Source: By Rob Nikolewski at Watchdog.org
“I think horses are a part of our culture,…”
Susana Martinez Governor of New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE — Even though it’s looking as if the U.S. Department of Agriculture will approve a horse slaughterhouse in southern New Mexico, Gov. Susana Martinez told reporters Wednesday she’s still against it.
“I think horses are a part of our culture, they work with the ranchers and cowboys in New Mexico and I just oppose slaughtering horses in the United States.”
On Tuesday, USDA secretary Tom Vilsack said a facility near Roswell will open, becoming the first horse slaughtering facility in the United States in six years.
“We are going to do this, and I would imagine that it would be done relatively soon,” Vilsack told Associated Press. Last week, the USDA re-inspected the Valley Meat Co., which has been fighting for more than a year to proceed.
As the date of a possible opening nears, New Mexico has increasingly become a focus of passionate debate.
Back in 2006, a prohibition was placed in the U.S. preventing horse slaughter and the last plant was closed in 2007. But in 2011, Congress quietly removed the rider enforcing the ban from an omnibus spending act.
Animal organizations such as the Humane Society are urging the federal government to reinstate the ban but counterarguments have been made in favor of the Valley Meat facility.
With the rising cost of hay, more and more horses have been simply abandoned and left to starve in the Southwest. Advocates for a slaughterhouse say it’s better to have unwanted and dying horses put out of their misery in a federally-inspected facility than have them sent to plants in places like Mexico, where they often meet gruesome deaths in unsanitary conditions.
The Obama administration has come out in favor of reinstating the ban but that would take an act of Congress.
“If that doesn’t happen, then we are duty-bound to do what needs to be done to allow that plant to begin processing,” Vilsack said.
Martinez said she hasn’t changed her mind from a year ago, when she told New Mexico Watchdog she opposed the Roswell horse slaughter plant, saying her administration would send a letter to the USDA asking it to turn down Valley Meat’s request.
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Categories: Horse News, Horse Slaughter
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
Yes, please do go to the article and make comments. Gov. Martinez wrings her hands and cries I don’t want horse slaughter but I can’t do anything about it. She CAN write and Executive order to ban horse slaughter but she won’t. Wonder why? Could it be her association with the cattle industry? In August 2012 she set up a special task force at the request of the New Mexico Livestock Board and others to study the very huge problem of Horse Overpopulation. In an email requesting the task force, a member of the NMLB cited the fact that most of the problem was due to horses rejected from slaughter being dumped at the border to Mexico. In fact in the 2011 EU Report over 19,000 such horses were dumped there.
When that task force was announced Jeff Witte, NM Secretary of Agriculture in an interview with the Albuquerque Journal that there were 60 – 90,000 free roaming horses in New Mexico. However there is no truth to that!!! We only have about 500 wild horses left in the state and the NMLB showed only 70 feral horses in 2012. Everyone here talks about all the horses on tribal lands but no tribe has ever verified those numbers. And as to the Native American view on horses, a representative of several tribes met with Gov. Martinez and expressed the desire for a Ban on Horse Slaughter – Horses are used by the Indian tribes in their ceremonies and as part of their culture. Despite the slams by some in state government, the Indians respect their horses and don’t want them slaughtered.
We have one true champion in New Mexico and that is Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham. She came out as a co-sponsor for the Safe Act and is a true friend to the horses.
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Federal trumps state. Governor Martinez, I believe, is telling the truth. Blame the federal government, not this Governor.
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Who in the heck do this people think they are the Governor says NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Case Closed !!!!!!!!
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Gov. Martinez, do the right thing for our horses and the majority of Americans opposed to re-instating horse slaughter. Create and sign an Executive Ban NOW!!! And Sec. Vilsack, you have the power and every reason to deny this. Why won’t you? New Mexico Congresswoman Michelle Grisham Lujan sent you a very well written and presented article with clear suggestions and options to do just that. To you Congresswoman Michelle Grisham Lujan, I truly and deeply thank you from the bottom of my heart for your ethical and moral ideals and for speaking out to help our horses. For the rest of the politicians and people involved here, your hypocrisy and lack of principles run deep. But, our memories and perceptions are both long and true. We’ll remember this the next time you ask us to support you at the next elections!
