Friday, June 26, 2009

Dear Governator; MyIdea4Ca. Budget & Ca. Animals












@Schwarzenegger ; You say you are looking for ideas to make your govt "run better," ..if by that you mean getting your govt to run more efficient, fiscally, then I guess I do have a suggestion about how your state could generate more badly needed revenue, ... by enforcing existing laws. If you recall, back in the mid to late 1990s, Ca was the first state to outlaw horse-slaughter and the illegal interstate transportation for horses to slaughter. (We were so PROUD of CA. for that!) Since this law has NEVER been enforced, California Horses continue to go to slaughter. It wouldn't take a rocket scientist to catch these unscrupulous people -then you will have your extra income from the heavy fines imposed,and I know there are plenty of horse rescues and sanctuaries there that are more than willing to help. Click on title above to see a petition goin around asking YOU to help stop the illegal transport of California's horses to slaughter.

Also, since you have cut funding for Californias Animal Shelters, have you considered implementing a mandatory spay and neuter law for pets? This would also help generate more revenue for your state if the state could get a portion of the proceeds. By implementing such a law, low cost S&N clinics would be necessary so would have to work in conjunction with your state veteninarians.










I am totally for a mandatory S&N Law, along with a TAX for breeders on ANY animal they bring into this world. The $$$ can be used to support NO KILL shelters & Stables. The only people against mandatory S&N are the breeders themselves, naturally. It is the REAL animal lovers of the world, the rescuers, who get to clean up the "mess" of "unwanted" animals the breeders are RESPONSIBLE for bringing into this world, and NO ONE, org., govt, or otherwise,is helping them. They are ALL overwhelmed! Mandatory S&N and a TAX on the producers is the only way to correct pet over-population or the "unwanted" animal problem. Ray Charles could see that! To make matters even worse, the American Kennel Club, (AKC) professing a desire to "share their passion" for dogs(and breeding), with mixed-breed owners, has created a registry for mutts! One dosent have to be an Einstein or a brane sturgeon to know that a reckless program like this is not about "a passion" for dogs at all, but a passion for the almighty buck! Think of the millions of dollars they will net annually in the way of registration fees and other "products and services." This is nothing but the promotion of wholesale breeding on a grand scale, with no thought to the so-called problem of pet over-population and the high cost of veteinary care. Here is a link to an article on the AKCs new "Mutt Registration" Program;

http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=3810

Thanks for listening!

Christine A Jubic, Founder,
Quarter-Acre Rescue Ranch & Equine Advocacy Center







http://www.freewebs.com/mulekist
"Because We Care"

Proud LifeTime members of

Nathan Wineograds "No-Kill" Sheltering Revolution!






http://www.nokilladvocacycenter.org/contact.html

Extending the No-Kill Sheltering Movement to

No-Kill Stables!

Thursday, June 25, 2009

VESICULAR STOMATITIS, EQUINE - USA (03): (NEW MEXICO)

A ProMED-mail post

ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases


Date: 22 Jun 2009
Source: The Westerner [edited]



Vesicular Stomatitis-Equine
---------------------------
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has just notified
New Mexico that a horse in De Baca County has been confirmed as
positive for the New Jersey strain of vesicular stomatitis. The
premises has been under quarantine since 18 Jun 2009. No other horses
have been exhibiting signs. At this time there are no other investigations.

New Mexico has a long history of this disease. Veterinarians around
the state are well versed in reporting the disease. New Mexico will
follow USDA guidelines as given in VS memo 555.17, 30 May 2007.

Every effort will be made to assure that no animals exhibiting
symptoms will be allowed to move. Sale Barns, Race Track and Event
Veterinarians will be on notice to exercise due diligence.

