YOUR HELP IS NEEDED--BE HEARD...

Society for Animal Protective Legislation: Congress Moves to Protect America's Horses...(US Newswire)
"...there is a dark side to this relationship few people know about -- the slaughter of horses for human consumption. Last year over 65,000 American horses were killed in the US to satisfy the demand for this "delicacy" in France, Italy, Belgium and Japan. The number butchered is expected to go higher following a "rider" slipped though Congress last year that will send thousands of our wild horses to their death. Two bills have been introduced in response to overwhelming public demand to protect America's horses from slaughter.

The first is the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act which will ban horse slaughter within the United States and prohibit the export of live horses for the same purpose. The bill, which last year received a majority of support in the US House of Representatives, has been reintroduced by Rep. John Sweeney (R-N.Y.) and Rep. John Spratt (D-S.C.).

The second bill (HR 297), introduced by Rep. Nick Rahall (D- W.Va.), ranking member of the House Resources Committee and Congressman Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), will restore the Wild Free- Roaming Horse and Burro Act to its original language which prevented wild horses from being sold for slaughter.

'To allow these animals to be slaughtered without exhausting all other care options is akin to condoning the death of a portion of our history. This legislation will ensure that horses sold to willing buyers are not destined for the slaughter house,' said Rep. Rahall.

'Both bills reflect the urgency for swift passage, given the dramatic increase in horses slaughtered last year coupled with the almost certain influx of once federally protected wild horses this year,' notes Chris Heyde, Policy analyst for the Society for Animal Protective Legislation.

The Society for Animal Protective Legislation urges concerned constituents to contact their legislators and request they cosponsor these essential bills. To learn more about the legislation and find your legislators please visit http://www.saplonline.org."