Is Virginia For Horse Lovers?!

By: VA Breeze
Published On: 8/31/2006 11:31:18 AM

"So much that is good, that is decent has come out of Barbaro's tragic accident. Although the good will never place him back in the starting gate it will give rise to the awareness that we must be more responsible for our horses. Not only because veterinary medicine has progressed but also to stand up to cruelty towards them and to the untimely, brutal death awaiting them in slaughter houses." - Gretchen Jackson, owner/breeder of BARBARO, winner of the 2006 Kentucky Derby
A vote is expected to take place in the House on September 7, 2006 on the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. Sponsored in the House by Congressional Horse Caucus Co-chair John Sweeney (R-NY), Representative John Spratt, Jr. (D-SC) and Representative Ed Whitfield (R-KY), the Act will end the slaughter of horses for human consumption and the domestic and international transport of live horses or horseflesh for the same purpose. Just last year, over 90,000 horses were slaughtered in the three foreign-owned horse slaughter facilities located in Texas and Illinois. This bill, Hr.503/S.1915, in conjunction with Hr.297/S.576, +óGé¼+ôTo restore the prohibition on the commercial sale and slaughter of wild free-roaming horses and burros+óGé¼-¥, would provide permanent protection to the wild horses and burros roaming out West. Virginia ranks fifth in the nation in horse population and is home to the famous Chincoteague ponies and Triple Crown winner Secretariat. Many of Virginia+óGé¼Gäós representatives are not supportive of theses bills, including Thelma Drake and George Allen. Ms. Drake already has voted twice NOT to shield wild horses from slaughter (Roll call votes 196 & 233). Mr. Allen has said he would not vote against S.1915 if it made it to the Senate floor, yet it is stuck in HIS committee, without his sponsorship or support. Hr.503 will go to Rules on 9/5 as VA Rep. Goodlatte, chair of Agriculture Comm. added onerous riders to Hr.503, so what was a simple bill could be tough to pass. A survey conducted found that 74% of likely Virginia voters oppose horse slaughter for human consumption. Horses are not bred for meat and Americans do not eat horse meat-it is shipped overseas. If you are for the ban on slaughter, please contact your legislator now. (More details available on many websites-one good one is wildhorsepreservation.com)

Comments



Giddiyup (esvb - 9/1/2006 11:09:47 PM)
Nothing like having two publicly elected officials put themselves first over their voters.  Both got money from the cattle industry and they've put the money before the voters they are supposed to represent.  Most Virginians are agianst the slaughter of horses because they know how important horses are to the history of this great commonwealth. Gee, no wonder the voters are in a mood to vote the bums out!


Real Cowboys take care of their horses.... (mosquitopest - 9/2/2006 12:33:25 AM)
This just proves that George Allen is no cowboy!

Cowboys always take care of their horses!!



Rally for horses (VA Breeze - 9/4/2006 12:13:27 AM)
Willie Nelson has organized a rally of horses in DC on Tuesday, Sept 5th at 10 am. In Tidewater/Hampton Roads, there will be a rally in support of the DC event, 12 noon in Virginia Beach at the Town Center Plaza.