[Byline: Dave Fly, D.V.M., State Veterinarian, New Mexico]

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail


[Vesicular stomatitis is never contained by the borders of the
various affected states. It is also predictable to see other states
slam their doors shut to animals coming from areas that have had
cases of vesicular stomatitis. - Mod.TG]

[see also:
Vesicular stomatitis, equine - USA (02): (TX) 20090616.2230
Vesicular stomatitis, equine - USA: (TX) 20090613.2188
2007
----
Vesicular stomatitis, equine - Belize (Cayo): OIE 20070319.0967
2006
----
Vesicular stomatitis, equine - USA (WY)(02): OIE 20060825.2395
Vesicular stomatitis, equine - USA (WY) 20060818.2314
2005
----
Vesicular stomatitis - USA (Western states) 20051029.3155
Vesicular stomatitis, equine & bovine - USA (NE) 20051006.2911
Vesicular stomatitis, equine - USA: WY, MT 20050824.2506
Vesicular stomatitis, equine - USA (MT) 20050820.2451
Vesicular stomatitis, equine - USA (CO) 20050809.2327
Vesicular stomatitis, equine - USA (UT,AZ) 20050620.1733
Vesicular stomatitis, equine - USA (AZ)(02) 20050521.1398
Vesicular stomatitis, equine - USA (TX) 20050520.1395
Vesicular stomatitis, equine - USA (NM)(02) 20050504.1234
Vesicular stomatitis, equine - USA (AZ) 20050502.1218
Vesicular stomatitis, equine & bovine - USA (NM): OIE 20050430.1202
Vesicular stomatitis, equine - USA (NM) 20050428.1184
Vesicular stomatitis, equine - Bolivia: OIE 20050228.0625
Vesicular stomatitis, equine & bovine - Belize: OIE 20050217.0531
2004
----
Vesicular stomatitis, equine - USA (CO)(02) 20041124.3148
Vesicular stomatitis, cattle - Belize: OIE 20040925.2650
Vesicular stomatitis, cattle - Belize: OIE 20040918.2590
Vesicular stomatitis, equine, bovine - USA (multistate) (02) 20040908.2505
Vesicular stomatitis, equine, bovine - USA (multistate): CO, NM 20040828.2402
Vesicular stomatitis, equine, bovine - USA (TX, NM, CO): OIE
(03) 20040802.2110
Vesicular stomatitis, equine, bovine - USA (TX,NM,CO) (02) 20040725.2028
Vesicular stomatitis, equine, bovine - USA (TX, NM, CO) 20040708.1837
Vesicular stomatitis, equine - USA (CO) 20040706.1813
Vesicular stomatitis, bovine - USA (TX)(05): OIE 20040706.1806
Vesicular stomatitis, equine, bovine - USA (TX, NM) 20040701.1754
Vesicular stomatitis, equine - USA (TX, NM) 20040619.1640
Vesicular stomatitis, equine - USA (NM) 20040608.1538
Vesicular stomatitis - USA (TX) (04) 20040529.1466
Vesicular stomatitis - USA (TX) (03): OIE 20040521.1367
Vesicular stomatitis - USA (TX) (02) 20040520.1354
Vesicular stomatitis - USA (TX) 20040520.1350
Vesicular stomatitis, cattle - Bolivia (02): OIE 20040425.1151
Vesicular stomatitis, cattle - Bolivia: OIE 20040301.0628]
....................tg/ejp/dk

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Thursday, June 18, 2009

Update on "The New American Horse-Slaughtering League"

Crossposting;

Beware of the wolf in sheep clothings

The Pro slaughter supporters are planning a new attack on our efforts. As I posted earlier Rep Sue Wallis is out of control and out of line. She has visited with the intent to change the neutral stand of the AHC to supporting the opening of US horse plants. She says the government is taking our rights away Not true the states shut down the plants not the Government. She has failed to keep her own state of Wy in line as Cheyenne Frontier Days in Wy, have implied a new rule to ban the use of Cameras and Cell phones at the Rodeos so the abuse and neglect they promote will not be recorded as proof to prosecution.Now this is taking our rights away. Info can be viewed at www.Sharkonline.org Sue Wallis is really hard core on these Issues she has even listen to Paula Beacon and have ignored her speeches. I wont say much right now but please read the info of the site below. This is just a taste of there evil intentions to lobby under 501c covers up to push there own profitable intentions and to profit presenting false information to the public as a road show..

