When Congress Forgets...As we enter the second session of the 110th Congress, we still have to pass HR 503 and S. 311. There has been little movement on either bill.
It is important to note that any American can contact any member of a committee. The list of Committee members for S.311 whom have not yet cosponsored the legislation can be found can be found here. Please call these members and do not let the aides tell you that because you are not a constituent they do not have to talk to you. They do, and you must get their name, and make sure they take your information including your full name and address and telephone number. Request a letter from the Senator to confirm that your call has been logged and the information delivered to the Senator.
There is a podcast attached to this blog and you can listen to it by clicking on the link at the top of the page, or you can click here. This is an .mp3 file and will play on any player. Some players download the data from the server before the podcast will start to play. You may have to wait for the full download and press the 'play' button on your media player.
I thank Dr. Lester Friedlander, DVM and former Chief USDA inspector for his eye witness reports regarding the amount of time it takes horses and all animals struck by the captive bolt to regain full consciousness. Former AVMA President, Dr. Bonnie V. Beaver's testimony before two House subcommittees in July of 2006 can be found here.
Copyright January 23, 2008
Ellen-Cathryn Nash
President
Manes & Tails Organization
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'Secretariat''Secretariat' was the ninth Triple Crown Winner and to date no horse has bested his times. 'Secretariat' had a wonderful retirement, however, other excellent horses have not fared so well. 'Ferdinand' won not only the Kentucky Derby, but also the Breeders Cup Classic.
'Ferdinand'
'Exceller' was the only horse in American racing history to defeat two Triple Crown winners. In the 1978 Jockey Club Gold Cup, 'Exceller' bested both 'Seattle Slew' and 'Affirmed.' Neither 'Ferdinand' nor 'Exceller' had any retirement at all. They were brutally slaughtered at the direction of their owners in Japan and Sweden when they failed to pass their talents to their offspring.
'Exceller'
On July 20, 2007, the California Horse Racing Board announced that they will request a paltry 0.3% of a purse be donated to finance retirement homes for horses that race in California. To the state of California's credit, horse slaughter was banned there in 1998. Despite that, progress remains slow for improved welfare of retired Thoroughbred racehorses. Of course, this very promising idea originated with author Bill Heller as he established the 'Ferdinand Fee.' There is an 'out' clause regarding these small fees; they are voluntary! This is like loose change!! The fees should be absolutely mandatory.
Every horse owner must have a retirement plan in place whether or not the horse is a tremendous athlete such as 'Ferdinand' and 'Exceller' were, or a service horse such as a Mounted Police horse (many MPUs including Lexington, Kentucky do not have a retirement plan for their equine officers), or a beloved companion. Michael Blowen of Old Friends recovers as many studs standing overseas as he can, however, he cannot take them all, even if it were possible to buy all the studs and bring them home. The famous horses are not the only horses deserving of a safe retirement. The Thoroughbred industry is making a positive move, albeit a very weak one. They must do better. We all must do better.
Please note: There are links to pedigrees and racing videos in the content of this blog.
Ellen-Cathryn Nash
President
Manes and Tails Organization
The Captive Bolt Pistol
This does not kill the horses or any other equid.Among the many responses to the blog entitled 'Beyond Stupid' was a particularly staggering response from an alleged horse protection activist. This 'activist' claims the State of Illinois continuing to allow horse slaughter for carnivore consumption, as well as privately owned horses not intended for human consumption, is a 'non issue'.
This person justifies their contention of this being a 'non issue' by stating the market for carnivore consumption is small, therefore, not too many horses will be slaughtered. ONE slaughtered horse is one too many. The low prices Cavel International is able to charge the zoos compared to slaughtering for human consumption abroad means they will operate at a steady loss and employ only a skeleton crew of their illegal aliens as they pursue their appeal.
Privately owned horses may be brought to Cavel International and slaughtered for a fee. Cavel International manager Jim Tucker has long held that he is providing a service and is simply recycling a resource. Watch him state so by viewing this video from CBS News. The only way the meat from the sub-set of privately owned slaughtered horses can be sold is to be included amongst the horses slaughtered for carnivore consumption.
Cavel International is permitted to engage in interstate commerce to sell the meat of horses slaughtered specifically for carnivores because the Illinois Horse Meat Act expressly allows this. The statute only bans slaughter for human consumption.
One cannot logically, ethically, morally or seriously identify him or her self as an activist working against slaughter of horses if slaughter for any reason with the exception of human consumption is considered a 'non issue'.
Attempting to justify the legality of this type of slaughter as a 'non issue' is paramount to declaring there are exceptions to the banning of horse slaughter that are acceptable. There is absolutely no justification for slaughtering a horse, pony, donkey, mule, or their foals. Horse slaughter is never acceptable.
This 'activist' should view this graphic video of the captive bolt in action documented by the Humane Farming Association. Count how many times this horse was assaulted by the captive bolt. The horse regained consciousness approximately THIRTY SECONDS after being stunned. The horse was fully aware that it was being vivisected.
Does this alleged activist truly think that the use of the captive bolt on the horses slaughtered at Cavel International is any different than that which is documented here? Is it done more efficiently? Does it require less than one blow unlike the horse shown in the video had suffered?
It is a well documented fact that the captive bolt always requires more than one attempt. Do the horses experience less terror? The answer is no. It is not possible. This 'activist' is truly beyond stupid. The 'non issue' argument fails prima facie. Miserably.
Ellen-Cathryn Nash
President
Manes and Tails Organization
