Posts Tagged ‘Bo Derek’

Bo Derek Renews California Effort To Ban Horse Slaughtering Nationwide

Posted: May 2, 2013 by R.T. Fitch in Horse News, Horse Slaughter
Tags: , , , ,
22

Source: Channel 5 KPIX

“The food is tainted, the meat is tainted, it’s dangerous,”

SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) — The USDA said it will increase inspections of imported beef, in the midst of a horsemeat scandal in Europe. So far, none of the tainted products have made it to the United States. But the scandal is renewing efforts to ban American horse slaughter.

Dr. Scott Stanley is helping to keep the horse racing industry clean. He runs a lab at UC Davis that analyzes horses’ blood to detect doping. “What we do is similar to what they do for a sports athlete,” he said.

Abuse of a horse tranquilizer called Phenylbutazone is very common. “They are given medications that are totally inappropriate to be used in animals that are meant for food,” Stanley said.

Phenylbutazone is banned for human consumption because it can cause a deadly blood disorder. He has also found antibiotics in horses. “Some people can have allergic reactions to antibiotics. That is why we don’t use them in food animals,” said Dr. Stanley.

Yet race horses routinely end up on dinner plates in Europe. Despite our own state laws against slaughter, even California horses are at risk.

A recent KPIX 5 investigation found race horses dumped at auction, where they can end up in the hands of kill buyers. From there, they are trucked to processing plants in Canada and Mexico.

Where does the meat go? Tests in 27 European countries found horse DNA in 5 percent of frozen entrees made with beef, such as lasagna and meatballs. Some samples also contained traces of phenylbutazone.

“The food is tainted, the meat is tainted, it’s dangerous,” actress and animal activist Bo Derek told KPIX 5. Derek sits on the state’s horse racing board, and routinely rules on doping investigations.

“It’s a business that because of betting has huge financial incentives to take an edge and to get ahead. So there will always be those Lance Armstrongs,” Derek said.

Derek, who was appointed to the board by former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, convinced fellow members this month to support a proposed law called the SAFE Act (.pdf) banning domestic horse slaughter as well as the export of U.S. horses for slaughter.

“It’s offensive to us and I think 80 percent of the American people agree. Horses in this country have never been bred as livestock,” said Derek…(CONTINUED)

Click (HERE) to read the story in it’s entirety and to commnet
Related Articles

Saving Animals Through Advocacy

Posted: May 3, 2012 by R.T. Fitch in Horse News, Horse Slaughter
Tags: , , , , ,
6

by Ed Sayres, President of the ASPCA

“Killing American horses for human consumption is simply not acceptable”

Bo Derek with her Andalusian horse Eclipse and German shepherd dog.

Few causes are able to unite people such as Lorenzo Borghese from ABC’s The Bachelor, actors Bo Derek and John Corbett, school children and animal welfare organizations, but all of these people and groups got together last week to participate in the “Horses on the Hill” event on Capitol Hill. The ASPCA was proud to co-host, along with the Animal Welfare Institute and The Humane Society of the United States, this event in which we publicly urged legislators to stop our nation’s horses from being slaughtered at home or abroad.

Killing American horses for human consumption is simply not acceptable. The ASPCA’s founder, Henry Bergh, loved all animals, but initially focused his efforts on stopping horse abuse. Mr. Bergh would not have been surprised by the people who turned out to help horses because he believed animal protection was an issue that crossed party lines and class boundaries. More than 140 years have passed since Mr. Bergh founded the ASPCA, but our commitment to horse protection remains steadfast.

We know that most Americans care deeply about the horse slaughter issue, as a recent Lake Research poll found that 80 percent of Americans opposed horse slaughter — a sentiment that cut across gender, political affiliation, and geography. Despite the overwhelming opposition in this country to horse slaughter, this despicable act has been legal since a federal ban on horse meat inspection funding was lifted in the Agriculture Appropriations bill that passed last year.

Horses in this country are in grave danger, and we need your help! The ASPCA’s very special guest at Horses on the Hill, nine-year-old Declan Gregg of New Hampshire, has created an organization and blog called Children 4 Horses. Declan spoke eloquently about the urgency of protecting our horses. We were also joined by Senators Mary Landrieu and Scott Brown as well as Representatives Jim Moran, Ed Whitfield and David Rivera — all of whom spoke strongly to the need for passing a ban on horse slaughter.