Click on title above to go to their bloodthirsty website;
http://americanhorseleague.com/press_releases.php

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Horses Quarantined In Raytown Equestrian Park, MO.

Potentially Fatal Disease Confirmed At Raytown Equestrian Park

POSTED: 9:36 pm CDT June 13, 2009

UPDATED: 12:14 pm CDT June 14, 2009

RAYTOWN, Mo. -- State agriculture officials have issued a quarantine order for the Raytown Equestrian Park.

A horse stabled at the facility in the 9400 block of Raytown Road was found to have a potentially fatal disease, officials said.
A 7-year-old quarter horse tested positive for equine piroplasmosis. The infected horse was admitted to a Kansas animal hospital earlier this month.
On June 6, the Raytown facility where the horse was stabled was quarantined. On June 9, other horses there were examined. One day later, the original horse was confirmed to have the disease.


Equine piroplasmosis is an infectious tick-borne disease that can cause fever, weight loss and even death in horses. It spreads mainly through ticks, but can also be spread if a trainer uses a dirty needle. It is of no danger to humans, officials said.
The Raytown facility holds more than 60 horses. All are being tested. Missouri state agriculture officials will visit Tuesday to investigate.
In the meantime, no horses may come or go from this facility.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

VESICULAR STOMATITIS, EQUINE - USA: (TEXAS)

*******************************************
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org

Date: 12 Jun 2009
Source: Texas Animal Health Commission News Release [edited]



Nation's 1st Case of Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) for 2009 Detected in Texas
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The nation's 1st case of vesicular stomatitis (VS) for 2009 has been
detected in a horse in Starr County, in far south Texas. VS is a
sporadically occurring virus that is endemic to the United States.
Signs of the disease include blisters, lesions and sloughing of the
skin on the muzzles, tongue, teats and above the hooves of
susceptible livestock, which include horses, cattle, sheep, pigs,
deer and some other species of animals.

"The most recent outbreak was in 2006 limited to Wyoming only, where
17 horses and a dozen cattle on 13 premises were confirmed to have
the virus," said Dr. Bob Hillman, Texas' state veterinarian and head
of the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), the state's livestock
and poultry health regulatory agency. "To prevent the spread or
introduction of infection, many states and countries will place
additional entry requirements or restrictions on the movement of
animals from affected states, or portions of the state. Call the
state or country of destination before moving livestock, to ensure
that all entry requirements can be met. Do not risk shipments being
turned away, or worse, spreading disease and facing legal action by
animal health authorities."

"Often horses are the signal, or 1st, animals to be confirmed with
vesicular stomatitis when the virus is active. If the blisters and
lesions are seen in cattle, sheep, pigs or other cloven-hooved
animals, our 1st concern is a possible introduction of foot-and-mouth
disease, the most costly and destructive foreign animal disease.
Horses are not susceptible to foot-and-mouth disease, but anytime
blisters or unusual sores are seen, animals should be examined by a
veterinarian as soon as possible."

"Move sick animals away from the remainder of the herd to protect
against disease spread," urged Dr. Hillman. "Do not move sick animals
from the premises, and call your veterinarian or the nearest Texas
Animal Health Commission area office, or the Austin headquarters at
800-550-8242. Laboratory testing to confirm infection can be run at
no charge to the livestock owner.

"Vesicular stomatitis is painful for affected animals, but usually,
the lesions will heal within 2 weeks to a month. For some severe
cases, owners may elect to have an infected animal euthanized, to put
an end to the suffering. In dairies, VS infection can lead to a
substantial loss of production," said Dr. Hillman. Treatment of
VS-infected animals consists of supportive care, and antibiotics may
be needed to prevent secondary infections in the open sores. Animal
health officials in nearly all states, including Texas, require
VS-infected animals and their herd mates to be quarantined until at
least 21 days after all lesions have healed. A follow-up examination
of the animals by the state veterinarian's office is required prior
to quarantine release.

