Mary S. Nash
104 S. Houston Street
Kaufman , Texas   75142
NashHulme@msn.com
972-962-7706
May 5, 2003

Dr. Steve Hicks
Cedar Crest Equine Clinic and Breeding Farm
16999 North State Highway 19
Palestine , Texas   75803  

CERTIFIED MAIL – RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED  

Re:  Your March 25, 2003 testimony before the Texas House Agriculture & Livestock Committee  

Dear Dr. Hicks:  

Your sworn testimony before the Texas House Agriculture and Livestock Committee on March 25 included the following statement.  

Let me give you a list of the organizations that are for allowing this option of horse slaughter plants to stay in existence.  The American Association of Equine Practitioners which is the largest equine veterinary organization in the world.  Their position is they are for this.  We have letters from several veterinary schools.  Oklahoma State University, California Veterinary School at Davis, Texas A&M University stating that in their opinion that these plants….without these plants the potential of abuse for these unwanted horses is much greater than what these horses face at the plants.  

Thank you, Dr. Hicks, for visiting with me by telephone on Thursday, May 1 when you told me that you did not want to disclose to me the names of the individuals who wrote letters from Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine or the School of Veterinary Medicine at University of California at Davis because, as you said, animal rights groups might picket them.  You did, however, confirm that the letter you have from Texas A&M was signed by Dr. Ted Friend.  

In your sworn testimony, you said, “We have letters from several veterinary schools.”  When you said “we” were you referring to you and Beltex?  I believe you told me that the letters from OSU and UC at Davis were addressed to Beltex.  Were you representing Beltex at the hearing?  

I contacted the Deans’ offices of all three schools, and I could find no evidence that any one of the three schools has taken a position in favor of Betty Brown’s horse slaughter bill, HB 1324.  

For your reference, I enclose copies of email messages dated May 1, 2003 from Lynn Narlesky, School of Veterinary Medicine , Office of the Dean, University of California , Davis and Charles MacAllister, DVM, Professor and Head, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Oklahoma State University .  They both say they have no knowledge of their schools having taken positions on Betty Brown’s Texas horse slaughter bill.  I personally spoke with Ms. Martha Huebner, Assistant to the Dean, Dr. H. Richard Adams, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University , and she said Dr. Adams has no knowledge of any letter written in favor of Betty Brown’s horse slaughter bill, HB 1324.  

Please furnish me copies of the three letters you have from Texas A&M, University of California at Davis, and Oklahoma State University which say, “that in their opinion that these plants….without these plants the potential of abuse for these unwanted horses is much greater than what these horses face at the plants” and caused you to list the Veterinary Colleges of these three schools among the organizations that support Betty Brown’s horse slaughter bill.  

Sincerely,

Mary S. Nash
Encl.

cc:        Tom Craddick, Speaker of the House
            Rick Hardcastle, Chairman, House Agriculture and Livestock Committee
            Representative Betty Brown, Member, House Agriculture and Livestock Committee
            Representative Lon Burnam, Member, House Agriculture and Livestock Committee
            Representative Delwin Jones, Member, House Agriculture and Livestock Committee
            Representative Pete Laney, Member, House Agriculture and Livestock Committee
            Representative Sid Miller, Member, House Agriculture and Livestock Committee
            Representative David Swinford, Member, House Agriculture and Livestock Committee