E.P.O.N.A.'s FREEDOM DRIVE TO STOP HORSE SLAUGHTER
Freedom Drive 2006 update:
Freedom Drive 2006 was a great success in many ways. There are no words to express the feeling that one gets driving down the highway having vehicles honking at you and giving you thumbs up for a cause that you feel so adamant about. There are no words to express the feeing that you get when traveling through a city (bumper to bumper traffic), or being in a parking lot or gas station and having people approach you off the street asking questions about your cause and wanting information on how to help. These were a few of the highlights of the trip. Seeing the support for the rescuing of our horses by the average citizen and the lack of knowledge on this issue clearly identifies one of the areas that we need to be more effective. That is getting the word out and educating the public about the slaughtering of horses.
Another aspect of the trip was the great support and acknowledgement that we received nationally from organizations like the National Horse Protection Coalition, the Doris Day Foundation and Freedom Hill Rescue. Thank you for your support, participation and encouragement in our effort. In addition there were some great individuals that we met and they supported the trip as well and helped us spread the information and the word on Capitol Hill. Susan Pizzini from PA, Angela Valianos from IL, Melody Parrish, MD, Melanie Jacobs from MA, Cathy Ildeniz from NH, and Willa Balander, MA. As always there is immense appreciation to all those at home that made this possible: Jennifer O�Brien, Debbie Tillie, Michelle Henry, Holly Knowles, Meryl Gillen, Julie Wachter and Stephanie Carroll, to mention a few.
A very special acknowledgment and huge thank you to B&B Auto & RV Service Center, thank you guys for your last minute efforts and repairs on the truck so that we could make the journey a reality.
Although the District Court has rejected the request for a temporary restraining order that would have protected the temporary ban on horse slaughter, Freedom Drive 2006 was very effective in distributing materials and meeting with legislators on Capital Hill. Whether or not we had a direct impact or not, the collaboration of our efforts on the hill may have led to additional co-sponsors of the anti-slaughter bills that signed on during, or shortly after our visit there. Rep. Mark Green of WI, Rep. Jim Gerlach of PA, Rep. Robert Brady of PA, Senator Barbara Boxer of CA and Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine. More Co-sponsors are needed and stronger support if we are to be successful in getting S.1915/H.R.503 passed.
So please be diligent and contact your legislators and express to them the importance of getting this passed for the sake of our horses and part of our heritage.
Other informative sites to visit:
https://www.horse-protection.org/info.php?id=9