VS outbreaks are extremely sporadic, and years may lapse between
cases. Sand flies and black flies are thought to play a role in the
virus transmission, so controlling insects is important. In 2005, the
VS outbreak involved livestock on at least 445 premises in 9 states,
including Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico,
Texas, Utah and Wyoming. In 2004, affected animals were detected in 8
counties each in Texas and New Mexico and in 22 Colorado counties.
Before the 2004 outbreak, VS had been "silent" since 1998, when
Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas had cases.

More information about VS and a map showing the location of Starr
County in Texas are available on the TAHC web site at:
.

--
Communicated by:
Carla Everett


[Vesicular stomatitis virus is one of those interesting diseases that
emerges every once in a while without much warning until it bursts
uninvited into our livestock population. It does not occur every
year, but in the past several years it has been almost yearly.

The problem with vesicular stomatitis is twofold. One, there is
inevitably a disruption of production in cattle; not only will the
sick animal produce less, but disease management tactics must be
very stringent. The 2nd problem is that the symptomatology is similar
to that of foot and mouth disease (FMD), with which it can easily be
confused (though horses are resistant to FMD and susceptible to VS).
In this case, the diagnosis of the disease in an equine 1st
forestalls any worry about FMD.

According to the OIE, symptoms can be summarized as follows:
- excessive salivation
- blanched raised or broken vesicles of various sizes in the mouth:

Horses: upper surface of the tongue, surface of the lips and around
nostrils, corners of the mouth and the gums

Cattle: tongue, lips, gums, hard palate, and sometimes muzzle and
around the nostrils

Pigs: snout

- Lesions involving feet of horses and cattle are not exceptional
- Teat lesions occur in dairy herds
- Foot lesions and lameness are frequent in pigs
- Recovery in around 2 weeks
- Complication: loss of production and mastitis in dairy herds due
to secondary infections, lameness in horses

We would like to know which of the 2 strains this one is. - Mod.TG]

[see also:
2007
----
Vesicular stomatitis, equine - Belize (Cayo): OIE 20070319.0967
2006
----
Vesicular stomatitis, equine - USA (WY)(02): OIE 20060825.2395
Vesicular stomatitis, equine - USA (WY) 20060818.2314
2005
----
Vesicular stomatitis - USA (Western states) 20051029.3155
Vesicular stomatitis, equine & bovine - USA (NE) 20051006.2911
Vesicular stomatitis, equine - USA: WY, MT 20050824.2506
Vesicular stomatitis, equine - USA (MT) 20050820.2451
Vesicular stomatitis, equine - USA (CO) 20050809.2327
Vesicular stomatitis, equine - USA (UT,AZ) 20050620.1733
Vesicular stomatitis, equine - USA (AZ)(02) 20050521.1398
Vesicular stomatitis, equine - USA (TX) 20050520.1395
Vesicular stomatitis, equine - USA (NM)(02) 20050504.1234
Vesicular stomatitis, equine - USA (AZ) 20050502.1218
Vesicular stomatitis, equine & bovine - USA (NM): OIE 20050430.1202
Vesicular stomatitis, equine - USA (NM) 20050428.1184
Vesicular stomatitis, equine - Bolivia: OIE 20050228.0625
Vesicular stomatitis, equine & bovine - Belize: OIE 20050217.0531
2004
----
Vesicular stomatitis, equine - USA (CO)(02) 20041124.3148
Vesicular stomatitis, cattle - Belize: OIE 20040925.2650
Vesicular stomatitis, cattle - Belize: OIE 20040918.2590
Vesicular stomatitis, equine, bovine - USA (multistate) (02) 20040908.2505
Vesicular stomatitis, equine, bovine - USA (multistate): CO, NM 20040828.2402
Vesicular stomatitis, equine, bovine - USA (TX, NM, CO): OIE
(03) 20040802.2110
Vesicular stomatitis, equine, bovine - USA (TX,NM,CO) (02) 20040725.2028
Vesicular stomatitis, equine, bovine - USA (TX, NM, CO) 20040708.1837
Vesicular stomatitis, equine - USA (CO) 20040706.1813
Vesicular stomatitis, bovine - USA (TX)(05): OIE 20040706.1806
Vesicular stomatitis, equine, bovine - USA (TX, NM) 20040701.1754
Vesicular stomatitis, equine - USA (TX, NM) 20040619.1640
Vesicular stomatitis, equine - USA (NM) 20040608.1538
Vesicular stomatitis - USA (TX) (04) 20040529.1466
Vesicular stomatitis - USA (TX) (03): OIE 20040521.1367
Vesicular stomatitis - USA (TX) (02) 20040520.1354
Vesicular stomatitis - USA (TX) 20040520.1350
Vesicular stomatitis, cattle - Bolivia (02): OIE 20040425.1151
Vesicular stomatitis, cattle - Bolivia: OIE 20040301.0628]
....................tg/ejp/dk