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Like I said in an article yesterday I said I called the Gov. office and spoke to someone there and she told me the Gov. has looked at all the angles if you will, and said it is a Federal situation now and her hands are tied???? SO what does everyone think about that?? I have know idea if this is the real truth??? I did call USDA again for the third time and told them I needed speak to someone about HOW this can happen with all the meat issues and the tighter EU restrictions no one was there left this message for them said they would call back WELL, I won’t wait for that I will call again, I am a tax payer like us all I want it explained to me a valid explanation and also how they are going to test for drugs…….. WE ALL have that right!!!! Honest to god we have had horse slaughter for what 30 some odd years even if it has not been here for a while we have STILL had it, so funny how the horses don’t seem to be disappearing all these years there’s still an abundance of them…… It will continue until it is totally gone so the few can’t take advantage of it, we all know this……
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Governor Martinez Sign a Executive Order Immediately stop the Slaughter of innocent Horses !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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EXECUTIVE ORDER NOW!
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Paula I agree with everything you said but I do want to make a remark about the verbiage so many use. There is NO huge overpopulation of horses in this country. As I understand it there are somewhere around 10 million domestic horses in this country (correct me if I’m wrong) of which 0.017% are being shipped to slaughter. A number we could easily absorb without the brutality. Compare this to the 4 to 5 million dogs and cats that are destroyed every year.
What we need is a better system to track these animals. Possibly we should require ‘chipping’. Breeders would fight this because of the cost…maybe they would then think twice before over breeding. If a horse is then found abandoned we would know who it belonged to or at least the last known owner (incentive for them to keep the ‘chip’ information current) and charges could be filed.
We need stiffer penalties for people who abuse, neglect or abandon their animals. We are looking at the end result of a problem rather than fixing the problem. If ‘chips’ were required then people would know they have to be more vigilant. If they won’t be responsible on their own then we must make them responsible and they need to know there are severe consequences if they are not.
It is shameful what some people do to animals simply because in their mind it’s just another dumb animal…it doesn’t feel pain…it doesn’t feel the loss of a loved one…it doesn’t matter if it lives or dies.
Here’s a proposal…Give the wild horses and burros all of their original HMA lands, exempt those lands from the multiple use policy and return the 50K or so in captivity back to their home ranges. Now take those Oklahoma and Kansas ranches which we pay for as long term holding and make them a rescue / retirement home. Rehabilitate those that can be and find them a home. Those that cannot be rehabbed could at least live out their life free from terror.
I think our tax money is better spent on rescues rather than roundups.
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Thank you for your great comment Steve! I agree with your ideas, 100%! As a matter of fact, I love & support your ideas. Everything you said is true, & makes sense. I especially like the micro-chipping idea, & turning all the long term holding facilities into rescue/retirement homes, we pay for them anyway, at least we all would be ok with this rather than what’s going on now. I know that micro-chipping is not expensive, since I worked as a vet assist. It should be mandatory for ALL horses or other pets/companion animals. It is also painless, no worse than getting a normal vaccination. Horses are, indeed, highly intelligent, much more than “some” give them credit for. Anyone who has been, or is, around horses knows that.
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Steve, your ideas are smart and should be implemented. You should suggest your ideas to our Government. They do need a plan and not theplan of slaughter house for horses one. I just can’t believe that they will open Valley Meats for a horse slaughter plant. It does not make any sense at all.
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Yes, Steve. Yes, yes, yes. Excellent solutions. Good for horses. Good for government and therefore, taxpayers. Win, win, win.
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Well said!
