Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Groups push to restart horse slaughter in US
Several groups are pushing to renew the slaughter of horses in the U.S., possibly starting in Oregon. Proponents are pushing Congress to introduce a bill to allow the U.S. Department of Agriculture to resume inspecting horse meat for human consumption. The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs also are considering building a slaughter and processing facility – possibly for pet food – on their reservation north of Madras. The project was recommended last spring by a coalition of Northwest tribes. The success of either idea is far from a done deal, however. A congressional spokesman says bills that favor the slaughtering of horses face a chilly reception. And a tribal spokesman says it’s too early to say much about a reservation slaughter facility. Supporters of horse slaughters say it’s a way to deal with tens of thousands of unwanted horses. Factors in the glut include uncontrolled breeding, closure of the last U.S. horse-processing plants and an economy that left many owners unable to pay for feed and care. “We think it is very fair and accurate to say there are probably 100,000 horses that would go to processing today” if a plant were available, said Wyoming state Rep. Sue Wallis, a rancher in favor if reinstating horse slaughtering...IndianCountryToday
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2 comments:
Hey Sue Wallis''
Maybe you should change your profession. You apparently seem to want to move back wards by rewarding criminals that continue to abuse and neglect animals and have no irresponsibly. You surely are loving the idea to have a horse slaughter plant in the US. Why dont you move to france or Japan. Then you can work at a plant and actually see what happens to the horses.You apparenty dont care for animals. I wonder who is greezing your pockets.
This story was exposed as inaccurate last month...it's old, out of date, news:
HOUSTON (SFHH) – On July 18th, 2009 an Associated Press story hit the internet quoting sources saying the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Oregon would attempt to reintroduce horse slaughter into the United States.
The headline, “Groups Push to Slaughter Horses for Meat Possibly in Oregon” swept across the internet like wild fire.
“Native Americans and others are pushing for the renewed slaughter of horses in the U.S..and processing them into meat,” The AP story said. “..The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs are considering building a slaughter and
processing facility on their reservation north of Madras, as recommended last spring by a coalition of Northwest tribes.”
The story by Dick Cockle is inaccurate. Several days of data mining and calls to the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs has brought forth information that refutes virtually everything Cockle reported. “No, we are not making any plans to build a horse slaughter plant on any reservation”, stated Tim Outman, field representative for the Warm Springs Tribe’s Department of Natural Resources. Putting all cultural and moral conflicts aside, Outman said, “Who would invest 8-10 million dollars into building a facility where there is absolutely no market? Shipping horse meat is against Federal Law. We have no idea what, where or who, is perpetuating this misinformation.”
“This sort of journalism does nothing to further the cause and public relations of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs”, stated Outman
The AP also misquoted Chris Hyde of Washington’s Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) to such a point that Mr. Hyde responded, in disgust saying, “Richard Cockle has again written another poorly researched and unsupported article
on horses. I spent a great deal of time on the phone with him providing facts and evidence dismissing the misleading claims put forward by individuals more interested in abusing horses than advancing the truth. However, what does he do? Prints rhetoric. It is a shame that Mr. Cockle, Sue Wallis and others continue to exploit the truth and suffering of horses just to make a name for themselves nationally”
“It is amazing how sloppy reporters have been on this issue. The tribes are smart enough to see a scam and this is one of the worst. The misinformation on this issue seems to be radiating from a very pro-horse slaughter vet from the region who just happens to be a leader of the so called “Unwanted” Horse Coalition. As we all know this is a front group for the horse slaughter industry.”
Wallis is a Wyoming politician attempting to bring horse slaughter back to the United States.
R.T. Fitch is the author of the much acclaimed book, “Straight from the Horse’s Heart“
http://rtfitch.wordpress.com/2009/07/23/native-americans-refute-claims-as-bogus-author-says/
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