Tag Archives: Animal Welfare Institute

Urge Support for the Landrieu Amendment to Protect America’s Horses from Slaughter

Dear Humanitarian,
Last week, the House Appropriations Committee approved an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2014 (FY14) Agriculture Appropriations bill to block inspections of horse slaughter facilities by USDA officials. On Thursday the Senate Appropriations Committee will consider an identical amendment to their version of the FY14 Agriculture Appropriations bill.

This bipartisan language had been included in every Agriculture Appropriations bill since 2005, until three legislators quietly removed it behind closed doors late last year. Without this important provision, foreign-owned companies and interests will be able to reestablish horse slaughter in the United States at the expense of taxpayers, food safety, and most dramatically, the welfare of horses. In fact, a horse slaughterhouse could open in New Mexico at any time.

President Obama included this defund language in his FY14 budget proposal to Congress. While this isn’t binding, it does demonstrate the administration’s support for ending slaughter. Congress must follow the president’s lead and support passage of this defund amendment in the FY14 Agriculture Appropriations bill before any plants open.

At a time when Congress is drastically cutting back federal spending and eliminating federal programs, it is disappointing that some in Congress want to revive an unpopular taxpayer-subsidized program that existed solely to support foreign-owned slaughter facilities that inflicted tremendous suffering on American horses.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

The full Senate Appropriations Committee will vote on the FY14 Agriculture Appropriations bill this week. An amendment will be offered by Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) to restore language prohibiting the USDA from spending your tax dollars to inspect horse slaughter facilities. This language defunding USDA inspections of horse slaughter facilities is vital to protecting American horses. If your senators are on the Appropriations Committee, it is critical that you email or call TODAY and urge them to strongly SUPPORT the Landrieu amendment to defund horse slaughter inspections.

You can call the main Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to the offices of your senators, or use AWI’s Compassion Index to quickly send an email or locate the direct office number, and view your legislator’s voting record on the issue.

Please be sure to share this eAlert and ask friends, family, and coworkers to do the same. As always, thank you for your continued and critical support on this important issue!

Sincerely,
Chris Heyde
Deputy Director
Government and Legal Affairs

Animal Welfare Institute
900 Pennsylvania Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20003
T: (202) 446-2142 ~ F: (202) 446-2131
www.awionline.org ~ www.compassionindex.org
Facebook ~ Twitter

 

Please Contact Your Legislator Today Urge Support for an Amendment to Protect America’s Horses

Dear Humanitarian,
The House Appropriations Committee is poised to decide whether or not to block a wasteful and harmful expansion of the federal government, save taxpayer dollars, and — of particular interest to humanitarians — protect horses from being cruelly slaughtered for human consumption.

Later this week, the House Appropriations Committee will consider the FY14 Agriculture Appropriations bill. Last year, the Committee approved an amendment by voice vote, sponsored by Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) that prevented tax dollars from being used to fund inspections of horse slaughter facilities. This bipartisan language had been included in every Agriculture Appropriations bill since 2005, until three legislators quietly removed it behind closed doors late last year. Without this important provision, foreign-owned companies will be able to reestablish horse slaughter in the United States at the expense of taxpayers, food safety, and the welfare of horses. In fact, representatives of such companies are already making rounds looking for a plant location.

For the first time, President Obama has included this defund language in his FY14 budget proposal to Congress. While this isn’t binding, it does demonstrate the administration’s support for ending slaughter. Now Congress must follow in the president’s footsteps and support passage of this defund amendment before any plants open.

At a time when Congress is dramatically cutting back federal spending and eliminating federal programs, it is disappointing that some in Congress want to revive an unpopular taxpayer-subsidized program that existed solely to support foreign-owned slaughter facilities that inflicted tremendous suffering on American horses.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
The full House Appropriations Committee will vote on the FY14 Agriculture Appropriations bill this week. An amendment will be offered by Rep. Moran to restore language prohibiting the USDA from spending your tax dollars to inspect horse slaughter facilities. This language defunding USDA inspections of horse slaughter facilities is vital to protecting American horses. It is critical that you email or call TODAY and urge your legislator to strongly SUPPORT the Moran amendment to defund horse slaughter inspections.

You can call the main Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to the office of your representative, or use AWI’s Compassion Index to quickly send an email or locate the direct office number, and view your legislator’s voting record on the issue. The majority of legislators on the House Appropriations Committee have supported previous efforts to end horse slaughter. If your representative has been among the ban’s supporters, mention that when you call and urge continued strong opposition to any effort to restore horse slaughter.

