Dear Friends & Supporters,
Saving America’s Mustangs is appalled over the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s recent decision to approve an application for a horse slaughter facility at Valley Meat Company LLC in Roswell, NM on the grounds that killing horses for human consumption is inhumane and creates a serious health risk to consumers. Similar applications are pending for Rains Natural Meats in Gallatin, Mo., and Responsible Transportation LLC in Sigourney, IA, and could be approved as early as Monday.
It’s the first time since 2006 that a horse slaughter plant has been approved to operate in the U.S. The plant will undergo more compliance testing before opening so we still have a small chance that a loophole will be found.
All of this new legislation poses a sincere threat to all American horses — both wild and domestic — and we are standing with all horse supporters on this issue and Saving America’s Mustangs will stop at nothing to try and ensure that these slaughter operations are halted. In recent polls, nearly 80 percent of Americans want horse slaughter to be banned entirely. That statistic is likely to be much higher when word gets out that this is happening.
We are elated that the amendment sponsored by Reps. Jim Moran (D-VA) and Bill Young (R-FL) to eliminate federal funding for USDA inspections of horse slaughter facilities passed the House Appropriations Committee last week. The amendment helps keep horse slaughter facilities from opening. Rep. Moran spoke in favor, with no one speaking against. This amendment is the vital loophole we need to prevent this slaughter plant from getting the inspectors in for testing.
Crucial new legislation, titled the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act (H.R. 1094/S. 541), was recently introduced in Congress that will protect consumers from toxic horsemeat and end the cruel slaughter of America’s horses as well as their export for slaughter abroad. It’s something that more Americans need to learn about to prevent horse slaughter and toxicity in our food supply.
Please find your state Rep and write or call them and tell them this is NOT what the American people want and that you support the SAFE Act. http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/.
Sincerely,
Madeleine Pickens & the Saving America’s Mustangs Team
Contact New Mexico Governor:
Governor Susanna Martinez
Email her: gloria.marquez@state.nm.us
Call her: (505) 476-2200
WRITE TO THE BLM:
Department of the Interior
c/o Secretary Sally Jewell
1849 C Street, N.W.
Washington DC 20240
Phone: (202) 208-3100
E-Mail: feedback@ios.doi.gov
Office of Communications: 202-208-3752
BLM Washington Office
1849 C Street NW, Rm. 5665
Washington DC 20240
Phone: 202-208-3801
Fax: 202-208-5242
E-Mail: director@blm.gov
Saving America’s Mustangs
2683 Via De La Valle G313
Del Mar, CA 92014
Check out the new Mustang Monument website:
www.MustangMonument.com