AR-News: Equine Protection Network Newsletter: 2-23-04

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Equine Protection Network
www.equineprotectionnetwork.com
February 23, 2004

Visit us at the Horse World Expo in Harrisburg, PA
February 27-29th, 2004
Booth 820

HoofPAC Newsletters:

# 1: Response to AAEP on HR 857 from HoofPAC member Priscilla Clark
of Tranquility Farm.

# 2: Equine Vet Speaks Out For the Horse:

NOTE: Dr. Liskey, former board member of the California Equine
Council, a HoofPAC member, wrote this letter which was mailed to
every AAEP member across the nation in 2000 and is even more
relevant today.

Billboard Updates!

EPN Sanctuary Program

Horse Cruelty & Felony Assault Charges Filed Against Horse Owner

Stolen Horses
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Childrens Horse Books to Benefit the EPN!

The EPN appreciates the generous donation by Syncopated Press of
several copies of the childrens books,"Heart, Hoof, & Soul" and "
Forelocks, Fetlocks & Horse Tales" to the EPN.

Your purchases of these books helps to support the EPN in our
efforts to improve the welfare of horses and to end horse slaughter.

http://www.equineprotectionnetwork.com/book.htm

Books are also  available for purchase at our booths at the PA Horse
World Expo, Ft Washington Horse Expo & Schuylkill County Fair.

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HoofPAC Newsletter # 1:


HoofPAC ALERT

The following is a response to the AAEP from HoofPAC member
Priscilla Clark of Tranquility Farm. During the California campaign
Priscilla and I took on no less than fifteen editors from
the 'Bakersfield Californian' during an Editorial Board and got
their support... And Bakersfield was the home of the largest
Southern Californian slaughter auction!


TRANQUILITY FARM
The Harry A. Biszantz Memorial Center for Thoroughbred Retirement

P.O. Box 210 Tehachapi Ca 93581
661-823-0307
www.tranquillityfarmtbs.org

Open Letter to the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thank you for providing me with your position paper on HR 857, which
would make the commercial slaughter of horses for human consumption
and other purposes illegal in the United States. In response, I
would ask that you consider the following:

In recent years two of America's most beloved equine champions met
untimely deaths while serving at stud duty in Japan. Sunday Silence
lost his life after being unsuccessfully treated for a persistent
foot infection. He was euthanized by lethal injection, and while the
American public mourned his loss, they were assured that his death
was merciful.

The death of Ferdinand in a Japanese slaughterhouse, however, shook
the racing world to its very core, and cries of outrage are still
being heard wherever horse lovers express their views. The terror
and suffering he endured in the slaughterhouse sparked a profound
soul searching in the racing community, and has contributed
tremendously to the growing political momentum to protect all
American horses from such a fate.

Why was there such a disparity in the reaction to the deaths of
these two great horses? The answer is quite simple; the American
public understands the difference between humane euthanasia by
lethal injection and being bludgeoned to death by a captive bolt in
a slaughterhouse. The American public is not confused about the
consequences of administering these two very different means of
rendering death. The American people understand implicitly that the
horse, a highly intelligent animal, is also not fooled and dies
fighting for his life in the slaughterhouse instead of peacefully
passing by tranquilizers administered in a stress- free environment.

How the American Association of Equine Practitioners, you who are
entrusted to protect the welfare of horses by the American public,
could fail to make this distinction and equate slaughter with humane
euthanasia, is nothing short of remarkable.

It is clear that the overwhelming majority of Americans, whenever
they have an opportunity to express their preferences, choose
euthanasia by lethal injection as the only acceptable means of death
for the animal that has partnered with them to build this country.
No opinion poll has ever shown evidence to the contrary. Horses are
raised solely for recreational and aesthetic value in the United
States, they are neither a food nor fiber animal, and to endorse the
butchering of American horses for consumption in foreign countries
is a betrayal of our American values.
Further, I find the arguments put forth in the AAEP position paper
on HR 857 specious in declaring that funding is not available for
the care of unwanted or confiscated horses. In the first case a
similar situation exists with unwanted dogs and cats. Unfortunately
our society must necessarily perform euthanasia on thousands of dogs
and cats each year precisely because funding in not available for
their continued care. They are put to death, however, by lethal
injection rather being killed and sent to foreign countries for meat
because that is the only means of death considered humane by the
American public. The benefit of outlawing the slaughter of American
horses is not that every horse will be cared for ad infinitum by
public moneys, but that their manner of death shall be swift and
merciful.

It has been empirically demonstrated that in California, where the
transportation of horses for slaughter has been outlawed since 1998,
that no loads of horses have been confiscated and placed into
protective custody. The costly vaccinations, Coggins test, and
health certification legally required to move horses over national
boundaries effectively removes the marginal profits to be made
smuggling horses long distances into Canada or Mexico.
The specter of thousands of confiscated horses draining public funds
exceeds credulity.

I urge you to reconsider your opinion on HR 857 and to work
positively with horse professionals and the American people who are
so desirous of humane treatment for horses. Please uphold the faith
entrusted in your organization and work to truly protect the welfare
of the American horse.

Respectfully,

Priscilla Clark, President
Tranquility Farm

Let's Keep America's Horses In The Stable and Off The Table!!!

Cathleen Doyle, founder
HoofPAC

For information please contact: savethehorse at earthlink.net