LIFESAVERS, INC.

NEWS ALERT!!!!! 10/10/05

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Following the example of their colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate today voted 68 to 29 in favor of an amendment to bar federal funds from being used to facilitate the slaughter of horses. The amendment was introduced by Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) and Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.). The House approved a companion measure on June 8, which also stops American horses from being exported for slaughter abroad. Next, it will be presented before a conference committee, and we anticipate that Congress will approve the initiative

Because the amendment is attached to an annual spending bill, it will only halt horse slaughter for one fiscal year, beginning in October. However, the vote in both the Senate and the House demonstrates strong public and congressional support for a permanent ban -- to be achieved through passage of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.

"The time has come to put an end to the practice of slaughtering horses in America," Sen. Ensign said. "Horses have an important role in the history of our country, particularly in the West, and they deserve protection. As a senator and a veterinarian I am committed to doing what I can for these magnificent animals."

Sen. Byrd described the transportation of horses for slaughter: "Horses can be shipped for more than twenty-four hours without food, water, or rest. They can be transported with broken legs, missing eyes, or while heavily pregnant. The horses are kept in cramped conditions, in trucks with ceilings so low that they prevent the horses from holding their heads in a normal, upright position. The cramped nature of their transport often results in trampling, with some horses arriving at the slaughterhouses seriously injured or dead." And improper use of stunning equipment at the slaughter plant "can result in the animal having to endure repeated blows" to the head, leaving the horse conscious for the slaughter process.

The above victory deserves celebration, but our horses are not completely protected. They can still be transported out of the country to other processing plants in Canada and/or Mexico. The above agricultural budget amendment will stall our the U.S. industry for one year. To assure our horses are protected from being shipped out of the country and to end horse slaughter for good H.R. 503, th American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, must pass Congress. It is sitting on some Representatives desk right now being ignored. It is imperative that all of our leaders understand how the majority of the public feels about horse slaughter. They must be urged to support H.R. 503. The above landslide victory proves that even our members of Congress care about horses. Let's put an end to horse slaughter once and for all.

6/6/05

Two major amendments have been passed in the House of Representatives that will restrict goverment spending on horse slaughter. The first to pass was an appropriations amendment submitted by our friends Nick Rahall and Ed Whitfield. It stipulates that the BLM may NOT use any taxpayer dollars in the sale of wild horses that would be slaughtered for human consumption. The second bill just passed yesterday was introduced by John Sweeny of New York and Jack Spratt of South Carolina. This amendment removes federal funding of USDA inspectors at the three horse slaughterhouses in America for one year. The voting among the House was in favor of the horses by 269 votes over 158 opposing. Read how your state representative voted here. If they were in support of the horses, please contact them and thank them. If they were against it, please contact them and voice your disapproval.

There are still many powerful organizations who are in favor of horse slaughter, such as the American Quarter Horse Association, The American Association of Equine Practioners, The American Veterinary Medical Association, and of course the notorius Cattlemen's Association.

These will be some of the forces against the passage of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (H.R. 503). We must get H.R. 503 passed to put an end to horse slaughter in the U.S. once and for all. Please do not lose your momentum - we are making great strides and victories in the battle to save our horses. The war still must be won! Continue your letters, emails and phone calls to your senators and house representatives.

WE ARE GETTING CLOSER TO SAVING OUR HORSES EVERY DAY!

05/23/05

Senators Nick Rahall (WV), Ed Whitfield (KY) introduced an amendment to last week's appropriations bill that restricts the BLM from spending any tax payers dollars on selling horses that would go to slaughter. This bill was passed overwhelmingly by our members of Congress. There are still those who opposed it and these are the Representatives that we really need to work on in order to get the main bills, H.R. 297 & S.576, passed this year. The amendment is a temporary fix that will keep the BLM from selling any horses directly to slaughter. The BLM is clearly trying to avoid that scenario anyway, but this amendment makes it more difficult for any change of plans. The only way to really re-instate protection for our wild horses is to continue urging our lawmakers to side with the horses on bills H.R. 297 & S.576. The calls, letters & emails from the public are responsible for the support shown on the appropriations amendment.

WE CAN WIN THIS BATTLE!!! KEEP FIGHTING!!!

To find out how your Representative voted on the amendment last week, Click Here. If you find your Representatives voted yes, then thank them, if they voted no, urge them to change their stand and support H.R. 297 & S.576

ALSO - - These very same Representatives need to support the big daddy bill, H.R. 503, which is known as the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. This will outlaw horse slaughter in the U.S. for all horses, not just wild horses, all horses!

5/19/05

BLM has resumed sales of wild horses. Sales were halted when 41 wild horses were reported to have been slaughtered after being purchased from the BLM. The BLM has revised its purchase agreement to restrict any turn around sales to slaughter. Read the latest news at www.usatoday.com

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-05-18-wildhorses_x.htm?csp=14 (cut and paste link)

4/22/05

FIRST BLOOD HAS BEEN SHED (as reported by American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign)

Multiple sources have confirmed that on Monday, April 18th, 6 wild horses were slaughtered at the Cavel International facility in DeKalb, Il. The horses, sold by the Bureau of Land Management pursuant to the Burns Amendment's sale mandate on Friday, April 15th, had been purchased in Canon City, CO, for $50 each by Dustin Herbert of Oklahoma.