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She needs to sign an Executive order ASAP …she can spin it that she is protecting the cattle industry from scandal
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Gruesome is gruesome, regardless of “sanitary or unsanitary conditions!” Regardless of location, slaughter is just that, slaughter. Slaughter=Gruesome! Hay shortage or not, there have ALWAYS been unwanted, starving, neglected, abused, abandoned horses, this is just another excuse & we all know that. The scumbags just want the profits for themselves, instead of letting Canada or Mexico in on it! Same with all the abandoned, stray, feral, once loved dogs & cats running loose everywhere, or, dying in shelters. At least the majority of those dying in shelters are humanely euthanized by either a vet or vet tech. Obama & his administration, along with this governor Martinez, & any other governor, needs to sign Executive orders, ASAP, RIGHT NOW! They need to do their “duty-bound” duties of doing the right thing, the humane thing, NOT being a sissy or a wimp, they need to take charge, they are the “leaders”, aren’t they?? They have the authority to go over the heads of their subordinates, isn’t that why they were elected? The USDA is not duty bound to approve something they KNOW is wrong, they KNOW is potentially very dangerous, especially to approve what could have devastating consequences on those who consume this “product”. And, how is it that they can afford this spending, to fund inspections for facilities & a product that we Americans do NOT eat!!?? And, yet, reduce or cut spending where it’s truly needed, as in, on all the people & families still unemployed, uninsured, businesses that are struggling, etc.! To top it off, the USDA can NOT reliably, accurately “test” horse “meat” for most of these known toxins, because they don’t have tests to do it! It was never a concern before some low life scumbags decided they wanted to kill & eat horses! Where are all the equine product manufacturers? Why aren’t THEY giving warnings on the dangers, these warnings are plastered all over the product labels, whether they are given orally, or applied topically?? Who is going to take responsibility when people start getting sick, & even dying, & it comes back to tainted drug-laced horse “meat”?? Where are the equine shelters, where these creatures can at least have a second or third chance, be retrained, rehomed, or, just be loved, or just allowed to retire peacefully, or, when needed, be humanely euthanized, by a licensed vet, or vet tech.? Where are all the “do no harm” equine vets offering low cost, affordable euthanasia & removal for those people & families that need help? They ARE “doing harm”, by standing by & doing nothing. We, & our horses, need everyone’s help, NOW!!!!
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The Governor needs to do more than ‘say’ she is against it. DO something. Meanwhile petition the Whitehouse to get rid of VILSACK!
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What the h@ll is with Vilsack????? Unbelievable!!!!!
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DITTO!
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NO to horse slaughter we must continue to fight and be the voices of the horses. It is so sad that people think they are raised for food– they should be changed to pets because that is what they are maybe that would stop the nonsence!
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Please keep calling President Obama he can stop it hopefully!~
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LET THE CONGRESS AND SENATE KNOW UNLESS THEY LISTEN TO THE WISHES OF THE PEOPLE THEY WILL NOT GET ELECTED. IT IS TIME THE PEOPLE SHOWED THEY MEAN BUSINESS.
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I just spoke to Gov. Martinez office again and this person really gave me an earful, what it amounts to is the Gov. office can not give an executive order now that the Federal Gov. has given a green light to go, they have ok the business to be fine, so her hands are tied, and also even if they had not given the greed light yet she still could not because she has to give just cause for doing so and right now their is nothing wrong with the place nothing there, like waiting for yourself to be killed by someone until the law can actually do anything about it by then it’s to late you know?? I am not a lawyer so I don’t know if in fact this is true????? I hate to say this again BUT NO ONE HEARS US, the bill 1094 is still sitting where it started from what I can see, no way this is going to stop….. UNREAL 😦 But of course will never stop trying….
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We need to give all our support to the up and coming lawsuits!
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http://horsebackmagazine.com/hb/archives/21840
PETITION TARGETS TENNESSEE GOVERNOR URGING HIM AGAINST AG GAG BILL
May 1, 2013
WASHINGTON, (ACLU) – Any day now, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam could sign an “Ag-Gag” bill designed to intimidate whistleblowers, journalists and activists who conduct photo or video investigations of animal abuse.
The visual evidence from these investigations has been critical to exposing terrible cruelty to animals, as well as conditions that threaten our food safety.