Please be sure to share this eAlert and ask friends, family, and coworkers to do the same. As always, thank you for your continued and critical support on this important issue.

Sincerely,
CHRIS HEYDE
Deputy Director
Government and Legal Affairs

ANIMAL WELFARE INSTITUTE
900 Pennsylvania Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20003
T: (202) 446-2142 ~ F: (202) 446-2131
www.awionline.org ~ www.compassionindex.org
Facebook ~ Twitter

National Academy Report Finds Serious Fault with BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Management Program

Wednesday, June 5, 2013 – Washington, DC – The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) welcomes a new report by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) that clearly indicates the need for a major overhaul in the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) wild horse and burro management program. The report, entitled “Using Science to Improve the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program: A Way Forward,” is the culmination of a 2-year independent scientific study by the NAS. AWI contributed input to the committee charged with conducting the study, and many of the report’s recommendations mirror reforms long called for by AWI.

The report faults the BLM for its lack of transparency, and dismisses the unscientific and haphazard ways in which the BLM estimates populations of wild horses and determines carrying capacity on the range. The report lends credence to accusations by AWI and others that the BLM has been ignoring science and grossly mismanaging the wild equines, and further that the BLM pursues policies that favor corporate livestock grazing interests over the interests of the wild horses and burros — in direct contradiction to established federal law: the Wild Free Roaming Horse and Burro Act of 1971.

AWI strongly endorses, as it has for years, the NAS recommendation that immunocontraception be used as a principal tool to humanely reduce wild horse and burro population growth rates where and when necessary. The NAS identifies immunocontraception (i.e., Porzine Zona Pellucida and GonaCon) as a technology that is effective and immediately available for use on wild horses and burros. Currently, the BLM relies instead on an endless series of brutal and destabilizing roundups to remove horses it deems in excess of capacity.

“The NAS report should be a wake-up call to the BLM, as it clearly and comprehensively identified substantive flaws in the agency’s management of wild horses and burros,” says D. J. Schubert, AWI’s wildlife biologist. “The BLM must fix these deficiencies in its management program to benefit wild horses and burros and the public by maximizing the management of wild horses and burros on the range, reducing if not eliminating roundups, and improving the transparency and accountability of its management efforts.”

AWI will continue to analyze the NAS report and will work with Congress and the administration to ensure that immediate changes are made to the wild horse and burro management program.

Media Contact:
D. J. Schubert, 609-601-2875, dj@awionline.org

CHRIS HEYDE
Deputy Director
Government and Legal Affairs

ANIMAL WELFARE INSTITUTE
900 Pennsylvania Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20003
T: (202) 446-2142 ~ F: (202) 446-2131
www.awionline.org ~ www.compassionindex.org
Facebook ~ Twitter

Join Willie Nelson for Concert to Benefit Animal Welfare Institute and Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance

Merchandise Partnership to Benefit the Animal Welfare Institute and the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance

Campaign to Kick Off with a Benefit “Family & Friends” All Star Concert at Hard Rock Times Square

100% of Ticket price will go to the Animal Welfare Institute and the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance

WHO: “The Family Nelson & Willie”, including Willie Nelson, Paula Nelson Band (Willie’s daughter), Raelyn Nelson Band (Willie’s granddaughter) Lukas Nelson and the Promise of the Real, featuring Willie Nelson (Willie’s son), Insects Vs Robots (Micah Nelson, Willie’s son), Folk Uke (Amy Nelson, Willie’s daughter), Lechuza (Martha Jewell Fowler, Willie’s granddaughter) plus Toad The Wet Sprocket, Robert Randolph and Buddy Valastro, “The Cake Boss”

WHAT: Birthday event to feature four generations of the Nelson Family sharing the same stage for the first time ever. Event will also kick off the Hard Rock International “Artist Spotlight” Willie Nelson merchandise program, benefiting the Biodiesel Alliance and the Animal Welfare Institute.

Carlo’s Bakery, setting of the hit TLC show Cake Boss, will be making a special birthday cake for the country legend and presenting it to him at the June 6th celebration.

WHERE: HARD ROCK CAFE NEW YORK, TIMES SQUARE

WHEN: JUNE 6, 2013
6pm – VIP Reception & Red Carpet Beginning
7pm – Event Begins

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND TICKETS: 125 VIP tickets will be available for $80, and 200 will be made available for $40 through ticketweb.com. VIP tickets will include access to a pre-show VIP party and allow first access to the concert venue. 100% revenue will be split between the two charities, Biodiesel Alliance and the Animal Welfare Institute.

