FRER RESPONDS TO WALLIS’ ATTEMPT TO JUSTIFY HORSE SLAUGHTER TO U.S. GOV’T.
Please accept this letter, on behalf of Front Range Equine Rescue (“FRER”), as a response to the inaccurate and misleading claims made in the July 31, 2012 “Urgent Petition” submitted by Sue Wallis on behalf of the International Equine Business Association (the “Petition”). Wallis represents the interests of a small group of individuals and business interests who seek to profit by slaughtering American horses for human consumption, while ignoring the extensive societal and individual dangers of horse slaughter. If American horses are again slaughtered for meat, the costs of Wallis’ profit centers will be borne by the federal agency budgets that will need to adjust for the exceptional burdens inherent in horse slaughter regulation, as well as by taxpayers. It is also well-documented that American horse slaughterhouses have created an environmental and community nightmare for local interests— homeowners who live near slaughterhouses must deal with the pervasive foul odor, environmental degradation, and other negative externalities. Finally, the production of horse meat from American horses is a toxic business, because virtually all horse meat from American horses is adulterated, unfit for human consumption, and dangerous. Wallis does not represent (and ignores) the interests of the large percentage of Americans, who have confirmed their strong objection to American horse slaughter; and she avoids discussion of the slaughter process for horses, which is especially cruel and terrifying. Ignoring the long string of perils related to horse slaughter, Ms. Wallis demonstrates an utter lack of interest in the truth.