Thursday

Velma B. Johnston of Nevada watched as ranchers and unscrupulous cowboys rounded up the wild mustangs in the 1950's. She was horrifiied as she realized these symbols of the American heritage were being sent to slaughter. Because of this Velma Johnston, aka "Wild Horse Annie" started a grassroots campaign which involved school children who wrote many letters to the President of the United States. The newspapers and magazines exploded with the news and the public became outraged over the heartbreaking exploitation of America's wild horses and burros. Because of this campaign, in 1959, the House of Representatives unanimously passed the "Wild Horse Annie Act," which laid the groundwork for the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act.

In December of 2011, The Million Horse March Children's Letter Writing Campaign began when a six-year-old child named J.C. Hughes discovered that horses were once again going to be slaughtered in the United States for human consumption. Even though she is very young, J.C. already knew the implications of the November, 2011 Ag Appropriations bill because J.C.'s family had rescued a horse from going to slaughter.

Phase One of the campaign began with children from all over the country collecting letters, making videos, drawing pictures, creating power point presentations and starting petitions. The children would then send their work to President Obama asking him to stop slaughtering horses. On March 27 of this year, nine-year-old Declan Gregg and J. C. Hughes along with the continued assistance and support of Congressman Jim Moran presented 1087 letters, two petitions with 415 signatures and 8 letters from adults to Congress.

Phase Two takes off now with a special public service announcement (Taking it to the Streets) with the children going outdoors, to meetings, to parks, and at their churches explaining to the general public how the passing of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, (S.1176 and H.R. 2966) and the inclusion of the defunding of USDA horse inspections in the 2012
Ag Appropriation Bill are the right things to do. The organization, Equine Welfare Alliance is confident that the history of 1959 will repeat itself again thanks to the voices of the children.







Responses to "American children start letter campaign to end horse slaughter in U.S."

  1. To me their is no reason to take these horses an send them for slaughter .Instead of the blm rounding these wild animals up they need to leave them in the wilds where they belong! but the blm wants money every thing this goveremnt does is about one thing money.these wild horses date back to the era of when indians rode horses .who does the blm think they are to take these horses for meat !they are not a cow ,cows where ment for food not horses at all.i use to own horses ,an now im hoping none of my horses ever ended up in these hell holes.Im sorrie i dont agree on sending horses for slaughter at all.

  2. Anonymous says:

    every horse should have a chance at life, just like dogs and cats do. Every child and every opportunity that comes to those who wish to adopt an animal. Life is hard but other people shouldn't make it harder when they starve their horses.
    Sincerly,
    Ny'oka R. Derr
    age: 12 years old

  3. wild horses or wolves these are americas heritage no matter who likes it or not! They where here before we all where an i hope they are permitted to be here long after many of are gone.but if this goverment dont stop the killing of wolves an the killing of wild horses then the future children of america will never know what its like to see a wild horse or to see wolves in their natural habitat .We need to put a end to the killing of both .before its to late rememeber exstinction is for ever!

  4. I do not agree with the killing of Wild Horses or the killing of Wolves.. Neither one does any harm, in fact wolves help maintain the Eco-system..

  5. I think the Government should pass a law protecting the Wolves and the Wild Horses--also there is no good reason for the Government to be selling Horses for meat..
    The Horse and the Wolf were here long before man was, this is their home too..

    Man is so power hungry with greed they want to kill every thing and this is not right..

  6. daveyd says:

    horses are not native to North america. They were not here till europeans brought them.Wild horses can be a burden to nuisance to native animals and environments. We can't have packs of horses roaming around like packs of dogs.

  7. Anonymous says:

    The horses and wolves have been on earth for centuries they should not be slaughted! they are a beautiful animal. they have the right to live just the same as we humans do.

  8. Anonymous says:

    Those who suggest killing horses and wolves, i suggest them to do the same to themselves before killing those beautiful animals.

  9. Lisa says:

    If you have ever truly known and loved a horse then you will know how magnificent these big herbivores are. The horse should be respected and free from crulety - it has carried human kind through the many decades of our history. Honoring these wild mustangs would be the dream, not destroying them. I suppose it is the usual battle over who or what has the right to the land remembering that all land was once wild - until the dominance of man!

  10. Chris says:

    “At present, hundreds of types of flora and fauna linked to meadows and natural pastures are dying out in the Czech Republic. Because currently there are no species such as wild horses in that natural ecosystem that would maintain those unforested areas – and many rare species are disappearing.”

    http://www.radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/colts-instead-of-rifles-ngo-to-introduce-wild-horses-at-former-army-bases

    http://www.habitatforhorses.org/horsemeat-cancer-fears/?fb_source=pubv1



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