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  Discussion on PA Bill on Transport of Horses for Slaughter -- Urgent action needed!
Author Message

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 27, 2000 - 1:24 pm:

To all Pennsylvania residents, and others who oppose legalized animal abuse:

The Senate of Pennsylvania is expected to pass a bill next week regarding the Transport of Horses to slaughter (House Bill 590). While claiming to eliminate double-decker cattle trucks (which are about 5'9" high inside, where the horse have to stand up), the bill sneaks through a new provision that WILL ALLOW FOR HORSES WITH BROKEN LEGS TO BE FORCED TO RIDE 30 HOUR TRIPS IN TRUCKS. The bill will also allow the transport of
foals and mares in labor, and will permit the use of metallic floors without rubber mats, so the horses are scrambling to stay on their feet). The bill does not address the problem of slaughter horses being transported without water for days at a time.

This is animal abuse. The bill is being pushed by the Pennsylvania Amish and the trucking industry. The legislator who sponsored the bill lives in New Holland, PA, home to one of the most notorious horse auctions in the region, and a regular source of horses (ill, crippled, etc.) for slaughter. He is tight with the slaughter industry, the truckers, and the Amish. The woman who answers the phone at Gov. Ridge's office encourages all who oppose H.B. 590 to call the sponsor's office as well. The numbers are:

> Governor Tom Ridge
> 225 Main Capitol Bldg.
> Harrisburg, PA 17120
> Ph: (717) 787-2500
> Fax: 717-772-8284
>
> Senator Noah Wenger
> Phone: 717-787-4420
> Fax: 717-783-3156
>

Governor Ridge's office is keeping a record of all calls on the issue, so your call will really have an impact. And it takes only 30 seconds . . . I called, told them I oppose the bill, gave my name, and that was it!

According to an e-mail I received, the legislation is expected to pass when the legislature reconvenes next week, so we
do not have much time. Thanks! Please alert all who may be interested.

Lisa

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 27, 2000 - 2:02 pm:

Hi Lisa
Thanks for the numbers. I called them both and also faxed them a little note. The guy who answer the Senator's phone let me explain a little and said "we don't want any inhumane treatment for the horses".
barbara

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 27, 2000 - 3:50 pm:

Hi Lisa,

Tried, but haven't been able to connect with the Gov.'s office yet - will keep trying. Did, however, send the following e-mail to your Senator Noah Wenger at nwenger@pasen.gov

"Dear Senator Wenger:

While browsing an equine website I subscribe to, I came upon your unbelievably horrendous "House Bill 590" concerning what you and the slaughter industry determine to be "humane" conditions for the transport of horses to slaughter.

While I am certainly not naive, and realize that many equines have physical and mental problems which may preclude them to euthanasia, this bill has to be one of the most insensitive and inhumane animal-handling documents I have come across in a number of years - and only someone who has had limited to no contact with horses and the horse industry would sponsor it.

Considering the enormous number of horse-owning constituents in Pennsylvania, as well as your neighboring states - where I reside - I believe your sponsorship of this bill will alienate you far more than you realize - particularly if you have any political aspirations outside of your home state. Animal - and particularly equine - advocates have long memories.

These animals - regardless of their circumstances - deserve to die with humanity, compassion, and dignity. Try to wrest these qualities from yourself, or at the very least, visit first-hand the conditions that you plan to place in effect before making this God-like decision for another living being.

Sincerely yours,

Bonnie Cubow
Culpeper, Virginia"

Even tho I'm not a PA native, hope this helps!
Bonnie

Posted on Thursday, Sep 28, 2000 - 2:08 pm:

Yeah I emailed him as well.

Posted on Thursday, Sep 28, 2000 - 9:36 pm:

I e-mailed him too

Posted on Thursday, Sep 28, 2000 - 9:38 pm:

Do these kind of people still exist in this day and age? Wow i am amazed, and these people actually think that they have a future in politics!
Perhaps we should notify scientists that the cave man is alive and well?
I will E-mail him from Australia as well perhaps he might see that the world is watching!!
I will also E-mail a few thoroughbred studs we are affiliated with around the world an see if they can E-mail him as well.
Julie

Posted on Friday, Sep 29, 2000 - 9:59 am:

Thank you all for your support! I agree that pressure from other states, and around the world, is quite valuable. This reflects so badly on the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

I have obtained a copy of the actual legislation and realized that it also eliminates the requirements of "adequate ventilation" and "insulation or coverings to maintain an adequate temperature" for the horses. Just horrifying. The legislation has no purpose other than making the industry even more profitable, at the expense of the horses (and the humanity of the dealers).

