Animal Issues

1. Animal Issues

2. Horse Slaughter • H.R. 503, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act • Rep. John Sweeney (R-N.Y.). "Horses are American icons and deserve to be treated as such. The practice of horse slaughter is a contradiction to our culture and our history." • Horse meat is not eaten in the United States but is shipped overseas, primarily to France, Belgium and Japan, where it is considered a delicacy.

3. Even legends such as Ferdinand, the 1986 Kentucky Derby champion, are not immune from this grim and painful end. Ferdinand was sent to the slaughterhouse in 2002 for consumption in Japan, where his meat was offered as an opportunity to "Eat an American Champion."

4. AAEP • The American Association of Equine Practitioners • professional association with a membership of 7,500 equine veterinarians and veterinary students worldwide

5. The AAEP is not pro-slaughter; we are pro-welfare of the horse • The illegal shipment of U.S. horses to foreign countries presents many welfare concerns. • Transport Time much longer • Humane transport regulations and oversight do not apply to foreign plants • Not promoting welfare of horse

6. AAEP Concerns Regarding H.R. 503 • Long-term placement of affected horses • Roughly 80,000 horses will need to be placed in retirement establishments. • Many rescue and retirement facilities exist, however, most only house 30 horses. • In first year alone, 2700 additional such operations will need to be established.

7. Funding of care for unwanted horses • $5 per day to provide a horse’s basic needs • $1,825 / year • 80,000 horses per year • Do the Math • Does not include veterinary and ferrier care

8. Ambiguous language of the bill itself • Prohibit the shipping, transportation, moving, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling or donation of horses and other equines to be slaughtered, and for other purposes. • “Other purposes” is not defined and, if taken literally, could mean the transportation of horses for any reason, including sporting events, sales, recreation or transportation for medical care.

9. Address the Root Cause, Not the Symptom (What’s the answer?) • obtain a license for breeding horses? • limits on how many horses may be bred a year? • Be licensed to own a horse just like we have to be licensed to drive a car or to go hunting?

10. Solutions continued • Riding stables always need good school horses • therapeutic programs need therapy horses • What do you think? • What is a creative marketing strategy for these “unwanted horses?” • How may we generate income off of this market?

11. KEEP • Kentucky Equine Education Program

12. Mission • To increase awareness of the benefits of Kentucky's horse economy and to promote jobs and economic opportunities for Kentuckians through the Commonwealth's world-class horse industry.

13. Educate • Benefits the entire horse industry provides to all sectors of Kentucky's economy.

14. Encourage • Development of a pro-jobs and economic opportunities agenda for the Kentucky horse economy to include: • Stimulate jobs and economic growth.

15. Motto: • Horses work for Kentucky • Specialize in increasing income for Kentucky through the horse industry.

16. Michael Vick • Where he’s been: • Prison • Dog fighting • Betting big

17. Michael Vick • Where he’s going: • Michael Vick Commits to Humane Society's programs on eliminating dog fighting • Vick to volunteer in two events per month. • Vick to speak to youth and others about eliminating animal cruelty.