Senators Mary Landrieu, D-La. and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Representatives Dan Burton, R-Ind., and Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., sponsored the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, S. 1176/H.R. 2966, which would prohibit killing American horses for human consumption in the United States and would also stop the cruel practice of transporting horses across the borders to Canada and Mexico for slaughter. The bill enjoys tremendous, bipartisan support: 163 cosponsors in the House and more than a quarter of the Senate are on board with this legislation. We need to push for a majority in each chamber so we have more work to do. You can make a difference by contacting your Congress members to request that they cosponsor and support the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.

We know your phone calls and letters to Members of Congress make a difference — legislators repeatedly emphasize the importance of constituent correspondence when we meet with them on Humane Lobby Days. “Horses on the Hill” was just one of the special lobbying events the ASPCA has co-hosted. We have traveled to almost 20 states conducting training and lobby days for more than 1,100 citizens in the past year alone. At these lobby days, people from all walks of life, whose only similarity might be that they love animals, travel to their state or national capital to meet their legislators to advocate for or against legislation. Humane Lobby Days are co-sponsored by dozens of national and local animal advocacy and rescue groups that unite around our shared goal of saving animals.

2012 is still young, but so far we’ve had great success during Humane Lobby Days. For example, following the Idaho Humane Lobby Day, Idaho’s Senate passed a felony animal cruelty bill after years of resistance, and after the Florida Humane Lobby Day, dangerous Ag-Gag language was stripped from pending legislation. In these two states alone, animals were saved because advocates organized and told legislators in no uncertain terms that voters care about animals.

While our focus is on the immediate needs in each state where we hold Humane Lobby Days, there are terrific ancillary benefits to the attendees. First and foremost, attendees tell us they are surprised by how much fun they have and find the gatherings empowering and energizing. Staff from animal welfare organizations brief attendees on priority bills, train them how to be citizen lobbyists and then take them to meet their legislators. Every step of the way friendships are budding as people share their passion for animals. We’d love to have you join us at a future Humane Lobby Day in your state or in D.C. You can get more information by joining the ASPCA Advocacy Brigade here. In the meantime, please keep calling and writing your legislators to let them know that animals are important to you. You’re making a difference!

Related articles

Spread the Word: Members Push for Passage of American Horse Slaughter Act

Posted: May 1, 2012 by R.T. Fitch in Horse News, Horse Slaughter
Tags: , , , ,
11

An open letter from Senator Mary Landrieu

Bi-Partisan Team Making Progress

Dear friend,

 I held a press conference last Wednesday with members of Congress, celebrities and citizen advocates to push for passage of my legislation, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. If passed, this would prohibit the inhumane killing of American horses for human consumption in the United States and stop the transport of horses across the border to Canada and Mexico for slaughter.

In November 2011, Congress voted not to renew a ban on funding federal inspectors at horse slaughter plants in the U.S., opening the door for a return of horse slaughter to American soil, despite broad opposition by the public across the country. We must permanently end the slaughter of our American horses and seek viable, affordable alternatives. When a horse is old, sick, or can no longer be productive, its owner should provide humane euthanasia. Ninety percent of all horses that die each year are humanely euthanized and/or safely disposed of – this additional 10 percent is not a burden. Horse owners will buy some of these horses and horse rescue organizations will take others. Brutal slaughter is not an appropriate alternative.

 I was pleased to see such bipartisan, bicameral support from my colleagues, including U.S. Senator Scott Brown, R-Mass., and Reps. Ed Whitfield, R-Ky., David Rivera, R-Fla., and Jim Moran, D-Va. See below for a full list of those who voiced their support for my legislation last week.

 In case you missed it, read The Advocate’s story on the event here. I have also copied it below.

 All the best,

Horses on the Hill attendees:

  • U.S. Senator Scott Brown, R-Mass.
  • U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield, R-Ky.
  • U.S. Rep. David Rivera, R-Fla.
  • U.S. Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va.
  • Actress Bo Derek
  • Lorenzo Borghese from ABC’s The Bachelor
  • Amy and Raelyn Nelson, daughter and granddaughter of singer Willie Nelson
  • Students from Foxcroft School and Madeira School, both in Virginia
  • President of the National Black Farmers Association John Boyd
  • Animal Welfare Institute (AWI)
  • American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
  • Humane Society of the United States
  • Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue
  • Animals’ Angels
  • Seraphim 12 Foundation
  • Racer Alex Brown
  • Nine-year-old Declan Gregg, founder of Children 4 Horses

The Advocate: Horse slaughter prohibition pushed

April 28, 2012, By Jordan Blum

  WASHINGTON — Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., teamed with celebrities Bo Derek and John Corbett on Wednesday to tout her horse slaughter ban legislation during a “Horses on the Hill” event.

