Radnofsky Offers Support to Horses

Vivian Farrell, President of the Int'l Fund for Horses, announced today that Barbara Ann Radnofsky, Texas Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, took a stand on an issue pending before the US Senate, the issue of horse slaughter and called on her opponent to voice her opinion on the bill as well.

Houston, TX (PRWEB) October 18, 2006 -- Vivian Farrell, President of the Int'l Fund for Horses, announced today that Barbara Ann Radnofsky, Texas Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, took a stand on an issue pending before the US Senate, the issue of horse slaughter and called on her opponent to voice her opinion on the bill as well.

Two of the three horse slaughter plants operating in this country are doing so in Texas. Polls show that a majority of Texans are firmly against it, and support federal legislation pending before the U.S. Congress amending the Horse Protection Act which would make horse slaughter and export for slaughter illegal. H.R 503 passed the U. S. House of Representatives 263-146 and is now awaiting a vote in the Senate.

Radnofsky made this statement to Houston-based horse advocates, Int'l Fund for Horses, "I absolutely support the bill. I call on my opponent to denounce the over breeding fueling the market for slaughtered horsemeat.”

Horses endure incredible hardships on the way to slaughter, but that is nothing compared with the cruelty that awaits them at the slaughter plant. Statistics gathered by one of the largest horse theft prevention organizations in the country, Stolen Horses International, shows that 60% of horses stolen end up at horse slaughter plants. This is a violation of the property rights of horse owners that can never be remedied.

"Without this bill, horse theft and abuse will continue to increase,” added Radnofsky.

"Barbara Ann Radnofsky's position on this issue is excellent news," commented IF4H President, Vivian Farrell. "Between Cornyn's hostility towards the bill, and Hutchison's do nothing position, Texans are looking for a voice in Washington. They have certainly not gotten it on the horse slaughter issue."

In sharp contrast to Radnofsky's support for the bill, her rival in the Senate race, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), has been on the fence since the bill was introduced.

Members of IF4H's Texans for Horses group have been contacting Senator Hutchison consistently, with frustrating results.

"When I telephoned Senator Hutchison's office before the mid-term election break in an effort to get an answer on behalf of our Texas constituents, I was surprised by the less than friendly reception I received," commented Farrell. "When I was finally put through to Hutchison's aide, he told me that he had spoken to the Senator and that as far as she is concerned, the horse slaughter bill is a "non-issue" and "not on her radar."

Radnofsky is clearly dedicated to representing the concerns of all Texans and not afraid to take a stand on the issues.

"For Texans who want to see the practice of horse slaughter banned, Barbara Ann Radnofsky offers a superior alternative to what we already have in Washington," concluded Farrell.

A U.S. Senate debate sponsored by the League of Women Voters and KLRN-TV will be taped and then broadcast at 9:00 p.m. (CST) on all PBS affiliates throughout the state on Thursday, October 19. Barbara Ann Radnofsky, Scott Jameson, and Kay Bailey Hutchison have all confirmed participation in the debate.

A Satellite feed is available to all interested stations, with no black outs. Please contact Katie Floyd at 713-858-9391 or Seth Davidson 713-858-6256 for details about the satellite feed.

The Int'l Fund for Horses is the most dynamic equine advocacy organization of its kind. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, the Int'l Fund for Horses has a broad-based membership of volunteer citizen lobbyists in seven countries. Its purpose is to influence the passage of horse protection legislation, enforce existing laws, and act as industry watchdogs. On the web at www.fund4horses.org.

###