Posted on Thursday, Oct 12, 2000 - 7:16 am:

Lisa,

Have you heard anything as to whether or not the above bill was "Yayed or Nayed"? Just wondering.

Bonnie

Posted on Saturday, Oct 14, 2000 - 1:32 pm:

Bonita,

The PA legislative information web site is not yet reporting the result. I'll try to give a call to the state law library next week and see if they have the latest information.

A friend of mine called the governor's office about a week after I posted the original message on this thread, and was told that the response from the equestrian and animal welfare communities had been overwhelming. My friend was told that the Senate Committee on Agriculture was considering amending, or scrapping, the bill in light of the outcry. This is second hand info, but somewhat encouraging. Considering that when I called, the governor's office told me that the response from the equestrian community had been weak, we can consider ourselves successful in making our voices heard (even if not heeded). Thanks again, everyone! I'll post again when I have beter info.

Lisa

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 25, 2000 - 11:52 am:

Today I received the following from Sen. Vincent Fumo, who is the senator for my district of PA:

>Thank you for your recent correspondence >regarding House Bill 590.

>I appreciate your views regarding the treatment >of the horses that House Bill 590 addresses and >I have my own concerns with the drafting of this >bill.

>House Bill 590 was referred to the Senate >Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee on June >15, 2000 and has not yet been considered. If >this bill comes before me for a vote, I will >keep your concerns in mind.

>Your thoughts and opinions are very important to >me. Please continue to inform me of your >concerns in the future.

>Sincerely,
>Senator Vincent J. Fumo

The "word on the street" is that the vote was delayed because of the outpouring of opposition to the bill, and that amendments are being considered. A staffer who asked not to be identified told me this "off the record." If it is true, it's something of a victory.

Lisa

Posted on Thursday, Oct 26, 2000 - 11:25 am:

Hi I hopes this helps!!!!!
I sent it off in the hopes that it has some impact. Belinda

I am writing you about (House Bill 590) the transporting of horses for slaughter. I was
shocked, appalled, and sickened; when, I heard how the horses being taken to slaughter
were being abused. In the way, they were transported to the slaughter house. I know that
the slaughter of horses is part of the meat industry. That being said, How that event is
performed defines a persons basic view and understanding of others pain. ( animal
or human.)
I have a problem with any, group of people or person, that can be desensitized to the
inflection of pain or suffering on any animal or person for pleasure or profit.
The horse is and has been one of mans best friends. It is how our ancestors became
mobile. They were our companions in the exploration of other worlds. They aided man in
the development of civilization. Horses pulled us forward into uncharted lands; and
pulled our yoke to help feed and prove labor for mans endeavors. They are one of, Gods
most noble, creatures and we should treat them with the respect that they deserve. The
transportation of animals that are sick, in labor, or with a broken lag is worse then abuse !
it hinges on the edge of ghoulish. The, House Bill 590 should be stopped dead in its
tracts. VOTE NO ON HOUSE BILL 590. Stop the pain and suffering and animal
abuse.
The desensitization to the pain and suffering, of all Gods creations, is not a value that
people want to pass down to their children. One over ridding thought keep popping into
my mind, (The Desensitization to animals and their abuse is one of the bench marks that
are looked at in the behavior of a KILLS pathology.) What is the message, your state is
sending out to the rest of the world. Remember that if a person has any National
aspirations of running for office; they might want to look at how their home state voting
record will impact on them. I viewed this information over the Internet and researched it
their. We now live in an information ,glass house, and what we do is not viewed in a
micro cosm, but by venue of the Internet world wide. I am not a member of your state;
yet, I was kept awake and could not sleep after reading about your House Bill 590. How
could any one stand by and watch this kind of carnage. Please vote NO on House Bill
590. I along with others on the Internet, will be waiting to view the results of this
election with as much investment as the Presidential race this year.
Thank You,
B.J. Blanton

Posted on Friday, Feb 2, 2001 - 6:56 pm:

Just wanted to let everyone know that Pennsylvania's inhumane "three-legged horse bill" died in committee at the end of the 2000 legislative session. I am told that the bill's progress was stymied by vocal opposition. Thank you all for your help. Let's hope that the bill doesn't turn up again in 2001 . . . .

Posted on Friday, Feb 2, 2001 - 10:11 pm:

I have just read this for the first time today and would like to say that this is a wonderful thing that you have all done. You can all give yourselves a HUGE pat on the back. I'm really impressed. Your letters were absolutedly great! I'm so happy to know that a lot of suffering has been stopped or prevented thanks to you. I wish I had seen it earlier so that I might have helped.
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