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    Issue 329 --- January 6, 2005 

    A Project of The Humane Society of the 
    
    United States
    
    and The Fund for Animals

    
    http://www.humanelines.org/

    

 
  
  
    
    Please see 
    corrected title in the second piece below.  We apologize for the 
    inconvenience.

    

    SAY NO TO DOWNERS:

    Last week’s confirmation that yet another 
    “downer” cow found in
    
    Canada 
    tested positive for “mad cow” disease (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy or 
    BSE) highlights the urgent need for the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
    (USDA) to resist pressure to weaken its “downer” ban and instead make this 
    crucial measure permanent. “Downer” or non-ambulatory animals suffer 
    terribly from the disease or injury that disables them, leaving them unable 
    to walk, and from the mistreatment they often endure at slaughterhouses. 
    These animals also represent a food safety risk, as they are more likely to 
    suffer from mad cow. This prompted Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman to 
    ban non-ambulatory cattle from the human food supply in December of 2003 in 
    response to the discovery of a
    
    Washington
    State 
    cow with BSE.
    
    
    However, this is an 
    interim measure and is coming under fire from industry and some Members of 
    Congress who would like to see the ban weakened to allow slaughter of downed 
    cows that are injured. Such a weakening would be reckless because injury and 
    illness are often interrelated – an animal may stumble and break a leg 
    because of disease that causes weakness and disorientation.  USDA inspectors 
    would have a difficult – if not impossible – task trying to sort out the 
    reason an animal became non-ambulatory.  Furthermore, from a 
    humane perspective, a comprehensive ban on any downed cattle is essential.  
    After all, a downer cow with a broken leg will suffer just as much as a sick 
    one if she’s dragged through a slaughterplant – maybe even more.
    WHAT YOU CAN DO:

    USDA will soon be under new 
    leadership – Nebraska Governor Mike Johanns has been nominated to fill this 
    post.  Contact Secretary-Designate Johanns and let him know that you are 
    grateful for the ban on use of ANY non-ambulatory cattle in human food, 
    which his predecessor, Secretary Ann Veneman, instituted in December 2003. 
    Urge him to resist pressure to weaken this ban and ask him to make 
    the comprehensive downer ban permanent, particularly in light of the recent 
    Canadian BSE/downer case. 

 
    
    
    
    Write to:
    The Honorable Mike Johanns

    Secretary-Designate
    
    
    U.S. 
    Department of Agriculture

    
    
    1400 Independence Ave., SW
    
    
    

    Washington,
    D.C.
    20250
    
    
    A WAVE OF DESPAIR FOR ANIMALS TOO:

    The public has heard a lot about the human victims of the devastating 
    earthquake and tsunami which recently hit Indonesia and other countries in 
    the region.  Humane Society International, the international arm of The 
    HSUS, is actively working to help the many animal victims.  Our 
    needs-assessment team has been on the ground in Sri Lanka and Thailand and 
    is on its way to Banda Aceh.  Food, water, shelter, and veterinary care for 
    homeless and displaced animals are urgently needed.  You can help support 
    our efforts to deliver relief to animal victims and their caretakers through 
    our international partners in the affected communities.  For more 
    information and to learn how you can donate directly, go to 
    www.hsus.org and see "Against the Tide."