Dear Friends and Colleagues:

Liz and I wanted to share a quick year-end update on the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act  (AHSPA).  Our sincere thanks to all for your hard work and support on this issue over the last year.

2003 was a great year for building widespread support for the AHSPA.  A multitude of individuals and industry organizations with little or no previous history with humane issues came out in support of the bill, including the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Churchill Downs, Inc., Fasig-Tipton, Inc. (America's oldest and most prestigious Thoroughbred auction house), former NYC Mayor Ed Koch, Utah Quarter Horse Association, Nick Zito (two time Kentucky Derby winning trainer), Hanover Shoe Farm (largest Standardbred farm in the US) to name just a few.  In addition, the list of prominent business leaders, equine rescues and humane groups supporting the bill continued to grow.

Towards the end of 2003, we formalized these exciting partnerships at the historic Churchill Down in Louisville, KY, by launching the National Horse Protection Coalition, a 501c(4), which is made up of many of the groups listed above.  Through this Coalition we have been able to hire the lobbying firm of Barbour, Griffith and Rogers (and Hunter Bates, Senator McConnell's former Chief of Staff), secure the pro bono support of McCann-Erickson New York (one of the largest ad agencies in the world), commission a former NBC correspondent to help develop a short film, and hire the pollster for President Bush to conduct surveys in Kentucky, Utah and Texas (all provided very strong numbers in favor of a ban).  The Coalition's website is www.horse-protection.org.

We coordinated with activists across the country to build support for the bill within the veterinary community, and dozens of vets have already added their names to a sign on letter in favor of the AHSPA.  This support is critical, given the AVMA's and AAEP's current opposition to the bill - a position that they would wrongly have Members of Congress believe is representative of their memberships.  If anyone knows a veterinarian who would be interested in adding their name to our letter, please share this link with them:  http://www.horse-protection.org/info.php?id=29

When Congress returns we should have close to 170 cosponsors - thanks in part to The HSUS and The Fund for Animals, which included the AHSPA on their Congressional Scorecard, and to the hard work of Representative Ed Whitfield (R-KY), who has been tireless in his effort to bring more of his colleagues on board.   This puts us in a strong position to renew efforts vis-a-vis House Agriculture Committee Chairman, Bob Goodlatte, who has so far refused to consider our bill before his committee.

Again, thanks for all of your help and support during 2003 and for your ongoing support in 2004!

Best wishes and Happy New Year!

Chris and Liz

Society for Animal Protective Legislation
Doris Day Animal League