August 5th. That’s the date that the slaughter-houses in Iowa and New Mexico expect to be up and running. About 3 weeks from now, Responsible Transportation LLC and Valley Meats Co. expect to open their doors and start killing horses. (http://www.kcci.com/news/central-iowa/iowa-horse-slaughterhouse-opens-aug-5/-/9357080/21004762/-/sb39aa/-/index.html). That’s not a lot of time obviously, but there are still some mountains to climb. They base their projected opening date on the August 2nd federal court date in New Mexico brought about by the HSUS and Front Range Equine over environmental concerns. Attorney, Blair Dunn, who represents the slaughterphiles, seems quite confident on the court ruling in his favor and not granting the injunction to stop production. However, I don’t think it’s all as simple as they would have us believe.
Basically, we’re dealing with a full court press by the blood thirsty at the moment. Slaughterhouse Sue has already indicated that IEBA is out of money, yet she keeps writing up press releases at an astonishing rate. The latest coming yesterday and containing no information nor addressing the pending litigation. (http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs133/1103685263837/archive/1114147593181.html). Lord knows what she plans to pull our of her ass come August 2nd, but I have a feeling it won’t be Douchebag Duquette. Now that she feels that slaughter in Iowa and New Mexico is a foregone conclusion, she has adjusted her beady eyes on Missouri. They’re still spinning the `humane end for old and sick horses’ there to get public support (http://www.columbiamissourian.com/a/163748/what-others-say-humane-horse-slaughter-may-serve-sound-purpose/). The writer of the linked article thinks that with Iowa an New Mexico being ready to roll, there will be no rush for Missouri at this time. I would suggest that’s BS. Just the same that the article refers to slaughter as a humane option. I guess given that Missouri is home to the likes of Puppymill Patterson, we shouldn’t really be surprised that ignorance abounds. Apologies to the unfortunate minority there that seem to not walk around in a bubble of self entitlement and ignorance. I know you’re out there!
So, let’s just say that they manage to get their doors open on schedule and horses are back on the menu. Where are they all of a sudden going to get all these horses to begin killing in 3 weeks? Clearly, Keaton Walker was playing coy when he danced around the issue. Don’t think for a moment there aren’t some standing on a feedlot ready to walk that last mile to their horrific death. Yesterday an Iowa news station ran a story on an attempted horse theft (http://whotv.com/2013/07/15/horse-rustling-owners-warn-of-thieves/). If you live within 100 miles of one of these new death chambers, you can look forward to many more stories like this without the happy endings. You will also remember that Keaton Walker indicated that the inspectors aren’t trained yet. Hell, the staff isn’t hired or trained yet and they’re telling us that they will have the horses, the trained staff and inspectors and it’s all going to happen in 3 weeks? I have no doubt the doors will open if they are successful in court, but the ones paying the price of training will be the poor horses that are experimented with and trained on.
I’ve said it before, but I have not a single doubt that Slaughterhouse Sue will not rest until she realizes her dream of mass horse slaughter. Call it a vendetta for the part she says horses played in the death of her husband or just call her plain hateful, she will not rest until she gets her way. She’s a desperate, lonely woman and if you have ever had a doubt at how `invested’ she is in seeing horses slaughtered, you may want to take a read here : (http://forthesakeofthehorse.blogspot.ca/). It’s yet another blog of hers mostly do with her plans on writing a book or something. Nothing overly interesting until you read this passage:
“Now I’m facing a whole new life, and bound and determined to make a living one way or another on this little ranch. It is a hustle because my steady income died with my husband, I won’t be able to get any of his social security or military pension until I turn 60 and that is a good five years away. So, I’ve put together a little horse business and am scrambling for quick income”
She’s broke, she blames horses for the death of her husband and she wants a `quick income’. We already know her `Wyoming Meats’ plans to co-op horse meat and I’m guessing there will be substantial kick-back for her should one of these slaughter plants manage to get up and running.
Hopefully, today’s news has gotten the majority of you good and fired up. We are running out of tomorrows on this issue. The very fact that they think it will be just fine to open these slaughter plants with legislation pending, may well mean they have other things up their sleeves. Out of money does not mean out of mouth or even an internet connection sadly. Now it’s our turn to get heard. Comment when you see articles, news stories, etc. that have misinformation. Educate people when given the chance. Don’t threaten them, don’t fight with them, just speak the truth and educate people. Most importantly, call your reps and let them know where you stand. They are voted in to be your voice, so make that voice heard. Here is the list as left in the comment section here last week. Get busy….August 5th is coming soon….
