Wild Horses Doomed To Slaughter

Thousands of Americas wild horses will be slaughtered because of an eleventh-hour amendment to the Federal spending bill.

Hitchcock, TX (PRWEB) November 28, 2004 -- Wild Horse Annies dream of protecting Americas free horses will soon be destroyed because of an eleventh-hour amendment slipped into the Federal Appropriations bill by Senator Conrad Burns (R -- Montana). Senator Burns added an amendment that removes all protection for wild horses over the age of ten or that failed to be adopted after three attempts.

The efforts of Wild Horse Annie led to the passing of The Wild and Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act in 1971 and offered protection against their wholesale slaughter. Under the amendment offered by Senator Burns, older horses and burros and those deemed unadoptable will be sold at auction without any protection against being sent to slaughter at one of the three foreign owned equine slaughterhouses now operating in the United States. American horsemeat is sold in France, Italy, Belgium and Japan, where it is considered a delicacy.

The Federal Appropriations bill will be sent to the President to be signed into law within the first two weeks of December. It is currently being held back because of a dispute over another eleventh-hour amendment concerning the power of the IRS.

No one knew about this until it was found Monday evening," said Jerry Finch, head of Habitat for Horses, a nonprofit horse rescue in Texas. This amendment means death by slaughter for tens of thousands of our wild horses, and a lot of profit for those who kill and transport them overseas."

If a special session is necessary to stop this slaughter by pulling the amendment, it needs to be done immediately," Finch added. Thousands of wild horse advocates are asking that the Appropriations bill not be signed until the amendment is withdrawn.

Its a sad reflection on our government process to know that one man can, by himself, order the death of so many horses," said Finch.

Advocates are asking that those who support Americas wild horses and burros contact President Bush and ask him not to sign the Appropriations bill until Burns amendment is removed and to contact their Federal Representatives to ask for their help. The Appropriations bill might be signed by December 6th.

Habitat for Horses, Inc. is a nonprofit equine rescue and education center located in Hitchcock, Texas. Their website is http://www.habitatforhorses.org/

Contact Information:

Jerry Finch

Habitat for Horses, Inc

P.O. Box 213

Hitchcock, TX 77563

409-935-0277

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