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THESE ARE DOWNED ANIMALS
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To identify your federal legislators and find contact info, try:
•  Congress.org: www.Congress.org
•  USA Senate: www.senate.gov
•  USA House of Representatives: www.house.gov
•  Congressional Switchboard: 202-224-3121

The Honorable Representative _____________________________
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Senator _________________________________
The U.S. Senate, U.S. Capitol Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator/Representative,

I write to reiterate my concern for downed animals, those animals too ill or incapacitated to stand, move, eat or drink at stockyards and slaughterhouses. As you are aware, the USDA temporarily banned the sale of downed cattle for human consumption after the discovery of mad cow disease in a down cow in Washington State.

The current USDA secretary has indicated he might dilute this policy. Furthermore, the USDA's tenuous rule does NOT include:

• Regulations for farmed animals other than cows (downed pigs, sheep, goats and other animals farmed for human ingestion);
• Restrictions on use of downed cows as food for companion animals or "livestock" feed;
• Requirements to humanely euthanize non-ambulatory animals — who suffer painful organ failure, broken bones, severed ligaments and open wounds over hours or days;
• Directives forbidding the use of chains, forklifts, trucks and shock prods to move animals.

As a registered voter in your district who advocates firmer animal protection laws, I strongly urge you to support the Downed Animal and Food Safety Protection Act (H.R. 661, S. 394). This Act establishes an enforceable and permanent industry-wide ban on the transport, marketing and slaughter of all downed animals — not just cows.

It also stipulates prompt and humane euthanasia for non-ambulatory animals. Under present law, immobilized animals may be dragged, shocked, beaten and bulldozed. They can be kept alive until slaughter to process them at rendering plants for tallow, meal or other goods with animal-byproducts. Photos from one Texas stockyard show a calf struggling to stand on a mangled leg attached by a shred of hide and ligament. It doesn't require scientific analysis to verify profound cruelty. All downers should be mercifully euthanized.

The USDA ban is not comprehensive enough to prevent the negligent use of sick animals. As long as human food is processed with elements at risk for containing dangerous prions, health hazards persist. The Downed Animal and Food Safety Protection Act (H.R. 661, S. 394) expands and codifies the USDA ban. Please do everything within your capacity to move this legislation toward passage.

Thank you,

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Please help us open hearts and minds. Thank you in advance, Brenda Shoss, Kinship Circle