A SIGN OF HOPE FOR WILD
HORSES - CONGRESS RESPONDS:
This week, Congressmen Nick Rahall (D-WV) and Ed Whitfield
(R-KY) introduced H.R. 297 in response to a last minute amendment by
Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT) to the omnibus appropriations bill passed
late last year that weakens the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act by
allowing wild horses to be sold for slaughter. The Rahall-Whitfield
legislation would restore a federal prohibition on the commercial sale and
slaughter of wild free-roaming horses and burros. “A public outcry has
again begun across the United States over the change in law that now
allows the commercial sale and slaughter of these animals,” said
Congressman Rahall. “We need to act before it is too late for thousands of
these animals.”
The Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act passed in 1971 as a result of
the enormous public outcry against wanton killing of wild horses. Before
this bill was enacted, wild horses and burros were shot and slaughtered by
the hundreds of thousands for use as pet food or for human consumption
overseas. The recent Burns amendment has turned the clock back and set the
stage for mass slaughter once again.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
It is critical that your federal Representative hear from you today.
Please ask him/her to cosponsor H.R. 297 and to do all they can to ensure
the enactment of this legislation. Please let your Senators know that you
hope they will support similar legislation in the Senate, as well.
Letters and phone calls are most helpful. Click here to
find your legislators.
CALIFORNIA SEALS ARE IN DANGER:
The San Diego city council voted to overturn a city ordinance and remove
warning signs and physical barriers that protect seals in a small cove
which is the only nearby habitat to give birth and raise their young.
Following the removal of these protections, some seals have experienced
human-related injuries and death. In addition, the stress of human contact
may be increasing the number of premature births. Seven newborn pups born
weeks before the beginning of the pupping season have died.
The seals are legally protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and
any harassment or violence by humans is a violation of both state and
federal law. Pleas to the city council and National Marine Fisheries
Service to protect the seals have not resulted in any protective action
whatsoever and pupping season hits its peak in the next few weeks.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
We are asking all advocates, California residents and beyond, to contact
Mayor Dick Murphy and the San Diego city council to request that the
Marine Mammal Protection Act is enforced and that the city reinstate all
protective measures including signs and barriers.
Mayor Dick Murphy/San Diego City Council Members
202 C St. 11th Floor
San Diego, CA 92101
E-mail: DickMurphy@sandiego.gov
Ph: 619-236-6330
Fax: 619-229-7228
Please also contact National Marine Fisheries Service and urge them to
take direct action to enforce the Marine Mammal Protection Act to protect
these seals.
Vice-Admiral Conrad Lautenbacher
Undersecretary of Commerce
National Marine Fisheries Service
14th and Constitution Ave. NW Room 5128
Washington, DC 20230
FAX: 202-408-9674
E-Mail:
conrad.c.lautenbacher@noaa.gov
EVEN CELEBRITIES AND ELECTED OFFICIALS
ARE GUILTY OF ANIMAL EXPLOITATION:
Suspended South Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Charles Sharpe has
pleaded guilty to extortion charges for taking a $10,000 bribe to protect
a cockfighting organization involved in breeding and raising birds for
cockfighting. His sentencing hearing is pending.
Read the AP article.
In an encouraging move to declare zero tolerance for animal abuse, the
Portland Trail Blazers waived forward Qyntel Woods on the same day the
player pleaded guilty to abusing his pit bull, Hollywood. Woods entered
the misdemeanor plea as part of an agreement following an investigation
into allegations of dog fighting. He was sentenced to 12 months probation
and 80 hours of community service.
Read the AP article.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR ANIMALS ---
TODAY!!
To receive directly, call 202-955-3668 or email
humanelines@hsus.org For more
information on legislation, how to find your legislators, or past
HUMANElines, go to
http://www.hsus.org/ or
http://www.fund.org/ |