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EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS, EQUINE - USA: (GEORGIA)

*********************************************
A ProMED-mail post

ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases


Date: 11 Jun 2009
Source: WSAV Television [edited]



2 Long County Horses Infected with Eastern Equine Encephalitis
--------------------------------------------------------------
Horse owners in the Coastal Empire should be on
alert, after 2 animals in Long County are
diagnosed with Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE).
Officials from the Coastal Health District say
the 2 horses were not from the same farm, and both have been euthanized.

Norwood Stables in Savannah cares for about 2 or
3 dozen horses throughout the year. Co-owner
Linda Brown says they take extra steps to protect
their animals against illnesses like EEE. "We
have the vet inoculate twice a year for all the mosquito diseases," she said.

Brown said they check health certificates for all
animals that come to their stables. "It's very
important to know that they're healthy as they're
coming in, because you don't want your horses
that are healthy exposed," said Brown. They are
also careful about standing water so mosquitos
can't breed. "All our horse troughs are dumped everyday," she said.

Health officials say EEE in horses is fatal 70-90
percent of the time. Epidemiologist Robert
Thornton with the Coastal Health District says
the disease is preventable, so owners should have their horses vaccinated.

"When you think about humans, you know, we're
indoors and outdoors. But animals, in particular
horses, spend a lot of time, much more time than
humans, outdoors, so they're more vulnerable to
mosquito bites and thus more vulnerable to
mosquito-borne illnesses," said Thornton.

Horses aren't the only ones that need protection from the virus.

"The disease in horses is it lets us know as a
surveillance mechanism that the disease is
present in the area, and therefore humans should
take precautions," said Thornton.

Humans cannot get the disease from horses, but
they can get it from mosquitos. A Beaufort County
child died of the disease in August 2007. Even
though there is a vaccine for horses, there is no vaccine for humans.

To protect yourself and your family from
mosquitos, health officials want you to remember the 5 D's:
-- Dusk - Mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus usually bite at dusk and dawn.
-- Dawn - Avoid outdoor activity at dusk and
dawn if possible. If you must be outside, be sure
to protect yourself from bites
-- Dress - Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants to
reduce the amount of exposed skin.
-- DEET - Cover exposed skin with an insect
repellent containing the chemical DEET, which is
the most effective repellent against mosquitos.
-- Drain - Empty any containers holding standing
water because they can be excellent breeding
grounds for virus-carrying mosquitoes.

