WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PROTEST THE BURNS AMENDMENT

BUSH AND CONGRESS PASS LEGISLATION ALLOWING THE SLAUGHTER OF THOUSANDS OF WILD HORSES AND BURROS IN FEDERAL SANCTUARIES ACROSS AMERICA!

Dear Friends,

Over the Thanksgiving holiday I was given some outrageous and truly heartbreaking news. Montana’s alleged pro-life senator Conrad “Raisin Heart” Burns (R) sneaked in a provision to the Omnibus Appropriations Bill for 2005. This appalling “Pro-Death” provision was signed into law by President Bush.

Senator Burns’ amendment mandates the Bureau of Land Management to sell at livestock auctions (where slaughterhouse buyers congregate for just such horse disposals) any wild horse over 10 years of age, horses of ANY age which have been put up for adoption more than three times and, in addition, any number of wild horses necessary to reach BLM’s “appropriate management level.”

Sadly, BLM’s adoption auctions are not always well publicized or attended. In fact, the Bureau has even mistakenly sent notice of adoption sales after they have occurred… with the expected poor results. Advocacy groups say that 10,000 to 20,000 horses will be sent to sale where most will go for slaughter. CBS News World Report recently did a special segment on this topic, showing the treatment of horses at the slaughterhouses.

It is ironic, indeed, that just last month the senate passed a resolution about horses which reads, in part, “Whereas horses are a vital part of the collective experience of the United States and deserve protection and compassion; Whereas because of increasing pressure from modern society, wild and domestic horses rely on humans for adequate food, water, and shelter. Resolved that the senate designates December 13th the National Day of the Horse in recognition of the importance of horses to the security, economy, recreation, and heritage of the United States.”

Is this a case of “What the right hand giveth, the left hand taketh away” or what?

WHAT YOU CAN DO: PLEASE ACT NOW and then pass this on to five of your friends. Remember, Activism IS patriotism!

If you’ve had enough of this legislative double-dealing, please – PLEASE – do as many of us are doing. If enough of us contact our representatives, this mean-spirited Burns amendment can be repealed. Below are the Nevada and California numbers for your convenience.

You CAN make a difference.

NEVADA

Senator Harry Reid
202-224-3542

Senator John Ensign (pro-horse, anti-slaughter)
202-224-6244

Congressman Jim Gibbons
202-225-6155

President Bush
202-456-1111

CALIFORNIA

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
916-445-2841
http://www.govmail.ca.gov

Senator Dianne Feinstein
202-224-3841

Senator Barbara Boxer
202-224-3553

Congresswoman Barbara Lee (Oakland)
202-225-2661

FYI:

There is very little waiting when you call. The folks on the other end are polite and they will listen carefully to what you say. Here is what you can say to help:

“I strongly protest the Burns amendment to the 2005 Congressional Appropriations Bill which allows wild horses and burros in federal sanctuaries to be sold for slaughter. This is a violation of the will of the American people established by the Free-roaming Wild Horse and Burro Act of 1971. I DID NOT VOTE FOR THIS AMENDMENT.”

Please call NOW! Please pass this letter on to everyone you know who cares about animals, the environment, and the good intent and will of the American People.

I thank you all forever and wish you all a great holiday season.

Your friend,

Lacy J. Dalton
President
Let ’em Run Foundation

P.S. Many thanks to Linda Monahan for allowing the some of her wonderful December 12th article in the Nevada Appeal newspaper to be used in this e-mail.

More information on this important issue is available here.