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From: Gail Vaca
Date: Wed, 25 May 2005 15:17:56 EDT
Subject: AVMA Seeks Immediate Veterinary Action Re: HR 503
Dear Dr.Beaver,
I write to you today, deeply disturbed by an email letter diseminated by Scott Piper the Director of Communications for the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association (provided below my signature) on behalf of the AVMA.
The AVMA's opposition to HR 503, a bill that will protect horses from the extreme suffering and cruelty perpetuated by the horse slaughter trade, is nothing less than astonishing.
What does the AVMA propose to do, or better yet, what are you ACTIVELY doing to end the suffering of horses who are today and everyday, traded and transported for slaughter? Why is this issue of absolutely no concern to the AVMA?
Why is the AVMA concerned with the welfare of horses should they not be slaughtered, when you have done NOTHING to address the welfare issues of horses who are now alive?
How dare the AVMA oppose a bill that will end the tragic suffering of horses at the hands of the horse industry's bottom feeder-killer buyers and foreign owned horse slaughter plants?
I find it unconscionable that any veterinarian would condone this endless suffering based on a hypothetical scenario of what you percieve "could potentially" happen should horse slaughter be outlawed!
Please explain to me, how the AVMA would then account for the fact that in the late 1980's and early 1990's over 350,000 horses were slaughtered, and throughout the last decade or so, the number of horses slaughtered has declined to approximately 65,000, without any of these so-called AVMA "welfare" concerns ever having materialized? I would appreciate copies of the "science-data-studies-proof" used by the AVMA in determing that horses will suffer greater abuse or neglect should horse slaughter be ended.
Just what is the real reason the AVMA supports this barbaric exploitation of our countries horses?
I live in DeKalb Illinois. My farm is less than 2 miles from the Cavel horse slaughter plant. I see what goes on there on a daily basis....do YOU?
Are you aware that the Cavel plant is importing horses to slaughter from Canada, over half a continent away? Yes, this is true. Cavel imports anywhere from 100-200 horses per WEEK all the way from the Edmonton area of Alberta! Now, if we have such a tremendous "uwanted horse" problem in the United States as the AVMA/AAEP would lead us to believe, WHY then is Cavel importing so many darn horses? Do you realize that this is, on the average, 4 double decker loads of horses per week, which are inhumanely transported thousands of miles over the course of several days all the way to Illinois? How do you explain the AVMA's support of this horrible cruelty? Why does this not concern the AVMA?
I know of these issue's firsthand, because you see, just over a week ago, I was personally involved in the rescue of a Canadian family's pet horse directly out of the Cavel plant. Read the story here
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/news/051905_ns_horse_saved.html
This family pet is perhaps the only horse who has ever entered a horse slaughter plant and lived to tell the tale, if you will. This little mare spent 3 days on a double decker being hauled halfway across Canada before eventually crossing into the United States where she spent yet another day in the same double decker until finally arriving in DeKalb. What is the AVMA position on this ACTUAL, EXISTING cruelty?
I fully expect answers to my questions to be forthcoming. I believe that the AVMA owe's it to me as a horse owner, professional trainer, and as a client of AVMA/AAEP veterinarians, who by the way, OPPOSE the AVMA/AAEP position on horse slaughter.
In addition, I would also like to know how it is that the AVMA would condone the human consumption of meat that comes from animals (horses) who have NEVER in their lifetime, been medicated or regulated as a food producing animal? Even if you have little regard for equine life and suffering, surely you must have a tiny bit of regard for human life? Or maybe you do not?
So what is the real truth, Dr. Beaver? Those of us who truly care about equine welfare would appreciate an honest answer to these most important questions.
Sincerely,
Gail Vacca
Top of the Hill Farm (Thoroughbreds)
DeKalb, IL 60115
815-***-****
AVMA Seeks Immediate Veterinary Action
in Opposition to Federal Legislation
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is urgently seeking the support of the veterinary community to help oppose controversial federal legislation. The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act would prevent the transportation of horses to be slaughtered for human consumption. AVMA's Governmental Relations Division is reporting that the sponsors of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (H.R. 503) may try to move the bill soon, possibly as an amendment to an agriculture bill that will likely be considered by the full House of Representatives the week of June 6.
AVMA is opposed to H.R. 503 and is actively pursuing defeat of this legislation because it does not believe this legislation adequately addresses the long-term welfare of the horses that would not be slaughtered.
For more information on the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, and what you can do to help defeat this legislation, visit the AVMA Web site at http://www.capwiz.com/avma/issues/alert/?alertid=7130716&type=CO.
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Scott Piper
Director of Communications
Colorado Veterinary Medical Association
Denver Area Veterinary Medical Society
789 Sherman Street, Suite 550
Denver, CO 80203
phone 303.318.0447 fax 303.318.0450
scottpiper@colovma.com
www.colovma.com
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