HB590 - Horse Transportation Bill Amended to LEGALIZE CRUELTY!
Pennsylvania residents, it's now or never.
The legislators need to hear from YOU!
Apparently legislators and their staff are alleging that NOT ENOUGH Pennsylvania residents are calling them to oppose HB590, and those are the calls they need to receive, because they are the ones that VOTE for these politicians and they are the ones that will be counted!
The legislature reconvened on September 26, 2000 and at this time, there may be a push to get this bill passed. Let's KILL THE 3-LEGGED BILL!
ACT NOW
June 15, 2000 - HB590 goes to the Agriculture Committee, chaired by Senator Noah Wenger - New Holland Resident!
JUNE 6, 2000 - The Pennsylvania State Assembly session PASSED the Amended HB590 - with Final Passage 160 FOR and only 33 AGAINST!!!! This bill was scheduled to go to Senator Dent's committee and it was to be considered next week.
URGENT: Senator Noah Wenger is the acting chairman on the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, who is now in control of HB590. Wenger, born in New Holland, residing in New Holland, supporting New Holland businesses, on the board of a local bank and is a farmer by trade. THE CONFLICT - The town of New Holland is the home of the NEW HOLLAND SALES STABLES, INC. New Holland is one of the largest weekly sources in the North East U.S. of auction horses, and heavily patronized by horse dealers buying large quantities of equines for slaughter.
This is an absolute conflict of interest, and we can only assume that Senator Wenger will be biased. He is a farmer by trade! The amended language is specific for horses being transported to slaughter.
House Bill 2127 addressed the issues surrounding the transportation of horses but never got off the ground when the legislation session ending in 1998 closed. On February 16, 1999, this drafted legislation was reincarnated as House Bill 590 (Original HB590). Then, on May 16, 2000 HB590 was amended (Amended HB590). Language contained in the amended version of HB 590 legalizes the cruel transportation of horses.
The language contained is as follows:
An equine animal is transported to slaughter in a cruel and inhumane manner if it is (i) UNABLE TO BEAR WEIGHT ON THREE LIMBS OR WALK UNASSISTED, (ii) BLIND IN BOTH EYES, (iii) A MARE, GELDING OR FOAL COMMINGLED WITH A STALLION DURING TRANSPORT; (iv) NOT GIVEN AT LEAST TWO HOURS OF REST AND ACCESS TO POTABLE WATER AFTER EVERY 12 HOURS OF TRANSPORT..... etc.
Language included in the original version of HB590 included making it cruel to transport horses "SUFFERING FROM A BROKEN OR DISLOCATED LIMB" and for horses "UNABLE TO BEAR WEIGHT ON ALL FOUR LIMBS". This language was intentially removed! What kind of a person would sentence domesticated animals who dependent upon humans for care and compassion? The kind we voted into office!
TAKE ACTION - TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!
Call Governor Ridge at (717) 787-2500 or fax him at (717) 772-8284
Call Representative Lynch who introduced HB590 (814)723-5203
Call State Senator Noah Wenger at (717) 738-1600 or (717) 787-4420 or
fax him at (717) 783-3156 (Harrisburg office), (717) 299-7401 (district office)
For more information on Senator Wenger visit his home pages:
Tell them you OPPOSE HB590 - The Three Legged Horse Bill - and make sure that whoever you talk with takes your full name, home address and telephone number.
YOU DON'T LIVE IN PA???? CALL YOUR FRIENDS, RELATIVES OR BUSINESS CONTACTS **IN PENNSYLVANIA** TO CALL AND WRITE!
The E.R.R. has been advised that the Pennsylvania Equine Council opposes HB590. Please send copies of your letters to legislators to the PEC at:
Pennsylvania Equine Council
PO Box 21
Dallas, PA 18612
(888) 304-0281
ATTN: Sandy
slforstr@epix.net
Other organizations that OPPOSE HB590 are the Equine Protection Network, Carpe Diem Equine Rescue, Double D Equine Rescue, C.A.N.T.E.R., Miss Equestrian Magazine, Bran Manor Equine Rescue, The New York State Horse Council, Equine Advocates, the Humane Society of the United States.
If you want to add the name of your organization to the opposition, drop a line to ERR
Remember, YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
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