[Byline: Tuquyen Mach]

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail Rapporteur Susan Baekeland

[It is very sad to lose a pet and companion
because of a preventable disease. This article
does not tell us if the animals were vaccinated.
But there is a combination vaccine of West Nile
virus and Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) and
some other mosquito-borne viruses. EEE has the
shortest titer, of about 6 months. And for full
protection EEE must be give at least every 6
months. Generally a combination vaccine is
recommended, followed by a booster in 3 weeks.
With regards to EEE, the EEE portion should be repeated in 6 months. - Mod.TG]

[see also:
2008
----
Eastern equine encephalitis, emus - Canada: (ON) 20081101.3443
Eastern equine encephalitis, human - USA (08): (Northeast) 20081028.3400
Eastern equine encephalitis, equine (07): (ME) 20080923.2996
Eastern equine encephalitis, equine ­ USA (06): (NC), emu 20080831.2724
Eastern equine encephalitis - Canada: (ON) 20080823.2633
Eastern equine encephalitis, equine - USA (05): (TN) 20080806.2414
Eastern equine encephalitis,equine - USA (04): (FL) 20080724.2241
Eastern equine encephalitis, human - USA (AL) 20080718.217
Eastern equine encephalitis, equine - USA (FL) 20080705.2045
Eastern equine encephalitis, equine - USA (02): (GA) 20080622.1932
Eastern equine encephalitis, equine - USA: (FL) 20080323.1101]
....................tg/ejp/dk

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Friday, June 12, 2009

PIROPLASMOSIS, EQUINE - USA (02): (MISSOURI)

********************************************
A ProMED-mail post

ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases


Date: Thu 11 Jun 2009
Source: Veterinary Practice News [edited]



The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) reported on 11 Jun
2009] an outbreak of equine piroplasmosis (EP) in Jackson County,
[Missouri]. The last reported occurrence was in February [2009].

EP is a tick-borne disease that affects horses, donkeys, mules, and
zebras. The disease, caused by _Theileria equi_, is transmitted via
tick bites or through mechanical transmission by improperly
disinfected needles or surgical instruments, according to the US
Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service [USDA-APHIS].

The source of the most recent outbreak was deemed "unknown or inconclusive."

The affected premises is a horse stable in Jackson County involving a
7-year-old quarter horse gelding purchased 6 months ago. The horse
showed clinical signs consistent with EP on [1 Jun 2009]. The next
day, the horse was presented to a veterinary medical hospital in
Kansas because of an acute illness consistent with infection of a
blood-borne pathogen. The horse was placed in quarantine and isolation.

The horse and other animals on the affected premises -- 63 including
horses, ponies, and mules -- were examined for ticks. No ticks were
found, according to the OIE report.

Test results for the other animals are pending, and the premises
remains under quarantine. The epidemiological investigation is being
conducted by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in
conjunction with the Missouri Department of Agriculture.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail Rapporteur Brent Barrett

[If the horse or horses have equine piroplasmosis then there was a
tick at some point on the animal. Ticks generally engorge themselves
on the host and then fall off. So the fact that a tick is not found
now, may not be that big a deal. What is a big deal is if that tick
is spreading the disease to another animal and has not been found.

Readers are encouraged to look at the moderator's comment on
ProMED-mail posting 20080819.2579 to learn more about equine
piroplasmosis. - Mod.TG]

[The Midwestern state of Missouri can be located on the
HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of the US at
.
Jackson County can be seen on the map at
. - CopyEd.MJ]

[see also:
Equine piroplasmosis - USA: (FL) quarantine lifted 20090225.0771
2008
----
Piroplasmosis, equine - USA (04): (FL) 20080930.3088
Piroplasmosis, equine - USA: (03) (FL) 20080828.2687
Equine piroplasmosis - USA (02): (FL) 20080823.2626
Equine piroplasmosis - USA: (FL) 20080819.2579
2005
----
Piroplasmosis, equine - Australia ex Hong Kong (04) 20000524.0820
Piroplasmosis, equine - Hong Kong 20000508.0706
2004
----
Piroplasmosis, equine - Australia ex Hong Kong (03) 20000419.0567
Piroplasmosis, equine - Australia ex Hong Kong (02) 20000417.0548
2000
----
Piroplasmosis, equine - Australia ex Hong Kong 20000323.0415
1996
----
Equine piroplasmosis - Georgia (USA) (2) 19960116.0097
Equine piroplasmosis - Georgia (USA) 19960112.0066]
...................................tg/mj/dk

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ProMED-mail makes every effort to verify the reports that
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and its associated service providers shall not be held
responsible for errors or omissions or held liable for any
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or archived material.
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GAO asked to Investigate Equine Cruelty

"Unwanted" horse in kill-pen waiting to go to slaughter

Obama and Vilsack asked to push for ban on horse slaughter

Ithaca, New York (June 10, 2009) The Animal Law Coalition and Animals Angels have asked the U.S. Government Accounting Office (GAO) to investigate gross violations of humane laws and regulations of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in connection with the commercial slaughter of horses.