To close down the borders and to keep them from defunding again in the future. The SAFE ACT will ban horse slaughter of American horses any where forever. I start calling tomorrow and will repeat weekly. Call the committee members-see attached:
Ask them to support the SAFE ACT which is H.R.1094 in the House and S.541 in the Senate.
To make it easier to call, here is a list of the Senators on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee that must approve S.541 (202) 224-3121
Tom Harkin, D, Chairman
Lamar Alexander, R, Ranking Member
Bob Casey, D
Kay Hagan, D
Bernie Sanders, I
Tammy Baldwin, D
Michael Bennet, D
Richard Burr, R
Michael Enzi, R
Al Franken, D
Orrin Hatch, R
JohnnyIsakson, R
Mark Kirk, R
Barbara Mikulski, D
Lisa Murkowski, R
Christopher Murphy, D
Patty Murray, D
Rand Paul, R
Pat Roberts, R
Tim Scott, R
Elizabeth Warren, D
Sheldon Whitehouse, D
Here is the list of the Representatives on the Agriculture Committee who are responsible for sending H.R.1094 to the House Floor for a vote.
Rick Crawford, R, Chairman
Jim Costa, D, Ranking Member
Cheri Bustos, D
Michael Conaway, R
Joe Courtney, D
Jeff Denham, R
Scott Desjarlais, R
William Enyart, D
Pete Gallego, D
Christopher Gibson, R
Bob Goodlatte, R
Richard Hudson, R
Steve King, R
Michelle Lujan Grisham, D
Mike McIntyre, D
Randy Neugebauer, R
Richard Nolan, D
Reid Ribble, R
Mike Rogers, R
Kurt Schrader, D
David Scott, D
Glenn Thompson, R
Filemon Vila, D
Ted Yoho, R
OK, I’ve missed something. Why does Suey blame horses for the death of her husband? Did he eat horsemeat?
She has often remarked since his passing that it was brought about from years of painkiller use that destroyed his liver. The use of the painkillers was from getting bucked off a horse and breaking his pelvis or something. Like I said, she has mentioned it many, many times and even used his memorial to mention that he didn’t get to realize his dream of seeing horse processing returned to US soil despite the fact they both called themselves horse lovers. Go figure…
No Maggie he fell off and hurt himself supposedly and was on pain killers for it since then. I suspect he was an alcoholic as well.
Hallelujah!
Amen and affirmative, Horse Warrior! I was waiting for someone to “expand” the conversation.
Now, I’ll grant you that genetics, the nature of pharmaceuticals, etc can play HUGE factors in addiction, substance abuse BUT if one has serious pain issues with bones, joints and the like the best you can do is eat right (no pun intended), exercise within your physical limitations (swimming, etc) and watch your fucking weight. Last pic I saw of $uey’s partner in crime and museologist…he was OBESE!
So, prescription drugs can cause liver failure?
Hmmmm…always thought it was booze and heroin (but I thought heroin was really about Hepatitis through needles).
I learn something everyday
“Cough”… probable using that non-toxic safe and healthy drug called Phenylbutazone know as Bute!!!
Right, they are going to use a gun to shoot the horses and think a USDA vet will stand there by the kill box. Not going to happen. OSHA and the Vet Union wouldn’t allow it.
I have only heard Gallatin planning to use a gun, the others the captive bolt.
Didn’t one of the Canadian plants get in trouble for using a gun or something? I know I read about an issue with that up there but not sure what plant.
Les Viandes de la Petite-Nation slaughterhouse in Quebec has modified the plant to enable the use of a rifle instead of a captive bolt gun to stun horses and “obtain better results”. This followed an investigative report (Pasture to Plate) by the Canadian Horse Defense Coalition. In an open letter to the CFIA, they ask “We have learned from Dr. Brian Evans that a rifle will now be the weapon of choice at Les Viandes de la Petite-Nation. This decision is baffling to us as our past evidence from Bouvry Exports and Viandes Richelieu (2010) clearly illustrated blatant animal suffering when shooters were faced with moving targets, specifically the thrashing heads of terrified horses. We also recall that observers are not permitted to be in the shooting area. Who, therefore, does the monitoring, and how will oversight be achieved?”
http://www.horse-canada.com/horse-news/open-letter-to-the-canadian-food-inspection-agency/
Magnet-sealed doors prevent people from entering the zone while the rifle is fired..
