Bill to Promote Horse Slaughter in Tennessee Withdrawn from Consideration

Animal Welfare Institute

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Bill to Promote Horse Slaughter in Tennessee Withdrawn from Consideration

Nashville, TN (April 27, 2010) - Legislation advocating the slaughter of horses for human consumption will be withdrawn for the legislative session in Tennessee according to the bill's sponsor Representative Frank Niceley. This was following overwhelming public opposition to the proposal from the public, Tennessee Volunteers for Animal Protection, Willie Nelson, his daughter Amy Nelson and granddaughter Raelyn Nelson, long time supporters of the Animal Welfare Institute.
"We are pleased that Representative Niceley has agreed to pull his bill from consideration" said Chris Heyde, deputy director of the Animal Welfare Institute. "There are many more humane and responsible ways of caring for horses in need and we look forward to expanding those in Tennessee. Slaughter certainly isn't an option and we feel many legislators realized this."
Amy and Raelyn Nelson, residents of Tennessee, testified against the bill during a committee hearing earlier this month and plan on returning to Nashville to meet with legislators to discuss equine welfare issues very soon.
"Rep. Niceley has earned his name today. We've had some time to get to know him over the last few weeks, and he really was listening to the facts against horse slaughter and we are grateful for that," said Amy Nelson. "We're looking forward to exchanging ideas with him regarding end of life decisions for at-risk horses. In the meantime, please join the Animal Welfare Institute, the Nelson family and over 70 percent of Americans opposed to horse slaughter and help pass the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act (H.R. 503 / S. 727) currently before the U.S. Congress.
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The Animal Welfare Institute is a non-profit charitable organization founded in 1951 to reduce the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by humans. More information is available at http://www.awionline.org/.

For More Information Contact:
Chris Heyde, Animal Welfare Institute - 202-446-2142
Laura Turner, Tennessee Volunteers for Animal Protection - 615-838-9085