Senator Kloucek & Citizens of South Dakota - Do You Really Want a Horse Slaughter Plant in Your Community?

Dear Senator Kloucek, citizens of South Dakota, et al,

Funding a horse slaughter facility may have seemed like a good economic development idea, but nothing could be further from the truth.

The vast majority of American citizens are vehemently opposed to the idea of slaughtering American horses for overseas human consumption. True horse enthusiasts view horses as companion animals, and would no more send their horses off to a slaughterhouse than they would their cats and dogs. Countless polls have indicated that 70-85% of Americans are opposed to killing our American horses for overseas human consumption.

The area where this facility would be built would forever be scarred. The few jobs a horse processing facility creates are low paying and attract workers with no marketable skills and lacking in ethics. Horses are not livestock and are not meant to be food source animals. Companion animals should not be terrorized and killed in this manner. This is not humane euthanasia. Not by a long shot. The same things you are viewing from the “downed” cows videos related to the beef recall go on with the horses and is equally repulsive. And horses are much smarter, and flight animals by nature, so they try to elude their killers – resulting in even more inhumane acts.

The environmental impact is massive. Have you researched the negative impact to drinking water sources, sewer systems and treatment plants, the horrible smells and sounds coming from the plants that were formerly in operation in Texas and Illinois? Are you aware the former Mayor Paula Bacon, from Kauffman, Texas, is going to Capitol Hill in March to speak about the horrors her town experienced as a result of being “neighbors” with the infamous Dallas Crown horse killing plant? Do your citizens really want this sort of development?

I work in economic development in the state in which I reside, so I know a little bit about what I speak. This is not the type of industry you want to attract to your area. You won't be creating many jobs, and they certainly won't attract the higher paying, better educated members of society you would like to have in your community. And do the current community members deserve to be forced to live in an area with these issues? Will they want to continue to live in those communities after this slaughter plant is built?

The federal ban (S 311/HR 503) on slaughter of horses for human consumption and their export out of the country for the same is going to be voted on this session. It is known as the American Horse Slaughter Protection Act. It would be very foolhardy to fund an industry that is going to come to an end in America.

Don’t try to make this about “anti-meat” activists. I love a good steak, love a good burger. But Flicka isn’t a food source animal, and I am not about to condone eating her. I am not a member of PETA. I am however, a volunteer at a rescue that saves slaughter bound horses and gives them another chance at life. According to the USDA, 92% of the horses ending up at slaughter houses are young, healthy and not dangerous. Again, I know firsthand of what I speak.

After carefully considering these important facts, I am certain you'll realize that you would be doing your state – your taxpayers – a huge disservice to bring this blight into their communities.

Most respectfully,

Lorri Roush Shaver

American's Against Horse Slaughter - Join Us in DC

American’s Against Horse Slaughter ~ Join us in DC!

On March 4^th and 5^th we are all invited to come together and be a voice for the horses who cannot speak for themselves. Please join us!

You will have the opportunity to meet many Americans who share our love for horses and want to end the threat of slaughter for our horses. We will be traveling to the many offices of our Senators and Representatives to let them know emphatically that the American Horse Slaughter Protection Amendment must be passed. It is the will of the American people, and we need to drive that point home.

Traveling to DC to visit our legislators may sound intimidating. I know it did for me. But back in July, I made the trip. I discovered the all the House and Senate offices are around the Capitol, and walking from one to another was an easy trip. Some of the buildings even offer underground access to the adjacent building, so that you do not have to go outside and go through security again. I actually stayed across the river in Virginia and took a cab into DC, which only cost about $5.

We cannot emphasize enough that this must be a very professional endeavor. If you are going to participate, we need you to be dressed as business professionals. This event is of monumental importance, so please dress the part.

So…join us! Speak for the horses that have no voice! End the slaughter!

For additional information please visit this website:

http://alexbrownracing.com/wiki/index.php/Horse_slaughter#Upcoming_Anti_Slaughter_Events:_March_4_and_5

Here is the “official” invitation from Mayor Bacon:

You are warmly and urgently invited to participate in the great task remaining before us—banning the slaughter of American horses. Your voice is critical at this time as thousands of American horses are being shipped across our borders and appallingly slaughtered. We have come so far, but our great task remains, to see to it that American laws and American justice finally prevail.

Please join me, Paula Bacon (former mayor of Kaufman, TX-- former home of Dallas Crown horse slaughter plant) and other major leaders and advocates in Washington, D.C. for two days of advocacy, to urgently encourage Congress to implement a permanent ban of horse slaughter.

On arrival you can expect a strategy session/breakfast meeting to bring together all attendees before your scheduled appointments. On the evening of March 4th plan to attend a networking event of the anti horse slaughter community where you can talk with others deeply committed to the ban.

We extend this important invitation to you, asking you to come to Washington on March 4th and 5^th:

• To respectfully remind members of Congress that our numbers are growing and we are not going away—ever—not without a permanent end to horse slaughter.
• To respectfully remind Congress that in fact, horse slaughter is THE ‘go away’ issue, as offensive to the electorate as it is un-American, and the sooner it goes away the better for all.
• To respectfully remind Congress that we are a government of the people, by the people, and for the people—and, with respect, it is high time we abide by the will of the people, permanently banning horse slaughter.

We need 100 people. The impact of a minimum 100 people who can commit to participate and ‘walk the halls’ for the federal ban is considerable—100 dedicated, well-dressed, well-spoken and courteous advocates. We will dress for success in our best business attire—because we do mean business. We will bring our most professional attitude—we will not be portrayed as tree-hugging ‘animal rights’ people, but as average Americans, unfunded but absolutely committed to stand up for American values and America’s horses.

Please respond if you can go to Washington D.C. on March 4th and 5th (Tuesday and Wednesday). E-mail Julie Caramante at jcaramante@gmail.com using the subject header Attending DC Event.

Please come. Help make this the legislative session when the federal ban on horse slaughter was finally achieved.

All the best,

Paula Bacon