Senate Agriculture Committee Approves Animal Protection Measures

On Thursday (11/15), the Senate Agriculture Committee approved legislation

to combat animal fighting and to address the abuse of downed animals at

stockyards as part of S. 1628, known as the “Farm Bill.” The animal

fighting provision, pushed by Senators Wayne Allard (R-CO) and Tom Harkin

(D-IA), bars any interstate shipment of birds for fighting and any export

of fighting dogs or birds. It also increases penalties for any violation

of the animal fighting section of the Animal Welfare Act. The downed

animal provision, championed by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Daniel

Akaka (D-HI), addresses the abuse and marketing of so-called downed

animals. If this language is retained, thousands of farm animals who

become too sick or injured to walk will be spared the cruel beatings and

abuse often administered to move them from the stockyard to the

slaughterhouse. Instead, federal law will stipulate that these animals be

humanely euthanized. S. 1628 will soon be voted on by the full Senate,

and, if passed there, will go to a House-Senate conference.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Contact your two U.S. Senators and ask them to support the language in the

Committee Farm bill to help end cockfighting and to stop the abuse of

downed animals. Senators may be reached through the Congressional

switchboard: 202-224-3121. You can find out the names of your Senators

by looking them up online at: www.senate.gov

or by calling The HSUS at

202-955-3666.

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