Tomorrow is National Day of the Horse. Thanks to folks like trainer Dennis Reis, Congress marked December 13 as a day to celebrate horses. But how?
I SERIOUSLY think that this should be a national call-in day, to every one of our Senators and Representatives and the President to get The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act through!
Okay, I also realize that being as it is December, we're really running out of time.
And how much time is there? None, at all. Because while some people seem to think slaughter of American horses is coming back, it's been going on, in the same numbers, since the closing of the last US plants and the defunding of horse slaughter (which got lifted this year). It's just been ALL happening in Canada and Mexico. So, even if the USDA's recent statement that no requests have been made for their inspections so they don't expect it to happen in the US anytime soon really does mean that it won't, it's STILL HAPPENING. Right now, as I type this and again as you read this.
This is why we need the bill through, even if it weren't for the fact that we know that there are those already making plans to start slaughtering horses in new or existing facilities in States where no laws have been passed against it. After all, they're the ones who got this changed.
So tomorrow, if you're not doing it regularly already (and I realize most who read this blog probably already do, so I may be preaching to the choir but I hope maybe every so often it reaches someone who isn't aware and also isn't an asshole or maybe it reaches someone who's been a bit burned out and helps them get riled up again, because I know there is a huge burn out rate on this cause) call, write, email, fax, all of the above your Senators and Representatives. Call the President 202-456-1111
But PLEASE do not be an idiot when you do. Again, I hope preaching to the choir but...
There's been a lot of stupid in this since the Agriculture Appropriations Bill was signed in as without the defunding of horse slaughter inspections. I do think that calling the President to let him know we don't want slaughter of our horses happening, here or in other countries, and putting a fire under him to do something about it is important. I do NOT however know how effective an Executive Order really would be, or possible. It's something that has come up in other causes I'm part of. The thing is that the very people calling for it are often people who complain, often justifiably, when such orders are made against them. Our President should not, after all, be a dictator. Now such orders are made, but when when it's a political situation being argued already, those whose political savvy is much greater than mine have pointed out that it can be a problem. I'm NOT saying this is the case here and, therefore, suggesting it is a good idea. HOWEVER...
Some of the threatening language, even if just "I won't vote for you!" that has actually been suggested even by those in this movement who I would have hoped would know better, probably does not make a good impression. And I can't honestly say it. Remember that the movement to get this defunding removed has come largely from Republicans and while other Republicans have been standing with the anti-slaughter movement, I am far more suspicious of where the current Presidential hopefuls stand on it. They certainly do not seem good choices, as far as I'm concerned on ANY issue.
There has even been a petition going around calling the Ag Appropriations Bill "Obama's Horse Slaughter Bill." Which, I did NOT sign. Some facts, this was NOT Obama's bill. It also is not a bill that calls for the slaughter of horses. Instead the section which banned funding for horse slaughter was REMOVED. AFAIK, there was nothing added calling for horse slaughter inspections to start. It was just not there. There is a very good chance that the removal of it never was even noticed by Obama. This itself is a sad statement about how important this issue might be to him but that is NOT the same as saying he's pro-slaughter. At all.
After all, after the Agriculture Appropriations Bill was signed by President Obama on Nov. 18, I wrote my people. My Representative's office sent me a letter on Nov. 22 claiming that the defunding was put in in 2007 and would be there for Fiscal Year 2012. They apparently didn't know. Later that same day, I received an email regarding a White House "We the People" petition from Edward Avalos, Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Reform Programs at the USDA saying the same thing. They had no clue yet, not sure if Rep. Bass does yet as he's not responded to any of my follow ups when I explained this to him.
So, while we might be pissed off, while we might wish they care more, let's keep in mind that we're still, really educating them. This issue matters to us who care about horses want to stop the insanity, it matters to those who want to make money killing horses (and unfortunately do already have more money to spend to get their way). But for most it's a buried issue. Acting like lunatics, making outrageous claims about Obama wanting to kill horses, is not going to get us anywhere. It's going to make people bury the issue more. Leave the crazy talk to the Slaughterhouse Sues, talk rationally and sensibly and often. It's the only real weapon we have, let's not lose it.
