ISSUES
Updated April 19, 2010
Kentucky: H. B. 398 | This bill is nothing but a power grab by pro-slaughter interests. If this bill passes, Kentucky will have a state sanctioned Board to push for the return of horse slaughter to the U.S., oppose federal legislation to stop the slaughter of all American horses, and control horse rescues working to save horses from slaughter. H. B. 398 is currently on the desk of Governor Beshear awaiting signature into into law. |
ABOUT THE BOARD
Under the bill, H.B. 398, the Board will have 13 voting members including the secretary of the Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet; the State Veterinarian, a representative of the University of Kentucky Gluck Equine Research Center; one representative of the University of Louisville Equine Industry Program; executive director of the University of Kentucky Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center, or the executive director of the Murray State University Breathitt Veterinary Center; chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture; chairman of the House Standing Committee on Agriculture and Small Business; one representative of the Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation with an interest in equine issues; one veterinarian representing the Kentucky Equine Health and Welfare Alliance Inc.; one member representing the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association; and one member to be appointed by the Governor from a list of three (3) nominees submitted by Kentucky Horse Council; and two members at large appointed by the governor and who live in diverse regions of the state and who represent equine breeders and owners and agricultural interests.
An amendment to the original bill added more representatives of equine education programs in several other Kentucky colleges or universities and one, yes, one member of the equine rescue community.
The Board would not be able to interfere with the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority or the Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners. - Source: Animal Law Coalition
ABOUT THE EQUINE HEALTH AND WELFARE ALLIANCE (EHWA)
The concept of the H.B. 398 is a stratagem of the recently formed Equine Health and Welfare Alliance (EHWA), a Kentucky-based group of equine veterinarians claiming to represent the first organization in the US “dedicated solely to improving the care and welfare of equines.” (http://www.
However principled and noble these aspirations may sound, there appears to be a subtle underlying agenda more sinister in nature to contemplate. One of their objectives is to address sensitive health and humane issues and population control; another to review current equine legislation; and yet another aimed at setting standards for horse rescues and sanctuaries and funding only those who support them.
Now, consider these three initiatives as a whole rather than individually.
Together with the principal motive for sustaining horse rescue and refuge, at this point in time the most “sensitive” issue about the “Unwanted Horse” population associated with existing equine legislation is none other than HORSE SLAUGHTER.
What’s more, how will the fundamental strategy of the EHWA differ from organizations such as the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), the American Veterinarian Medical Association (AVMA), the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), the American Horse Council (AHC), and the Unwanted Horse Coalition (UHC)? All of these so-called “welfare” alliances are recognized as pro-horse slaughter.
A closer look at the founding members may provide insight into the grim reality of what the EHWA proposes to enforce upon the equine population and ultimately the management of the entire horse industry.
Dr. Frank D. Marcum, DVM
Marcum is the new president of the EHWA and the current president of the AERV (Association of Equine Racetrack Veterinarians). Racetrack vets are notorious for falsify reports on the conditions of the horses and their injuries, drugging them without consequence simply to get that last run out of them.
Marcum is also the provider of technical information and services for Arthrodynamic ™ Technologies Inc., a company that manufactures equine health products but more importantly a company that sponsors cruel rodeo events and is involved with Colorado State University (CSU) who experiment on horses. (http://www.arthrodynamic.com/
Dr. Gary Lavin, DVM
Lavin, a prominent Kentucky veterinarian, has served as past president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) an acknowledged horse slaughter advocacy group. Each year, the AAEP awards the “Lavin Cup” to a “non-veterinary individual or organization that has exemplified outstanding care and compassion for horses and upheld AAEP horse welfare guidelines.”(http://www.aaep.
In 2009, the “Lavin Cup” was awarded to the North American Equine Ranching Information Council (NAERIC). (http://www.thehorse.com/
Dr. Doug Byars, DVM
Byars has held offices in both the AAEP and AVMA and is a member of the Kentucky Horse Council (KHC) which endorses the UHC – yup, all pro-horse slaughter groups. An article in an Association of Racing Commissioner’s International (RCI) bulletin clearly establishes what side of the argument Byars is on.
“Now, some horse folks, like Dr. Doug Byars, a Lexington-based equine-care expert, contend that the shutdown of equine slaughterhouses is exacerbating the hay situation this winter."We're not talking about championship horses, but horses that are unwanted or that are no longer of any service," Byars said. "Now, these horses have no value, and with the slaughterhouses closed there is no outlet for them. So, you're getting these reports of abandoned horses and horses not being fed." ( http://www.arci.com/
If that isn’t enough to convince the public then consider this. During the 2004 AAEP Convention on the topic of “The Unwanted Horse” he is quoted as saying that if equine slaughter is eliminated, it creates problems in identifying an appropriate number of care facilities with adequate funding, educated management for such facilities, and medical staff to care for the horses.” (http://www.thehorse.com/
Dr. Norm Umphenour, DVM
Umphenour is also a member of AAEP and of course the AVMA and during an unspecified length of time through the early 1990’s consulted for IAMS pet foods. Apart from being implicated in the recent “Great Pet Food Scandal” wherein brand name pet food products contained melamine-tainted gluten, IAMs pet products until more recently have been purported to contain horse meat and equine by-products likely during the period that Umphenour was a consultant.
Dr. Mike Cavey, DVM
Cavey is the owner of Respite Farm in Bourbon County, Ky. where he breeds and races thoroughbreds. He has co-authored a paper with Byars about the “unwanted horse” problem in association with the pro-horse slaughter groups AAEP and the Unwanted Horse Coalition (UHC). (http://www.
A Clear Pro-Slaughter Collaboration
The mere association and collaboration with pro-horse slaughter organizations such as the AAEP, the AHC and the UHC is a powerful indication that this new alliance will sanction the “unnecessary” evil of horse slaughter. Sadly this will no doubt be part of the “welfare” component in population control. More to the point, extending them full control of horse rescue operations which are driven by anti-slaughter advocates will only add more fuel to the fire and undoubtedly increase the number of horses who face a painful and terrifying death at the hands of ruthless butchers.
- Source: Int'l Fund for Horses