The request for a GAO investigation comes in the wake of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for documents which were subsequently released by the USDA. Alarming cruelty and violations of regulations were documented in several hundred photos taken during 2005 at U.S. slaughterhouses by USDA investigators.

Though horse slaughter ended in the U.S. in 2007, American horses are still sold for slaughter in Mexico and Canada. Proponents of horse slaughter have insisted on the re-opening of horse slaughter plants, saying U.S. laws protect horses from cruelty unlike Mexico and Canada.

Documents and photos released by the USDA, however, refute such claims. The FOIA shows horses bound for slaughter in the U.S. endured shockingly cruel treatment. Photographs documented horses with legs ripped off, eyeballs hanging on their cheeks and other severe injuries.

Earlier GAO documents raise additional disturbing humane issues. A 2004 GAO report found horses were slaughtered while conscious, which are considered significant violations of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act.

Sonja Meadows, Executive Director of Animals' Angels, a Maryland based animal welfare organization, said, "We are asking the GAO to thoroughly examine the ineffectiveness of laws in preventing documented cruelty and inhumane practices. It seems clear from the USDA FOIA, earlier GAO reports, ours and others' investigations, that horse slaughter is a predatory business whose economics require cruel and inhumane practices. It is definitely not, as horse slaughter advocates would have the public believe, a service motivated by altruistic concerns or humane practices."

Horses are slaughtered for consumption overseas, primarily in parts of Europe and Asia. A USDA study shows that 92% of the American horses at slaughter are young, healthy and without behavioral problems, refuting claims that horse slaughter provides a service in disposing of horses that are old, lame, sick or crazy.

Meadows said, "Irrefutable evidence of brutality is already quite plentiful, unfortunately. We believe the GAO's report will be the definitive wakeup call to the new USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and the Obama administration to push for an immediate ban on horse slaughter."

A copy of the request for a GAO investigation is attached at the end of this article along with Exhibits 1, 2, and 3 also submitted with the request.

Click on title above to go there.

For additional information on horse slaughter investigations and information regarding the export of horses for slaughter, go to http://www.animals-angels.com/.
Posted by Barb AZ at 5:54 PM

http://arizona1-aahsbloggingupdates.blogspot.com/2009/06/gao-asked-to-investigate-cruelty-to.html#comment-form

The New "American Horse-Slaughtering League"

Anybody got a suscription to "Livestock Weekly?" Need a paid suscription to read the entire article, but it looks like the enemy is "circling the wagons" for an all-out affront on our anti-horse slaughter efforts. What is this new "American Horse League" but an off-shoot of the AHC - also a bunch of Pro-slaughter cattle & beef men?

Excerpt;

New Organization Will Take Up
Battle For Horse Processing


The newly-formed American Horse League plans to do what many horse owners would like to do but have lacked the organization to carry out, which is take the fight to the activists who have shut down horse processing across the entire country.

Click on title above to check out their website and/or to suscribe;
http://www.livestockweekly.com/papers/09/06/11/index.html

and no "Friends of Equines" to demonstrate against horse-slaughter this year at the annual American Horse Counsel? What a shame. You just gotta know they are behind the big push for slaughter, they and their affiliate state counsels too;

Permits are ALREADY in order for any "Friends" that may want to go. Call DC Metro at (202) 671-6522 or (202) 737-1234 to confirm. Ask for the "Special Permits" Dept.

