Word from Madeleine and T. Boone Pickens

Dear Friends,

Many of you know that Boone and I have made a commitment for the safety and welfare of all animals. One of our top priorities over the last few years has been to end what Boone so aptly labeled, "America's Dirty Little Secret" when he testified before the US Congress several years ago in support of legislation banning horse slaughter for human consumption.

Boone and I are inviting you to share an evening with us and Congressman Dan Burton from Indiana to show your support for the horses on Monday, June 29th at the Del Mar Country Club in Rancho Santa Fe, CA. Also attending will be Wayne Pacelle, Chief Executive Officer of the Humane Society of the United States, and Chris Hyde, Deputy Legislative Director of the Animal Welfare Institute. Congressman Burton has stepped up to help lead this cause which is so important to us and the majority of Americans. Earlier this year Congressman Burton, along with House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.) introduced the bill known as the Conyers-Burton Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act, which will ban the slaughter of American horses and prevent their export to Mexico, Canada or Asia for the same purpose.

We are moving towards our ultimate goal, but your help and that of Congressional leaders such as Dan Burton is desperately needed. In 2007, Texas and Illinois acted to stop horse slaughter within their boarders, shuttering the last remaining foreign-owned horse slaughter plants in the U.S. However, the U.S. Congress has failed to act to stop the export of live horses to Canada and Mexico for slaughter, which is still occurring. More than 95,000 horses were sent across U.S. borders to slaughter in Canada or Mexico in 2008. The foreign-owned plants simply set up their slaughterhouses across the borders and continue to buy our horses from their middlemen known as "killer-buyers." The treatment of these horses is too horrible to explain. We have come close to passing a ban in Congress and support is strong. Since 2006, the House and Senate have voted on bills banning horse slaughter five times. Sadly, the legislation has not passed both chambers at the same time. We must do everything we can to ensure compassionate and dedicated legislators like Dan Burton to remain in office so they can fight on behalf of our horses and the American people. We hope you can join us for this important event to show your support for legislative champions such as Congressman Dan Burton.

With gratitude,

Madeleine and T. Boone Pickens