Subject: [againstslaughter] Stats on declining abuse
in IL when Cavel was not operating
Sent: Saturday, May 15, 2004 5:17 PM
Subject: [againstslaughter] Re: Nick Lampson has signed on as co-sponsor!
Hi Mary,
Here are the stats from a letter to the Illinois Leader by Dr. Lydia Gray,
Executive Director of HAHS. I also called the IL Dept. of Agriculture, Animal
Welfare Department & got these same stats.
I will be sure to include these stats in my letter to Representative Lindner.
Cheers,
-Lori Hackman
Geneva, IL
________________________
As an equine veterinarian, horse owner, humane investigator, and the executive
director of the state's oldest and largest humane society for large animals, the
Hoofed Animal Humane Society (HAHS), I would like to provide your readers with
accurate information so that they can make an informed decision on SB1921, the
bill to ban horse slaughter.
The correct number of equine neglect cases that the Illinois Department of
Agriculture received during the last few years is as follows:
- In 2000, the Department received about 200 complaints (197 to be exact)
- In 2001, they received about 300 complaints (306 to be exact)
- In 2002, they received about 400 complaints (413 to be exact)
- And in 2003, they also received about 400 complaints (409 to be exact).
As you can see, each year the Department receives about a hundred more
complaints than the year before. There has been no "doubling" of
complaints since Cavel burned in March of 2002. In fact, the number of
complaints received leveled off after the only horse slaughter plant in Illinois
closed. In both 2002 and 2003 the Department received approximately 400
complaints, whereas the trend had been an increasing one.
Similarly, we at HAHS have seen fewer complaints since Cavel burned: 262
[complaints] in 2002 vs. 169 in 2003. Therefore, we believe that slaughter
encourages neglect. We urge everyone who is concerned about the humane treatment
of horses to ask their legislators to vote YES on SB 1921.
Lydia F. Gray, DVM, MA
Executive Director, Hoofed Animal Humane Society
Woodstock