Landrieu has repeatedly pushed for a ban on slaughtering the animals for meat that is exported mostly to Europe and Asia. She is upping her efforts now that applications are in the works to open the nation’s first horse slaughterhouses since 2007.

“There’s no humane way to slaughter a horse,” Landrieu said. “Most horses going to slaughter are not old and they’re not sick.”

Expressing a lifelong love of horse riding like her daughter, Mary Shannon Snellings, who was present, Landrieu said she was “horrified” to learn in the past that horse slaughterhouses existed in the U.S.

But now, horses are exported under allegedly poor conditions to Mexico and Canada for slaughter and efforts are under way to open slaughterhouses domestically. About 100,000 horses are estimated to be exported for slaughter a year.

In November, Congress failed to renew a five-year ban on funding federal inspectors at horse slaughter plants in the United States, opening the door for a return of horse slaughter to American soil.

Landrieu’s American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act would prohibit the killing of American horses for human consumption in the U.S. and stop the transport of horses across the border to Canada and Mexico for slaughter.

Actress and anti-slaughter activist Bo Derek said it is “truly obscene” that she is still fighting after 10 years for a ban on the slaughter of animals that provide so much “companionship.”

Landrieu also received bipartisan support Wednesday from Republicans such as Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., and Rep. Ed Whitfield, R-Ky.

Landrieu said the lobbying of the horse industry has prevented Senate and House floor votes on her legislation thus far.

Dave Duquette, president of the pro-slaughter group United Horsemen, said the lack of horse slaughterhouses in the U.S. only leads to a poor market for the value of horses, which forces financially struggling horse owners to abandon their animals or keep them under poor conditions.

“We don’t advocate that everyone needs to slaughter their horse,” Duquette said. “But the option needs to be there.”

Duquette, who said he regularly receives death threats, said there are currently plans for horse slaughterhouses in Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Iowa, Oregon and Washington.

“There’s a lot of efforts going on, and I think it’s probably going to happen in the near future,” he said.

A 2011 Government Accountability Office report advised either an outright ban on horse slaughtering or to legalize it, in order to stop the negative side effects of current practices, such as increased horse abandonment, the poor condition of horses exported to be slaughtered elsewhere and the overall decline in the price of horses.

Duquette, a self-described horse trainer, contended it is hypocritical for people to argue that horses must be treated differently when they go home and eat the meat from cows and pigs that were slaughtered.

“What makes them different? They’re not really,” he said. “That argument is emotional, not reality.”

“That argument is ridiculous on its face,” Landrieu said. “Cows are raised for slaughter.”

“We don’t eat our dogs and our horses,” she added.

**Please feel free to share with others who may be interested. Send your feedback by replying to this e-mail, posting on my Facebook Page or Tweeting me.


Related articles

Actress Bo Derek joins Sen. Mary Landrieu to push for ban on horse slaughter

Posted: April 26, 2012 by R.T. Fitch in Horse News, Horse Slaughter
Tags: , , , , ,
28

By Bruce Alpert, Times-Picayune

Big Names Push Against Anti-Horse Agenda

Actress Bo Derek speaks about the importance of passing Sen. Mary Landrieu's American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, which would prohibit the inhumane killing of American horses for human consumption. Photo by Matthew D. R. Lehner, Office of Sen. Mary Landrieu

Washington - Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., brought some celebrity power to the Capitol Wednesday to build support for her legislation that would prohibit inhumane killing of American horses for food. Actress Bo Derek, best known for the 1979 romantic comedy,”10,” and speaking for the Animal Welfare Institute, pushed for passage of the bill. So did Amy Nelson, singer Willie Nelson’s daughter, and Raelyn Nelson, his granddaughter, saying they were speaking on Nelson’s behalf and his love for horses.

Landrieu’s American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act would also stop the transport of horses across the border to Canada and Mexico for slaughter.

“We must continue to open people’s eyes about this appalling practice that is so often hidden from the public,” Derek said at a news conference, surrounded by Landrieu, other lawmakers and citizen lobbyists.