Mr. Herbert, a former rodeo clown, had claimed that the horses would be used for a church youth program, and would not be sold for slaughter. But by Monday, less than 3 days after he purchased the animals, all 6 were slaughtered so that their meat could be shipped overseas to end up on foreign dinner tables.

This is a sad day for wild horses and confirms our worst fears regarding last November's amendment to the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act.

Please contact your local and national media expressing your outrage over this latest development. It is also critical that we keep up our efforts to pass remedial legislation: please urge your legislators to co-sponsor H.R. 297 and S. 576. Please also keep the pressure on Senator Conrad Burns (MT) – fax: 202.224.8594, who introduced the wild horse slaughter amendment, and Senator Harry Reid (NV) - fax: 202.224.7327, primary supporter of the Burns Amendment. They need to hear from their constituents as well as from concerned citizens from all states protesting this latest development.

Please also express your outrage to Gale Norton, Secretary of the Interior, Department of the Interior,1849 C Street, N.W. , Washington DC 20240 - fax: 202.208.5048.

WILD HORSE SLAUGHTER PROHIBITION MUST BE REINSTATED

The following press release and information was provided by the American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign

January 25, 2005

WILD HORSE SLAUGHTER PROHIBITION MUST BE REINSTATED

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Wild horses roaming across our public lands, a symbol of the American West, would no longer be doomed to certain slaughter under legislation introduced today by U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV). Rahall is the Ranking Democrat on the House Resources Committee, which has jurisdiction over wild horse policy on federal lands.

"Very few icons of the West remain, and wild horses are certainly a symbol of the frontier era and our nation's spirit. To allow them to be slaughtered without exhausting all other options, such as adoption, is an affront to our history," declared Rahall.

Rahall's legislation addresses a provision inserted in a must-pass appropriations bill last year that allows the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Forest Service to essentially turn a blind eye to individuals or corporations who buy these animals with the clear intention of cruelly slaughtering them for profit. The Rahall legislation would restore the prohibition on the commercial sale and slaughter of wild free-roaming horses and burros.

"It has been illegal for the past 33 years to sell or transfer wild horses and burros for processing into commercial products because many Americans abhor the thought. They would be aghast to know that these animals now can and will be slaughtered so their meat can be offered on menus in France, Belgium and Japan," stated Rahall.

The current slaughter policy does not acknowledge the fact that humane alternatives exist and federal agencies have the authority to carry out such actions as adoption, sterilization, relocation, and placement with qualified individuals and organizations.

"To suggest that an acceptable solution to a federal agency's management dilemma is commercial slaughter is an irresponsible approach to our public lands and the wildlife that roam them," said Rahall.

The federal government has a mediocre record in enforcing wild horse and burro protection laws. But instead of addressing these long-term and widespread management problems, the recent change is simply a quick and dirty fix. Under the guise of "managing" these living symbols of the American West, the agency is now permitted to allow the slaughter of animals that they had been previously charged with their protection. "A public outcry has again begun across the United States over the change in law that now allows this disgraceful deed. We need to act before it is too late for thousands of these animals," concluded Rahall.

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Legislation has been introduced to reverse the Burns Amendment to the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act. As you know, the Burns Amendment opens the door to the slaughter of thousands of our wild horses. Please write your U.S. Representative urging them to co-sponsor H.R. 297, introduced by Reps. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV) and Ed Whitfield (R-KY), which would restore the prohibition on the commercial sale and slaughter of wild horses and burros.

Letters should be addressed to: The Honorable [Name Here], U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515.

Visit www.house.gov to identify your Representative. Please note that letters sent via physical mail make a stronger statement than emails, which are too easily dismissed. It is also more effective to personalize your letter with your own words.

Below is a sample letter provided by the American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign

Dear Honorable ______________:

I am writing to urge you to co-sponsor H.R. 297 introduced by Representatives Nick J. Rahall (D-WV) and Ed Whitfield (R-KY). This Bill reverses the amendment to the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horse & Burro Act stealthily introduced by Senator Conrad Burns as a rider to the 2005 Appropriations Bill. If allowed to stand, the Burns provision will lead to the slaughter of thousands of wild horses for human consumption abroad.

Our wild horses are a vital part of our national heritage. The law that was enacted for their protection thirty years ago was the result of a greater public outcry than over any issue except the Vietnam War, and was passed without a single dissenting vote. I am extremely distressed over the fact that this law enacted by the people for the people was eviscerated without so much as a hearing or opportunity for public review.

I respectfully request a prompt response from you stating your position with regard to H.R. 297 which would restore the prohibition on the commercial sale and slaughter of wild horses and burros.

Signature

Name

Address

Please contact ALL your legislators in Washington and let them know you support H.R. 297. Here is a web page that lists all the U.S. Senators with their addresses, phone numbers and even email links. This makes it very convenient for you to take immediate action. Link to U.S. Senators

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TO END HORSE SLAUGHTER COMPLETELY:

American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act

There is currently legislation to end the slaughter of horses, H.R. 503, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. This legislation was introduced by Senator Ensign on April 2004 and again in Feburary 2005. The measure will prohibit the slaughter of horses for human consumption. It also will prohibit the trade and transport of horseflesh and live horses intended for human consumption. It is pending in the House of Representatives.

Again, please contact your Senators and Congressmen and ask them to support this legislation.

PLEASE ACT NOW - SAVE OUR HORSES

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Phone for more information: 661-727-0049 or email lifesavers@wildhorserescue.org

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