Thank you for the info. So the gun eliminates having an inspector on the floor. I’m going to go ahead and guess that Suey isn’t planning on having them put up the third party monitoring cameras as suggested by their hero Temple Grandin. That was one of the suggestions to monitor the humane handling and not a single one of these slaughter houses has mentioned they would do that. Instead, they hold super secret IEBA meetings on how to keep the wrong sort of people from being hired and going undercover to expose the horror. If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to hide….
The CHDC was provided with full footage from two days and numerous photos taken by an anonymous source at Les Viandes de la Petite-Nation on July 13 and 14, 2011. The report “Pasture to Plate” can be found here
Click to access pasture-to-plate.pdf
It is VERY graphic. I don’t know how anyone could interpret this as humane.
I have been writing letters to our MP and Federal Min of Ag, who passed my last one to the Director of Agri-Food, Meat and Seafood Safety to reply, who tells me that corrective actions have been taken. I wrote back to ask for more specifics, but am still waiting on that one.
There are four horse slaughter houses in Canada..2 in Alberta and 2 in Quebec. 😦
I saw that footage and it is horrific. If anybody thinks that it will be even a little bit differently done in the US, they are crazier than I though.
There was an earlier story – I think it was in the Toronto Sun – about a Canada’s horse slaughter plants using guns – so the inspectors who were supposed to be on the kill floor were in a back room where they couldn’t even SEE the kill floor because the slaughter folks were so wild with the guns the inspectors were afraid of being shot. This went on for THREE YEARS!
So much for the “trained experts” doing the shooting.
I would think a shotgun would raise some health and safety concerns for the humans on the floor for sure. I guess with the Ag Gag laws in Iowa and Missouri, we’ll never know how that works out since third party monitoring will never happen.
I’ve always heard “gun” and “CBG” or “bolt” used interchangeably.
I believe that what they are wanting to use in Missouri is an actual gun which is different than a CBG.
Well then…entirely different conversation and totally consistent with the number of equines they (MO) will slaughter.
And after that opinion from me…please cite some official citation that it will be a “gun” (pistol by the HCHS idiots) by the facility; it is in fact what the existing slaughter facilities in the US do. Production line slaughter requires speed based on product out put numbers.
Here’s my point: A disinformation campaign allows those ignorant that there is a legitimate debate; the debate staves off regulation. Delay is the key.
Proof they’re going to use a gun?
http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/387292/3/Permit-near-for-Missouri-horse-slaughter-plant-
“He said the facility would not use a controversial captive-bolt gun to euthanize the horses, instead relying on a .410 shotgun with a slug to kill them. ”
Thank you.
That says alot….they won’t have the numbers, but they can always change that if production of tainted meat speeds up.
how did horses kill her husband? oh, just read that above.so he was a drug addict? want to bet that it wasnt the horses fault? i wish someone would just accidently run her over with a lawnmower. or maybe a tractor.
I don’t know what his status was or what he was using. Just know that I’ve broken my fair share of bones and had many injuries too and I am not living on prescription pain killers and my liver is just fine. I’m not really trying to speak ill of the dead. He can’t exactly defend himself, but she keeps bringing him up and using this as some sort of legacy/vendetta. That seems a strange thing to want to be known for after you’re gone….responsible for the mass torture of a beloved species. I’d rather be known as somebody that loved animals and was kind to them every chance I got. I guess I’m abnormal though…
Hardly abnormal! But unusual! Thanks for publishing the list and for motivating us heathen horse lovers.
….that would be snobby horse lovers according to their sycophantic leader
It only! I was thinking buck her off, and kick her in the head on the way down… Then stomp and roll on her… I’m think Trojan horse be glad to train it… A girl can dream, can’t she??
I gotta say I was all for slaughter. I also thought it would eliminate alot of the garbage horses. Now with that being said. I never said I was a fast learner. I dont think we need a dumping ground. Everything in life has now become disposable. I do not think life should be disposable. I am not saying horses are pets. They are livestock. I am seeing more and more ads pop up. Save this horse before I send him to slaughter. well GFY. It looks as if we can not save the horses. We are way out numbered. Not only do they need saving from slaughter, but also from idiots, hoarders, BYB and overnight horseman. Its a shame.
