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March 28, 2004

IL Horse Slaughterhouse Updates:

IL Bill Updates:
(Note: URL carries onto 2 lines, paste the entire URL into your web
browser)

http://www.legis.state.il.us/legislation/BillStatus.asp?
DocTypeID=HB&DocNum=6570&GAID=3&SessionID=3&LegID=11786

The legislature continues to listed to special interests & not the
will of the people. This issue is all about money, from the horse
dealers to the slaughterhouse, right on up to the politicians.

Now the politicians are using economic development as a reason to
continue the slaughter! Commerce that goes against the American
culture & the will of the American people is not good commerce!

The pro slaughter forces have yet to address the food safety issue &
the tax issue.

Horse slaughter ban hits hurdle in state House
By Leslie Hague Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Friday, March 26, 2004

SPRINGFIELD - A plan to ban horse slaughter in Illinois fell short
of passing by a handful of votes Thursday in the state House.

The legislation targets Cavel International, a slaughterhouse in
DeKalb that burned down in 2002 and is planning to reopen. The
measure's sponsor, state Rep. Robert Molaro, said he plans to bring
the measure back to the House through a parliamentary maneuver.

Selling or consuming horse meat in Illinois is illegal. But
exporting it, even if the intent is human consumption, is legal. The
law should be consistent on that point, said Molaro, a Chicago
Democrat.

"It's dishonest that we do that, in my opinion," he said.

Horses should be considered a "revered animal," and should be
protected from slaughter for human consumption, he said.

The plan's opponents said the legislation unfairly infringes on a
business.

"We set a dangerous precedent when we sit here for legislative
action and decide to put a lawful business out of operation," said
state Rep. Bill Black, a Danville Republican.

The plant is in the district of state Rep. Robert Pritchard, a
Hinckley Republican. He said he wanted the plant's economic
development for his district.

"Consider this a matter of choice," he said. "Think hard about
giving people choice and giving employment opportunity and trying to
add to the economic activity of our state instead of detracting from
it."

Cavel, the only horse slaughterhouse in Illinois, ships its horse
meat overseas.

The plan previously passed the state Senate. A similar ban is being
debated in Congress.



From WTVO News in Rockford:


http://www.wtvo.com/global/story.asp?s=1741174&ClientType=Printable

March 26, 2004 - 5:11 pm - DeKalb
Horse Slaughtering Facility Set To Open in DeKalb

by Katie Hammer

It's been two years since fire destroyed Cavel International a horse
slaughtering facility in DeKalb. Officials still have not determined
what caused the blaze, but Cavel manager James Tucker has suspicions.

"There are enough groups that have said they would take any action
they felt necessary to shut down plants that includes meat packing
plants," says James Tucker.

Cavel has risen from the ashes and will continue to slaughter up to
a 100 horses a day, only this time under tighter security. The new
building is equipped with surveillance cameras, barb-wired fence and
sprinkler systems.

Tucker knows there are people out there they may try to vandalize or
destroy the building, even though the horse slaughtering process is
humane, he says.

"We have a USDA license so there is a vet here at all times when
were processing," says Tucker.

30,000 pounds of horse meat will be processed every week and ship to
Europe and other foreign countries.


"Here we have a protein source that would otherwise be wasted and
we're doing something with it," says Tucker.

WTVO News, Rockford, IL

Note that Tucker's use of the word, "processing", instead of the
word SLAUGHTER.

Also note the reference to a "protein source that would otherwise be
wasted".

Donna Ewing from HARPS & formerly of HAHS has been a long time
advocate of horse slaughter.

Ewing stated to the EPN's Christine Berry in 1997 that she, "hates
to see all that good protein going to waste".

Ewing's testimony in favor of horse slaughter is available to read &
listen to on SHARK's website:

Note: If the URL breaks onto 2 lines the hyperlink will not work,
copy & paste the entire link into your browser.

http://www.sharkonline.org/horseslaughtersupporters.mv

Save America's Horses!

Action YOU Can Take!

http://www.equineprotectionnetwork.com/saveamericashorses/action.htm

The Save America's Horses Billboard Campaign is aimed at educating
horse owners & the American public on horse slaughter. There are
steps you, as a horse owner can take right now today to help end the
slaughter. 

Educate yourself about how horses end up at the slaughterhouse &
what you can do as an owner to prevent your horse from ending up on
someone's dinner table.

Start voting with your dollars! Shop at the tack shops that are
opposed to horse slaughter, not at horse auctions or with dealers
that support the slaughter!

The American public voted successfully with their dollars in the
1970's after pet food companies were required to label dogfood. The
pet food companies soon learned that Americans do not want to feed
their dogs horsemeat, demonstrated by the drop in sales.

Stop financially supporting the pro slaughter organizations &
individuals!

Help us inform the American public of the fate ov over 4 million of
America's horses!

Join the Save America's Horses National Billboard Campaign by
sending your tax deductible donation to:

Equine Protection Network, Inc., P. O. Box 232, Friedensburg, PA,
17933