Leslee - Thank you for allowing me to tell you why I support HR 857 and why I hope Congressman Ralph Hall will sign on as a cosponsor for the bill.  Here is a link to my website where I have posted  articles and letters relative to the horse slaughter issue.  http://kaufmanzoning.net/horsemeat/

 

Here is a June 27th email message I received from Greg Lawley of the California Bureau of Livestock Identification confirming horse theft reports for the years 1994-2003  http://kaufmanzoning.net/horsemeat/LawleytoNash1.htm  and here are my calculations showing a 34% decrease in reported thefts after California voters outlawed horse slaughter for human consumption in 1998.  http://kaufmanzoning.net/horsemeat/CAstolenhorsestats1.htm

 

Here is the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation press release on the Texas voter survey showing 72% oppose horse slaughter http://kaufmanzoning.net/horsemeat/Survey1.htm  and here is the actual survey  http://kaufmanzoning.net/horsemeat/survey1.doc

 

Here is a list of the killer-buyers who supply horses to Dallas Crown.  http://kaufmanzoning.net/horsemeat/Suppliers.htm  They get special pricing as long as they meet their monthly quotas.  I am told that Trent Ward's quota is 81 horses per month.

 

As I mentioned, horsemeat at 40 cents a pound is an incentive for horse theft.  Unlike cattle, horses are easy to steal --- all it takes is a trailer, rope, and a bucket of feed.

 

I hope federal judge Terry Means will rule that the two Texas live horse slaughter plants should be shut down in accordance with Texas Ag Code Section 149 http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/statutes/ag/ag0014900toc.html  but even if they are closed, they could reopen in another state.  That's why we need to pass HR 857.

 

I ask that Congressman Hall join Congressman Martin Frost as a cosponsor of HR 857.  I cannot imagine why any U.S. Congressman would support a foreign owned business that exploits our young healthy horses and promotes horse theft.

 

Regards,
Mary S. Nash
104 S. Houston St.
Kaufman, Tx 75142
972-962-7706
NashHulme@msn.com
www.kaufmanzoning.net/horsemeat