Tell me Amy…how do you eliminate so called “garbage” when it is still being regularly generated by garbage humans and theft? How does slaughter prevent the stolen equine winding up in a kill pen? How does slaughter set a base price for the equine industry? How is “being way out numbered” make an US equine an acceptable food product for humans, aside from the cruelty? And actually, what is a “garbage” horse in your equine mind??????
And you will be spreading the word about stopping slaughter, right?….and calling your Rep and Senators…right?
And sadly, there is not one fix, ultimate solution for any of that. Well, we can get rid of the slaughter ransom people by ending slaughter, but the rest will remain. We haven’t ended homelessness either, but we keep moving forward and aim to do better. Hopefully…
There is no such thing as a “garbage horse” all horses are beautiful. And when a horse comes to you from across a field and gives you kisses, I say that animal is a pet.
MY horses and the horses of every horse owner I’ve ever known in my 35 years of horse ownership were thought of as members of the family, just like our dogs, cats and hamsters. The magazine THE HORSE runs a different survey month, and there is lots of participation. About a year ago or so, they ran one about how you think about your horse. They are all multiple choice and the choices were something like: Best friend? Means to an end? My proudest possession? Member of the family?
The vast majority answer was member of the family. Best friend was second. I can’t remember where the others placed. Hundreds of people participated, as they always do on these reader surveys. Of course, I don’t need to post what I answered.
Hard to believe they’re even considering mass killing of our horses, what a digsusting world this has become.
Even harder to believe is there are some that are truly excited about it, that’s a sad reflection on the horse community.
May all those who fought for this, and celebrate this, rot in a miserable place.
I’m sorry…but the mass killing is and has been going on all along.
Those salivating are excited about the final act taking place on US soil for profit (HCHS) since 2007 shut downs.
And US equines are still slaughtered in the US (something fat a$$ $ue repeatedly ignores), but not for seller profit….you have to pay them.
There is a little matter of the EU deadline for traceability that is coming up at the end of this month. At that point, the doors to US horses close as far as exporting meat. I believe Canada may be in trouble as well.
Uhhhh…let’s recognize that the killers are going to shift markets that don’t give a shit about quality, environment or ethics.
EU ain’t the problem.
The US is the problem and the shit has to stop.
Somebody might need to give Obama a FDR Bslap..
Uh, the EU is 80% of our horse meat trade. Without the EU and probably no access to their supply chains, where is a market to switch to. Russia won’t buy ANY meat from us. China has gone on a tear to reduce their staggering numbers of food related illnesses.
Make NO mistake, the 5 or 6 multinationals based in Belgium and the Netherlands OWN the international horse meat trade, and if they don’t want us, we are OUT.
I don’t know if any of you remember because this was several years ago, but a Montana legislator named Ed Butcher (perfect name, huh?) was hot to open a horse slaughter plant in Montana. He tried for years, but never got anywhere. Finally, he said – don’t remember the quote exactly, but it was like without “the Belgians” you can’t get anywhere.
Just have to wait and see.
Don’t forget that link I posted last week that shows what Kemseke is trying to do with the full support of desBarres and Suey. If he gets his way in Belgium, the doors are blown wide open for any old horse, drug tainted or not to go into the food chain. It’s very serious.
Thank you. It is time to get serious as all hell.
I agree with all the above.. We all can talk and spout and salivate till were blue in the face, but we ALL have to make a stand once and for all for all to HEAR and SEE, other wise our words mean nothing I don’t know what or how we can do this BUT WE MUST !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Keep calling the House and Senate leadership in the US Congress; and your reps if they are proslaughter (call antislaughter to move the legislation for a vote)….then get out there with a better candidate if they choose to run for reelection.
I wish. But I can’t do anything about getting better candidates. Indiana is RED and loves the Tea Party. What more can I say?
Doesn’t mean you can’t go on record with your stance on the issue. You can still use the contact email for the president’s office and get your voice heard there. Just be happy you aren’t living in Iowa right about now…
Amy, please define garbage horses for me. Please know that even though some may not be conformationally correct, they still experience fear and pain. Because of bad breeding they exist and if they can’t get placed in a useful purpose such as being a therapy horse of some sort, then give them a shot and euthanize them gently. You sound like a barbarian.
michellle:
So called “bad horses” also exist because people have NOT trained them, given them performance records to live on or attributes quickly determined to be profitable.
Equines take time AND money with time being the most valuable for the equine in the long run as stupid people with money can buy a good trainer, rider, groom, etc……money can’t buy time.