For more information and for a link to post this to your Facebook and Twitter, click here.

Hope to see you there!

CHRIS HEYDE
Deputy Director
Government and Legal Affairs

ANIMAL WELFARE INSTITUTE
900 Pennsylvania Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20003
T: (202) 446-2142 ~ F: (202) 446-2131
www.awionline.org ~ www.compassionindex.org
Facebook ~ Twitter

New Congressional Directory for 113th Congress Now Available

Dear Humanitarian:
The Animal Welfare Institute’s Congressional directory for the 113th US Congress is now available. This small, color booklet provides information on how to contact every Member of Congress, as well as House and Senate committees and relevant government officials. It is a valuable and convenient tool to have when helping us contact Members of Congress on important animal protection measures.

Each booklet costs only $8 (includes S&H). To get your own copy, please click here to order online or send a check or money order to:

Animal Welfare Institute
Attn: Congressional Directory Order
900 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003

I will send you a FREE copy of this directory if you promise to sign up for AWI’s eAlerts, send emails to your legislators through AWI’s Compassion Index and share this email and link on Facebook with as many folks as you know!  If you do that, just contact us via email with “Compassionate Activist” in the subject line and your mailing address in the body!

Also, be sure to visit AWI’s Compassion Index (www.compassionindex.org) to see how your legislator stands on important animal protection measures currently before Congress.

Thanks,
CHRIS HEYDE
Deputy Director
Government and Legal Affairs

ANIMAL WELFARE INSTITUTE
900 Pennsylvania Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20003
T: (202) 446-2142 ~ F: (202) 446-2131
www.awionline.org ~ www.compassionindex.org
Facebook ~ Twitter

Secretary of Agriculture Calls for Alternatives to Horse Slaughter

And Americans Agree. Now It Is Time for Congress to Act!

Washington, D.C. (March 22, 2013) – The Animal Welfare Institute applauds Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack for joining the Animal Welfare Institute and the majority of Americans who feel there are better, more humane, more responsible options for horses nearing the end of their lives or their careers than being slaughtered for meat.

Secretary Vilsack, while speaking with reporters earlier this week, called on Congress to come up with other ways for this country to handle aging horses than to slaughter them for meat for human consumption.  Secretary Vilsack, a former governor of Iowa, noted that in his home state horses work with inmates in prisons, and that this helps prisoners acquire job skills for when they rejoin society.

AWI has long advocated this kind of alternative to slaughter, along with many others such as therapeutic riding, riding school programs, or even second careers in a variety of equestrian sporting events.  These alternatives are a way to provide second careers for horses, while making a valuable contribution to society and the economy.  In 2009, AWI screened a documentary called Homestretch on Capitol Hill, highlighting a very successful prison rehabilitation program involving rescued horses.

According to the Indiana Department of Corrections website, their “program helps end needless abuse and slaughter of retired race horses by providing humane, viable rescue programs, including permanent retirement and private adoption for thoroughbreds at the end of their racing careers. Offenders are taught equine skills and not only maintain these animals, but also help retrain them so they are suitable for use in qualified handicapped and other therapeutic riding programs.” This laudable program is not only beneficial to the horses; it is a boon to the prisoners and to society. The recitative rate for prisoners participating in the South Carolina Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s Second Chances program at Wateree River Correctional Institute in South Carolina was dramatically reduced when compared to the rate for prisoners in the general population of the same institution.  Those not in the horse retirement program were many times more likely to commit additional crimes and return to prison.

“We commend Secretary Vilsack for his sensible decision,” noted Chris Heyde, deputy director of government and legal affairs for AWI. “USDA has not been attempting to regulate, and thereby sanction, this brutal business for 6 years, and it is important to move forward not backwards.”

An additional factor that weighs heavily in favor of Secretary Vilsack’s call for humane alternatives is the federal government’s growing budgetary crisis.  If the Department of Agriculture were to resume inspection of horse slaughter facilities — something it has not done for several years — the department would be forced to divert limited manpower and funding in order to finance the effort because Congress did not provide additional funding when it removed the annual prohibition on inspecting these facilities.  The timing could not be worse, given the current congressional emphasis on shrinking, not expanding, government expenditures.

“A recent national survey found that over 80 percent of Americans support a ban on horse slaughter and Secretary Vilsack is right in representing that position,” said Heyde.  “AWI urges everyone who supports an end to horse slaughter in favor of more humane and responsible alternatives to write Secretary Vilsack at AWI’s Compassion Index and urge him to work with Congress on passage of the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act.”

