Reinstate horse slaughter inspection

To the editor,

On January 8, 2009 Representative Steven (D-IL) introduced H. R. 305 “Horse Transportation Safety Act of 2009” for consideration to the U.S. House. The Committee on Judiciary is requesting handwritten comments on the ban of transportation of horses. It is important to reinstate the horse slaughter inspection. Horses are unduly starving and suffering do to this ban. We as livestock producers need to write letters to protest this ban. Send comments:

Committee on Judiciary

Attention John Conyers

2138 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, DC 20315.

Below is a sample letter I submitted, please use as a reference.

I have been a horse owner/lover for over 60 years. I have always gone that “extra mile” to care for any of my animals that were injured or ill but there comes a time to just simply give up. I have never indiscriminately sent one of my horses to a processing facility, however the decision to transport one of my animals to such a place should be my decision not a governmental issue.

There are horses that are, by nature, vicious or uncontrollable, definitely not the type used to recreate. Consider the horses with a nonlife threatening conditions which renders them unfit to use for anything. Often these horses are young, shoot them or otherwise put them down, unconscionable! The simplest, quickest, most merciful way to solve this problem is to send that horse or horses to a harvesting facility. Once again that decision should be left to the owner who cares for these animals on a daily basis.

Many horse owners are frustrated with the situation as it now stands and are turning their horses on to government land, private land and along roads. I have heard horror stories of horses left to starve, that certainly is not a merciful way to be treated. Some people are advocating euthanizing the unwanted horses and burying them, are they thinking about the toxic chemicals put into the ground?

There is the economic issue to consider too, who can afford to simply kill without some sort of compensation for an animal, they, in all likelihood have spent money to care for.

It should not be unlawful to transport privately owned livestock to a harvesting facility.

Sincerely,