The link in your remarks on Sue Wallis takes you takes us to a press release on behalf of the Indian group (Yakama Nation – aka National Tribal Horse Council) that Jason Smith (Sue Wallis mouthpiece) is part of. On this link you will see the name of
Katherine Minthorn Good Luck (Umatilla tribe), (Intertribal Agriculture Council Phone: (406) 670-7566 Email: kgoodluck@indianaglink.com) as a contact. Katherine Minthorn Good Luck is also a founding member of United Horsemen.
This Yakama Nation Tribe has far reaching tendrils of stink. Dr. James Stephenseon (head of their Yakama Nation Wildlife, Range Vegetation Management Program) is, as we know, a member of the BLM National Advisory Board – National Resources Management chair. What I’d like to know is how did a “veterinarian” from a small podunk town like WArm Springs, OR get to a position on the national advisory board when I know many incredibly more talented and qualified horsepeople who have applied and been rejected.
Funny connection there. Actually, not so funny.
So we have Sue Wallis (founding member of United Horsemen) best friends with Jason Smith who is best friends with founding another member of United Horsemen (Katherine Minthorn Good Luck) who is best friends with BLM Advisory Board member Dr. Stephenson – also a member of the Yakama Nation Natural Resources Committee.
A recent exhibit in Washington, DC called a Song for the Horse. http://nmai.si.edu/exhibitions/horsenation/ Nowhere in the literature of this showing is there any mention of the Indian Nation’s desire or need to slaughter them for profit.
The Smithsonian also maintains an exhibit of the Indian horse culture. Their head curator had this to say: http://nmai.si.edu/exhibitions/horsenation/ – Horses will always symbolize freedom, bravery and generosity.
It’s too bad that some people will use their great culture to mislead others to a lie disguised as a truth.
And the other article I linked clearly showed that probably the majority of natives were not happy about slaughtering their horses and were working on other options. What Suey sees with the native horses is thousands of feral animals that have never had veterinary care and can be presented for slaughter as drug free. However, that won’t be enough for the EU come the end of the month..
The Native Peoples have problems with their own leadership and the Native Peoples collective leadership (uhhh…not official?)…..kinda like how we here feel about regulatory ka-rap with food, butchering equines and wild equine abuse.
EU is a start. EU is not the end of slaughter.
It’s the end of one of the biggest market for our `product’ though. Which is why Kemseke,along with the support of Maggot desBarres and Suey are petitioning the EU to change their regulations on excluded horses. They are using the same old arguments of waste and over-population. If Kemseke is successful, that kicks the doors wide open over here and there will be virtually no regulation on what they will accept. I don’t think it will happen given the scandal they already have on their hands, but it’s wise to keep an eye on such things as the pieces are moving all over. At the end of the day, the SAFE Act is the only real solution and that’s why we need to burn up those phone lines right now. Also, sending up a prayer, good vibes or whatever you believe in can’t hurt either. Hopefully, the HSUS and Front Range will get an injunction on the 2nd and buy some more time.
This has to stop. Everyone please contact your representatives. Please do not let this happen..this is too much that our horses may die again. Bad enough they get shipped to Canada and Mexico. What will happen to them here. Where will the tainted horsemeat go? Oh yeah, probably will end up in our own grocery stores.
Yes, prescription drugs can cause liver and kidney failure. So can over the counter pain relievers. Seems to me the meat we are already eating is tainted. So is the milk and eggs. I do not support horse slaughter.
If they start slaughtering horses here, I stop eating beef. Period. As is, I only buy local, but this will put a hurting on the meat industry, should it come to pass. They are very, very foolish. Some times, the greed of people is what sinks their boat. I’ve seen it happen many times before.
You and several others, including my household, will be abstaining from beef should this come to pass.
Absolutely! I haven’t been eating much beef anyway because decent cuts cost and arm and a leg – IF you can even find a decent cut.
Horse burgers? NO WAY!
Become Vegan. You can live a lot longer and healthier and less expensive on nonmeat diet. Grains, fruits, vegetables….you really do not need the meat.
