Received from Gail Vacca, who has been a tireless campaigner to end the slaughter of our horses and promote responsible ownership. Hey, how do I get a video or transcript of this event? I would LOVE to respond to some of the pro-slaughter voices. Why doesn't anybody ever invite me to this stuff? I would liven it up. It would be way less boring if they had me speak! (C'mon, just let me debate Charles Stenholm. He is such an asshat. He is the Asshat King. Now that would be entertainment, you all know it would!)
At the very least, those of you in D.C. need to attend this thing and speak YOUR piece. The world needs to hear from intelligent, responsible horse owners and industry professionals who believe there are solutions here other than slaughtering the horses that are irresponsibly produced and irresponsibly maintained.
Dear friends,
On June 18th, 2008 the American Horse Council in conjunction with the USDA are holding a panel discussion on the unwanted horse issue. When the list of participants was first released a few weeks ago, it was evident that once again, the USDA and the Unwanted Horse Coalition have no intention of allowing equal panel participation by those of us within the equine community who do not favor horse slaughter as a method to address unwanted horses within the horse industry.
Folks, this is a travesty! If the USDA, the American Horse Council, and the Unwanted Horse Coalition were truly sincere about addressing the welfare of American horses, wouldnt they want to invite panelists from the equine welfare and rescue community who are actually out in the field working to help these horses and their owners on a daily basis? Clearly this fiasco is designed to be yet another pro-slaughter whine-fest, with the end goal being to bring horse slaughter plants back on-line within the U.S.
The list of panel participants is provided for you below. Please note that out of 15 panel participants, only 3 are not pro-horse slaughter!
We must take action on this at once, and demand that this panel include an equal number of participants who do NOT favor horse slaughter.
Please take action today by calling and writing the following people...please lend your voice to the horses and make it perfectly clear that you insist upon equal anti-slaughter representation on this panel!!
Please continue to call the following people each and every day until the USDA and AHC agree to allow for a truly balanced panel of participants to take part in this forum. Folks...these three calls will only take but a few minutes of your time each day. Please do this as our horses are counting on you!
Richard Reynnells USDA/CSREES/PAS tel: 202-401-5352 fax: 201-401-6156 rreynnells@csrees.usda.gov
James J. Hickey, Jr.American Horse Council, President tel: 202-296-4031 ahc@horsecouncil.org
Katy Carter, Unwanted Horse Coalition Coordinator 202-296-4031 ext. 210 KCarter@horsecouncil.org
Revised "Unwanted Horse" meeting list of participants...
Revised Program
The Unwanted Horse Issue: What Now?
June 18, 2008
8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Jefferson Auditorium
United States Department of Agriculture
Corner of 14th Street and Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC
Moderator: Richard Reynnells USDA/CSREES/PAS
8:00 - 8:05 Announcements Richard Reynnells
8:05 - 8:15 Welcome Jay Hickey American Horse Council
8:15 - 8:45 Historical Perspective Nat T. Messer IV Unwanted Horse Coalition and the American Veterinary Medical Association
8:45 - 9:15 Ethical Perspective Camie Heleski Department of Animal Science Michigan State University
9:15 - 9:30 BREAK
9:30 - 11:15 Panel: Unwanted Horse Issues
9:30 - 9:50 Carcass Disposal Options Dave L. Meeker, National Renderer’s Association Vice President, Scientific Services National Renderers Association
9:50 - 10:10 Unwanted Horses: Fact or Fiction Holly Hazard Humane Society of the United States
10:10 - 10:30 Unwanted Horses: Fact or Fiction Tom Lenz Unwanted Horse Coalition, Dipl. ACT
10:30 - 10:50 Unwanted Horses: Fact or Fiction Karin Bump Cazenovia College
10:50 - 11:15 Discussion 11:15 - 12:00 Panel: What is the Federal Role in Creating Viable Solutions to the Unwanted Horse Issue
11:15 - 11:30 Congressman Ed Whitfield Invited 2411 Rayburn HOB
11:30 - 11:45 Congressman Charles W. Stenholm Requested Change Olson, Frank and Weeda, P.C.
11:45 - 12:00 Discussion
12:00 - 1:00 LUNCH Moderator: Ray Stricklin, Professor Animal and Avian Sciences Department
1:00 - 2:00 Panel: Transportation Issues: Knowns and Unknowns
1:00 - 1:20 Tim Cordes USDA/APHIS/VS
1:20 - 1:40 Jennifer Woods J. Woods Livestock Services
1:40 - 2:00 Q&A
2:00 - 2:15 BREAK
2:15 - 3:45 Panel: Potential Solutions and Options
2:15 - 2:45 Lynn Cross Little Brook Farm: An Equine Educational Center and Sanctuary
2:45 - 3:15 Tom Persechino American Quarter Horse Association
3:15 - 3:45 Al Kane Senior Staff Veterinarian Manager, USDA/APHIS/BLM Wild Horse and Burro Partnership USDA/APHIS/VS/Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health
3:45 - 4:00 Wrap Up Robin Lohnes American Horse Protection Association