In November 2011, Congress opted not to renew a ban on funding federal inspectors at horse slaughter plants in the United States and Landrieu and other lawmakers opposed to the practice worry it will spur a return to what they say is brutal treatment of horses.

“There are viable, affordable alternatives to slaughter,” Landrieu said. “When a horse is old, sick, or can no longer be productive, its owner should provide humane euthanasia.

“Ninety percent of all horses that die each year are humanely euthanized and/or safely disposed of – this additional 10 percent is not a burden,” Landrieu said. “Horse owners will buy some of these horses and horse rescue organizations will take others. Brutal slaughter is not an appropriate alternative.”

Amy Nelson and Raelyn Nelson issued a statement on behalf of Willie Nelson “We ride horses in America, we don’t eat them. Slaughter is not humane euthanasia. It is not a responsible end of life option for any horse.”

Also speaking was Lorenzo Borghese from ABC’s “The Bachelor.”

“There may be no more special relationship than the one we have with horses,” Borghese said. “The love and loyalty horses have shown people shows no bounds – they have won wars for us, carried us west and built this great country, and have served as companions for our children and our disabled.”

Related articles

Horse Slaughter Prohibition Pushed

Posted: April 26, 2012 by R.T. Fitch in Horse News, Horse Slaughter
Tags: , , , , , ,
9

by Jordon Blum of  The Advocate Washington bureau

Anti-Horse Arguments Pale before the Facts

Declan Gregg with Senator Landrieu, Senator Brown, Congressman Moran (behind him), Lorenzo Borghese, John Corbett, and Manda & Pamela of Seraphim 12 ~ photo by Stacie Gregg

WASHINGTON — Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., teamed with celebrities Bo Derek and John Corbett on Wednesday to tout her horse slaughter ban legislation during a “Horses on the Hill” event.

Landrieu has repeatedly pushed for a ban on slaughtering the animals for meat that is exported mostly to Europe and Asia. She is upping her efforts now that applications are in the works to open the nation’s first horse slaughterhouses since 2007.

“There’s no humane way to slaughter a horse,” Landrieu said. “Most horses going to slaughter are not old and they’re not sick.”

Expressing a lifelong love of horse riding like her daughter, Mary Shannon Snellings, who was present, Landrieu said she was “horrified” to learn in the past that horse slaughterhouses existed in the U.S.

But now, horses are exported under allegedly poor conditions to Mexico and Canada for slaughter and efforts are under way to open slaughterhouses domestically. About 100,000 horses are estimated to be exported for slaughter a year.

In November, Congress failed to renew a five-year ban on funding federal inspectors at horse slaughter plants in the United States, opening the door for a return of horse slaughter to American soil.

Landrieu’s American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act would prohibit the killing of American horses for human consumption in the U.S. and stop the transport of horses across the border to Canada and Mexico for slaughter.

Actress and anti-slaughter activist Bo Derek said it is “truly obscene” that she is still fighting after 10 years for a ban on the slaughter of animals that provide so much “companionship.”

Landrieu also received bipartisan support Wednesday from Republicans such as Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., and Rep. Ed Whitfield, R-Ky.

Landrieu said the lobbying of the horse industry has prevented Senate and House floor votes on her legislation thus far.

Dave Duquette, president of the pro-slaughter group United Horsemen, said the lack of horse slaughterhouses in the U.S. only leads to a poor market for the value of horses, which forces financially struggling horse owners to abandon their animals or keep them under poor conditions.

“We don’t advocate that everyone needs to slaughter their horse,” Duquette said. “But the option needs to be there.”

Duquette, who said he regularly receives death threats, said there are currently plans for horse slaughterhouses in Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Iowa, Oregon and Washington.

“There’s a lot of efforts going on, and I think it’s probably going to happen in the near future,” he said.

A 2011 Government Accountability Office report advised either an outright ban on horse slaughtering or to legalize it, in order to stop the negative side effects of current practices, such as increased horse abandonment, the poor condition of horses exported to be slaughtered elsewhere and the overall decline in the price of horses.

Duquette, a self-described horse trainer, contended it is hypocritical for people to argue that horses must be treated differently when they go home and eat the meat from cows and pigs that were slaughtered.

“What makes them different? They’re not really,” he said. “That argument is emotional, not reality.”

“That argument is ridiculous on its face,” Landrieu said. “Cows are raised for slaughter.”

“We don’t eat our dogs and our horses,” she added.

Click (HERE) to visit the Advocate and to Comment
Related articles