THIS IS SO DISCUSTING, SEEING AND HEARING THIS, TAKE ALL THE SENATORS,CONGRESSMAN, AND THE PRESIDENT, AND MOST OF ALL SUE, AND WHEN THEY OPEN THE DOORS TO THE SLAUGHTERPLANTS, PUT ALL OF THEM IN THE FRONT AT THE DOOR AND LET THEM GET THE BOLT IN THE HEAD, AND SEE HOW IT FEELS, ALL YOU PEOPLE THAT ARE FOR SLAUGHTERING HORSES, LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, YOU ARE ALL NOT HUMAN, YOU ARE NOTHING BUT SCUM BAGS, AND SUE, THIS IS FOR YOU, THE HORSE THAT YOUR HUSBAND WAS RIDING DID NOT KILL HIM, IT WAS YOU, THAT DID IT, SO YOU GO TO THE DOOR WHEN THEY OPEN IT UP AND GET THAT FIRST BOLT TO THE HEAD AND SEE HOW YOU LIKE IT YOU PIECE OF SHIT AND POOR EXCUSE FOR A HUMAN BEING,
well, I understand the frustration, but I don’t advocate killing them. I think they’ll have to answer for their actions at some point. Let’s just not let it get that far in the first place…
Dorothy, I sent a letter via the ASPCA to my congress person saying the same thing…..slaughter horses = no beef for my family. I know the Europe scandal can happen here and will as too many people care about the almighty dollar, cheap food, and pulling the wool over everyone’s eyes. I will not take a chance with a bute burger, thank you very much!! What I want to know is why aren’t there organizers or people out there picketing the slaughter plants, white house and street corners?? If 80% is against horse slaughter, where is everyone and why are we just thinking that by calling our reps. or typing behind a screen is going to help? Aren’t the people in those communities outraged and worried about the impact to their environments, home prices, horse theft etc.? What happened to people going on peaceful marches?? Are we really that cowardly?? Its time to buck, shout, kick up our heals and run like the wind as our horses would do…We need someone or an organization to help with this and get organized…we only have a short amount of time…..our horses are depending on us…
That doesn’t do any good either. There were more marches and picketing and going to DC, etc. over the wild horses a couple of years ago – accomplished nothing.
Sue Wallis states that she is “tickled” that horse racing will be returning to Wyoming. I imagine her salivating over all the broke down race horses that will ship to her Iowa slaughterplant directly from the race track. Burning up the phone lines now in support of the SAFE Act.
I’m sure she’ll be there handing out business cards…..Although, I don’t know a lot of people just dying to go race their horses in Wyoming. It’s a bit off the beaten path as far as race circuits go so it will likely be more of a bush circuit which is a whole other can of worms.
I have a mental disorder in that I am hopelessly hopeful right up until the moment is gone…
I will simply not accept this as a done deal until I hear that first horse has entered the kill box and End Scene.
Having said that, it’s difficult to believe with SO many people against this, the pros will finally get their wish. In my teeny circle of close friends, most of them were unaware this was even an issue, but thanks to my big mouth and annoying tendencies, well, that ship’s sailed.
If my teeny circle was unaware, this means there are more; like the issues surrounding wild horses and burros (it astonishes me how many folks had no idea America still HAD wild equines), you don’t know until you know.
A few weeks ago, New Mexico’s Public Water Works needed Public input on the De Los Santos plan and it’s perceived impact. I wrote a note from a human standpoint (I’m in California), letting them know that, not only is horse slaughter a BAD idea for so many reasons, but why should another water-wasting industry – during another year’s drought in one of the driest states in the US – get top priority over the needs of New Mexico’s citizens? New Mexico’s governor (bless her l’il heart) has avidly and publicly opined her opposition to it. New Mexico’s AG has expressed his disapproval, based on his perception of ‘adulterated’ meat coming from domestic horses. The Navajo Nation, which crosses both New Mexico and Arizona’s borders, is losing livestock because there is no water to give them (or the water is so polluted by uranium, it can’t be used). Again, I have to wonder WHY De Los Santos’ project is getting priority, despite the needs of the People of New Mexico and the opposition of her representatives.
According to Wikipedia, IOWA:
“The explosion in the number of high-density livestock facilities in Iowa has led to increased risk of rural water contamination and a perceived decline in air quality. Other factors negatively affecting Iowa’s environment include the extensive use of older coal-fired power plants, fertilizer and pesticide runoff from crop production, and diminishment of the Jordan Aquifer.”
While Iowa may have the necessary water resources for the moment, Iowa’s driving forces seem to be ‘use it ’til it’s gone’. Iowa is also one of the first states to adopt the Ag Gag law and has another source of pollution run rampant – Rep. Steve King.