There is more info in the link below on our proposed anti-slaughter demos for the annual AHC convention;

http://www.freewebs.com/friendsofequines/ahcdemos09.htm

Heres hoping that some "Friends of Equines" will care enough to go.....

Update: June 20, 2009: Well the American Horse-Slaughtering Counsils' annual convention in DC has come and gone, and No "Friends of Equines," not even one, went to be a voice for the horses to protest the AHC. Just like no "Friends of Equines" showed up at the annual AQHA Grand Championship Show in OK last fall, when permits for "Friends of Equines" were also in order and invitations broadcast widely. This is precisely why we will always have horse-slaughter. Most antis,, with a very few rare exceptions, do not believe in protest.Perhaps they think they are above that sort of thing. Perhaps they dont want to look like PETA, but I told them and they know, there is a simple cure for their "fear of being stigmatized,"..Wear a sign that says "I AM NOT PETA!" Meanwhile, the Pros are organizing on a grand scale and what are the anti-s doing? More of the same, lip-service, faxing, emailing, asking nice, lobbying, legislating, writing and responding to articles, and getting no where fast. Do they really think they will get an anti-horse slaughter bill passed, I mean like,...ever? Not me. I am convinced the politicians that say they support our bills and even the ones who wrote them are just playing the DC Game,....like as in tell you anything and also work towards those goals knowing they would never succeed. It reminds me of my working for lawyers days. How many times have I seen a lawyer take a case that he knows is a loser but he takes it anyways cause the client is paying him$5,000 down,....so what else is an unscruplous lawyer (or politician) to do in a case like that? Give it their best shot but still knowing it will never work. Its all a put-on to keep the client (or the voter) happy. How long have we (and all the politicians that have promiced to support our bills) been trying to pass a bill, over 10 years. I am sure. So ah, what is the problem people? There is none so blind as those with eye yet who refuse to see. When is it going to dawn on them that they been had and bill will never pass? The politicians who say they support our bills are only going so far as they will to keep your votes? All this hulabalu in DC about getting horse-slaughter stopped is all fun-house smoke and mirrors created for you by your politicians and they are having a ball playing you "believers" like a fiddle and you all are enjoying the dance! If they pissed on you, you would probably thank them for the rain, right? What fools you are to believe in the empty, false promices of the politicians. Never forget that first and foremost that is what they are,....politicians. And you know what they are famous for, lies, broken-promices, back-room dirty dealing where your promice gets traded for a campaign cotribution or a BIG WHIG position in a new business venture or firm. Soon they will start building horse slaughter houses all across the USA and then what will you have to say? Surley Not "I gave the fight my all." I am so ashamed I renounce any affiliation with you who have NOT protested against horse slaughter physically, with your body or bodies. I mean really, how bad do you want to see it end? Not bad enough, apparently. Their fight is a "limited engagement" when it should be an all out sustained war using EVERY weapon in our arsenol and meeting them at every turn, every event....being there, you know, for the voiceless horses. The ones that are being slaughtered every day. The ones you claim so much to care about but wont grab a 'JUST SAY WOAH TO HORSE SLAUGTER" sign and get busy around your town at any and all industry events. And if you dont think that would be effective, one protestor or a dozen,.....you are not only lazy and dispassionate, and dis-connected from reality, you are a narrow-mined, shallow idiot or moron too. Maybe both. You need to rethink your position on how to go about getting something you really want when the people who have the power to give it to you dont want to give it to you. Do you just stop wanting? Stop trying? No. You devise a new plan, just like the National Conference of State Legislators did last Decemeber when they embarked on this state by state plan, and now, (and I suspect they are behind this too) The New American Horse-Slaughtering League....In conclsion, if we dont take some drastic extreme action to rebuff them, all will be lost for our efforts, and of course, as usual, it is always the animals who suffer for mans (or womans) failings.
People put a little passion in your lives; get out, organize and get active for the cause and DEMAND an end to horse slaughter!

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Re-Feeding Starved Horses; DONT Kill Them with Kindness

Click on title above to read article & see pics;
http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=600266