Hall Limited, Eaton & Thorne, the Society for
Animal Protective Legislation, Doris Day Animal League, Habitat for Horses, The
Fund for Animals, The Last Refuge, Tranquility Farm, The Piedera Foundation and
many others.
Our recent conversations with friends and colleagues in Washington, DC, have
furthered our firm belief that federal legislation banning horse slaughter for
the purpose of human consumption is not a matter of "whether", but
only a matter of "when."
Please continue to check back to our website (www.horse-protection.org)
often because some very good news will be announced over the next couple of
months. The website is still in the development stage, but more new items
and
information will be added often.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at any time.
Sincerely,
Christopher J. Heyde
Society for Animal Protective Legislation
Executive Director, National Horse Protection Coalition
(703) 836-4300
___________________________________ http://www.horse-protection.org