Scraps & Treats

Senator Sends Wild Horses to the Slaughterhouse

In a move to appease Western ranchers, oil interests, and gas companies, Senator Conrad Burns of Montana has sponsored a new federal law that allows unlimited capture and slaughter of wild horses and burros. Burns slipped the language into a massive spending bill that President Bush signed into law in November. The new provision legalizes the rounding up and selling of wild horses and burros to other countries for horsemeat “without limitation.” In the past, animals captured in 303 protected areas had to be penned and placed into an adoption system.

Ranchers have long desired the land these horses graze on for their own cattle and sheep, and the oil and gas industries are already permitted to displace existing herds in order to use the land for their own purposes. Burns said the new language was necessary to save the federal government money spent on the adoption system. Yet the new law could well mean extinction for wild horses and burros. Before 1971, the year Congress started requiring the penning and adoption of these animals, hundreds of thousands were shot and slaughtered. By the early ’70s, wild horses and burros were nearly completely exterminated.

Animal welfare groups are asking for the public’s help in passing a new law, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (H.R. 857 and S. 2352), which would ban the killing of horses in the U.S. for human consumption abroad. If you’re interested in supporting this legislation, contact your senator and representative.

To take action, contact:

www.Senate.gov or (202) 224-3121

www.House.gov or (202) 225-3121  

Keep Your Pet “Winterized”

The ASPCA is offering tips to help pet guardians protect their pets from frigid winter weather. Here are some ways you can keep Fido and Fluffy out of the cold:

• Never let your dog off the leash, especially during a snowstorm—dogs can lose their scent and easily become lost. More dogs are lost during the winter than during any other season, so make sure they always wear I.D. tags or are microchipped.

• Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather. A car can hold in the cold like a refrigerator, and an animal can freeze to death.

• If your dog feels the cold more profoundly due to age, illness, or breed type, take him outside only to go to the bathroom.

• If you have a short-haired dog, consider getting him a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck. While this may seem like a luxury, it is a necessity for many dogs.

• Keep your cat inside. He could become lost or freeze to death in winter weather.

• Remember that outdoor or feral cats sometimes sleep under the hoods of vehicles to stay warm. When the vehicle is started, they can be killed by the fan belt. Before you start your engine, bang on your hood loudly to give cats a chance to escape. See page 21 for more helpful information on stray cats.

• If your dog spends a lot of time engaged in outdoor activities, increase his supply of food, particularly protein, to keep his fur thick and healthy.

• Puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs and may be difficult to housebreak during the winter. If necessary, paper-train your puppy inside.

• Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter. Leave the coat longer for more warmth. When you bathe your dog, completely dry him before taking him out for a walk.