From Watergate to Enron, we rely on the freedoms of speech and press to expose corruption, wherever it lies. And if we let factory farms gag their critics, where does it end?
Ag-Gag bills are popping up in many states, but it’s just days away from becoming law in Tennessee, and defeating it there would send a strong message to lawmakers across the country. Governor Haslam hasn’t said what he’ll do yet, so if we act fast, we can still get him to veto the bill.
Sign the petition urging Governor Haslam to veto the Ag-Gag bill.
The Tennessee Ag-Gag bill would make it illegal to wait more than 48 hours to turn over videos or photographs of animal abuse to law enforcement.
It might sound good, but in reality it keeps journalists and whistleblowers from revealing patterns of corporate wrongdoing and abuse by forcing them to expose their investigation after only two days. It also discourages everyday people who’ve witnessed animal abuse from speaking out, for fear of getting in trouble if the deadline has already passed.
That’s exactly why the agribusiness industry is among the Ag-Gag bill’s biggest backers. But we can’t let big business trample on our constitutionally-protected First Amendment rights in order to keep their cruelty and wrongdoing secret. And we have only days left to stop it.
Let’s send a message to governors and legislators across the country who are considering Ag-Gag bills by putting an end to the one in Tennessee this week.
Sign the petition to stop Tennessee’s Ag-Gag bill and send a strong message to lawmakers across the country about our rights.
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The People ELECT the sheriff and the sheriff has the ultimate authority, to put a stop to this. It CAN be done.
http://politicalvelcraft.org/2011/10/19/oregon-sheriff-gil-gilbertson-gives-federal-agents-the-boot-feds-have-no-jurisdiction/
Oregon Sheriff Gil Gilbertson Gives Federal Agents The Boot: Feds Have No Jurisdiction!
When asked why he has taken up this fight, Sheriff Gilbertson said, “My duty lies in the oath that I took to protect and serve the people of Josephine County, state law and the Constitution, and their [federal government] agencies are infringing on all of the above. It’s that simple.
U.S. Sheriffs Rise Up Against Federal Government: Sheriff Threatens Feds With SWAT Team ~ Grass Roots Take Charge!
“Look, much suffering occurred and many lives were sacrificed to make this great country what it is today; many sadly take this horrific loss for granted. A Republic form of government can be long-term but only if we maintain a system of checks and balance.
“Once we allow a runaway centralized government to weaken and/or erode the rights enumerated in our Constitution and Bill of Rights, we risk losing it all. Our government is rapidly approaching a socialistic posture; and seemingly, changing our life, as we knew it, through ‘federally imposed REGULATIONS’.”
The US~Observer has obtained a letter written by Gilbertson discussing jurisdiction. We are choosing to print it in its entirety.
Furthermore, the US~Observer would like to extend our deepest gratitude to Gilbertson for doing what he said he would – protect the County’s people, no matter what.
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Bravo to the Sherriff!!!!!!!
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what ever happened to Obama’s executive order? Do we have to wait around until congress gets paid off by these pro slaughter idiots! It’s not just about the horses, it’s about infecting the WHOLE ENTIRE food chain with tainted meat. Don’t get me wrong folks, I love our horses and have fought for them since I was a little girl, but one would think that when the entire food chain is at risk, POTUS could declare an executive order!
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She “thinks” horses are a part of our culture-enough said. We simply are dealing with another propaganda machine, just stand there and look like an innocent doe. Enough is Enough would make sense, but, I think I saw a tweety bird just came out of her mouth!
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What’s with Vilsack???? Sounds like he’s afraid of his job..Everyone is passing the buck to someone else. Had the language not been left out of the Appropriations bill things would certainly be different. All we can do is keep fighting and not give up. May the “Force of the Horse” be with you as we continue this battle..
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the governor of new mexico says she is against slaughtering of horses but cant do anything about it?????????????????? yea right. this whole concept is WRONG,WRONG,WRONG. when people end up getting sic from the meat then she will boohoo. too late then girl
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