From: Responsible Pet Owners Alliance
To: TX-RPOA@listserv.tamu.edu
Sent: Sunday, May 25, 2003 1:17 PM
Subject: TX Horse slaughter bill - final round

The animal rights activists killed HB 1324, which would have allowed the two horse slaughter plants in Texas to continue to operate.  That means the 40,000 horses handled there EACH year will have nowhere to go but Mexico or Canada.  This fanatical fringe element also has a federal bill looming which will even stop that.
So what about the horses?  Who is thinking about animal welfare here?  We are.  "They" are opposed to ALL animal slaughter.  They don't eat hotdogs or ice cream, wear leather, support animal research, the rodeo, the circus or any other use of animals.  This is a slippery slope.  Animal Liberation Front burned down one other horseslaughter plant (and is suspect in the other).  That is the reason there are only the two plants left in Texas.  It is time to draw a line in the sand. 
 
With 40,000 unwanted horses, divide it up and that means each state will have about 1,000 unwanted horses to deal with.  The zealots have resorted to lies and other deliberate distortions of the truth to defeat HB 1324.  A national animal rights alert was issued for animal rights activists to come to Austin, Texas for a demonstration on the Capitol grounds one day and a candlelight vigil the next night.  Only 75 activists showed up!  The animal rights activists convinced Senator Rodney Ellis of Houston to "tag" the bill which means the bill could not come before a committee to be heard for 48 hours and since Friday was the last day any bill could be heard, it was the end of HB 1324.   
 
As usual the animal rights activists have a video - which they have circulated through the tv stations that shows the horses being killed by methods no longer used and dwelled on the fact that horsemeat is a "gourmet treat that sells for $15 a pound and is made right here in Texas."  There was no mention in the media of the national and state horse groups, Texas Veterinary Medical Association, equine veterinarians, zoos, Responsible Pet Owners Alliance or any other groups that support this bill for humane reasons.
 
There is one more chance to really do the "humane" thing for the horses and you can help.  The House adopted an amendment to add Chapter 149 into another bill:  SB 1413.  This would result in a repeal of the Texas law prohibiting slaughter of horses for horsemeat, period.  This amendment is now being sent over to the Texas Senate for Senate approval.
 
WHAT WE MUST DO
We must inundate the Lieutenant Governor and every Texas Senator with calls, faxes and emails.  Ask them to accept the House amendment to SB 1413 regarding Horse Slaughter. 
If you are unable to contact all senators, please make sure you contact your senator, Senator Bob Deuell, and the Lieutenant Governor.  Contact information is below.
Thanks for caring, Mary Beth