Steve King’s voting record is the stuff of nightmares if you’re an animal, a woman, an environment or low income. It scares the shit out of me that this person was ELECTED to his office multiple times; his vitriol and belief in his own superiority runs so bone-deep, his ‘amendments’ seek to rule other states, as well.
Missouri boasts over 100,000 farms – second only to Texas. It’s 6th in the nation for hog production and 7th for cattle; it’s mystery to me why these two industries would not consider screechin’ about an industry that would place it as 3rd in the nation for horse slaughter, siphoning off resources like water and USDA inspectors. As of today, however, Missouri doesn’t have an Ag Gag law.
Previous attempts at lobbying for slaughter facilities in Missouri were strongly opposed by Missouri’s citizens, who apparently have as little influence on issues within their states as the rest of the nation.
Even the Department of Agriculture seems to be dragging it’s feet as far as getting these facilities up and running are concerned. So I have to believe that, in the final analysis, people might actually be as important and influential as corporations who have to resort to litigation like some kind of two-year-old’s tantrum.
But I must reiterate my belief that it ain’t over til it’s over. I believe in the pro-horse public – the bitchy & erudite women and the men of emotion and action. I believe there is nothing practical or humane in slaughtering horses, that it all boils down to money and ego. Oh, and a general contempt for humanity and horses.
Like you, I won’t give in to doom and gloom until I have no choice. I do believe that Iowa was always the target for the first slaughter-house for just the reasons you have given. Steve King is an absolute maniac and we’ve covered him on this blog. It literally disturbed me to go into all the things he supports and endorses. The Ag Gag laws help the slaughterphiles out too as they can misfire and torture those animals and nobody can do much about it. I still don’t get the purpose of those laws other than to protect the guilty. The way things are shaking out now, I believe New Mexico was a decoy even if the owner didn’t realize it. While everybody has been fighting that plant’s opening, Responsible Transportation has been a company since 2010 and flying under the radar. I would just love to know who is getting kick backs and greased palms in this tangled little web of treachery. I don’t suppose we ever will, so we need to stop it before it starts and there is enough support in Congress and the public for that to happen. Keep a good thought!
Back atchya, Shedders.
Peter Pan for President in 2016!!
Yes, SRC, staying positive is the best way. The treachery idea raises an important point tho..
A few years back, a former plant manager explained on air the way to end horse slaughter- “education, education, education.”
Would a look-see at Cayman Islands accounts be “education?”
Lisa MO has a watered down version of the Ag Gag bill.
http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2012/04/missouri_house_ag_gag_humane_society_us.php
Good enough.
Cracks me up these guys calling themselves ‘cattlemen’ or ‘farmers’. This isn’t ranching or farming or any good animal husbandry practice that I’ve ever known. They’re profiteers, pure and simple.
Just as an aside: PETA (an organization I personally have little use for) set up a video booth at the California State Fair this year, right near where the 4H kids display their animals. The difference, however, between what the video shows and what these kids (hell, even the adults) do is how they raise their animals. There is care. There is compassion. (Apologies to the vegetarians and vegans among us) It makes a huge difference, how these animals are raised compared to the horror of being born and dying in a factory. And for those asshats lobbying for Ag Gag (or horse slaughter), a question:
If you’re doing such good work, righteous in the way you treat your ‘units’, why are you fighting SO hard to keep that away from the Public eye?
What’s the status of the defunding?
So, these defunct businesses plan to slaughter horses for two months and then close in October?
That’s what will very likely happen if this goes down, unless they have some nasty trick up their sleeve like the last time they got the language stripped.
We understand the inspection de-funding language was passed in both 2014 appropriation bills – Senate and House – and would not need reconciliation.
I hope not anyhow
Well then, doesn’t that take care of any threat of any house opening this year??
You would think it would Brenda, but this back door bs got it back so it would not surprise me if they still opened.
I still think they will allow them to open a few months then shut them back down, what the govt doesn’t realize is people all drooling over horse slaughter are already breeding their mares and if they shut it back down we will have a worse problem than we supposedly already do.
I agree that is seems nuts to open the plants with so much hanging over their heads. Whatever the EU does. The de-funding language on both sides of the aisle and the SAFE Act gathering more and more co-sponsors. Won’t LIKELY get that done before August, if ever, but it’s still possible and I certainly wouldn’t invest MY money of anything that was on such shaky ground.
Oh no, they should definitely invest ALL their funds….every last stink’n cent