CHRIS HEYDE
Deputy Director
Government and Legal Affairs

ANIMAL WELFARE INSTITUTE
900 Pennsylvania Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20003
T: (202) 446-2142 ~ F: (202) 446-2131
www.awionline.org ~ www.compassionindex.org
Facebook ~ Twitter

The Homes for Horses Coalition Announces New Coordinator

New Role Will Work with Coalition Members to Promote Equine Welfare and Protection

(Jan. 17, 2012) — The Homes for Horses Coalition, a resource and representative voice of the nation’s horse rescue and sanctuary community, announced the appointment of Cindy Gendron as the program’s new coordinator. The coalition was formed in 2007 by The Humane Society of the United States, the Animal Welfare Institute and the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) to serve as a recognized national network of experts in equine care and government policy affecting equines.

“This new, dedicated position will ensure the success of the Homes for Horses Coalition in helping rescue groups rehome the nation’s at-risk horse population and ending horse slaughter and other forms of equine abuse,” said Keith Dane, director of equine protection for The HSUS. “The Humane Society of the United States is delighted that Cindy will be leading the coalition’s efforts to promote growth, collaboration and professionalism in the equine rescue community.”

Continue reading The Homes for Horses Coalition Announces New Coordinator

REMINDER: Your Help Is Needed to Prevent the Restoration of Horse Slaughter in the U.S.

Dear Humanitarian,
This week the House of Representatives will decide whether to block an unnecessary expansion of the federal government, save taxpayer dollars, and – of particular interest to humanitarians – protect horses from being cruelly slaughtered for human consumption.

On June 19, the House Appropriations Committee, by voice vote, approved an amendment to the FY2013 Agriculture Appropriations bill that prevents your tax dollars from being used to fund inspections of horse slaughter facilities. This bipartisan language had been included in every Agriculture Appropriations bill since 2005, until three legislators quietly removed it behind closed doors late last year. Without this important provision, foreign-owned companies will be able to reestablish horse slaughter in the United States at the expense of taxpayers, food safety, and the welfare of horses. In fact, representatives of such companies are already making rounds in the Midwest looking for a plant location.

Continue reading REMINDER: Your Help Is Needed to Prevent the Restoration of Horse Slaughter in the U.S.

Your Help Is Needed to Prevent the Restoration of Horse Slaughter in the U.S.

Dear Humanitarian,
This Tuesday, June 26, the House of Representatives will decide whether to block an unnecessary expansion of the federal government, save taxpayer dollars, and – of particular interest to humanitarians – protect horses from being cruelly slaughtered for human consumption.

On June 19, the House Appropriations Committee, by voice vote, approved an amendment to the FY2013 Agriculture Appropriations bill that prevents your tax dollars from being used to fund inspections of horse slaughter facilities. This bipartisan language had been included in every Agriculture Appropriations bill since 2005, until three legislators quietly removed it behind closed doors late last year. Without this important provision, foreign-owned companies will be able to reestablish horse slaughter in the United States at the expense of taxpayers, food safety, and the welfare of horses. In fact, representatives of such companies are already making rounds in the Midwest looking for a plant location.

Continue reading Your Help Is Needed to Prevent the Restoration of Horse Slaughter in the U.S.

US House Approves Amendment Blocking Use of Tax Dollars to Revive Horse Slaughter Industry

Tuesday, June 19, 2012 – Washington, D.C. — The language to disallow funding for inspections, originally passed into law in 2005 with bipartisan support, has effectively halted horse slaughter operations on American soil for years — that is, until late last year when three legislators quietly removed it from the Fiscal Year 2012 Appropriations bill behind closed doors during the reconciliation process.

“The Animal Welfare Institute commends Representative Jim Moran and his colleagues, Representatives Sam Farr (D-CA), Rosa DeLauro (C-CT), Steven Rothman (D-NJ), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), and Barbara Lee (D-CA), for their statements in support of the amendment,” said Chris Heyde, deputy director of government and legal affairs for AWI. “We share Representative Moran’s perspective that there is a moral imperative to keep the door firmly closed against this cruel and undesirable industry.  It would be fiscally irresponsible to expend tax dollars to prop up an industry that mainly serves foreign interests while inflicting suffering on American horses.”

AWI will work with humanitarians within Congress to shepherd the measure to the full House for a vote and then to the Senate.

Media Contact:
Chris Heyde, AWI, (202) 446-2142, chris@awionline.org