By DAN TUOHY as published in the New Hampshire Union Leader
“Gregg has mustered support among New Hampshire’s congressional delegation…”
“Our own Declan Gregg in the news, again, fighting the good fight.” ~ R.T.
Declan Gregg of Children 4 Horses and R.T. Fitch of Wild Horse Freedom Federation speaking in Washington D.C. ~ photo by Terry Fitch
A horse slaughter plant in New Mexico plans to open soon, which is mobilizing animal welfare advocates to repeat calls for a federal ban on slaughterhouses and horse meat for human consumption. One of these opponents is an 11-year-old boy from Greenland, N.H.
Declan Gregg, who runs the blog Children 4 Horses, keeps tabs on the bills that are in committee on Capitol Hill. He has traveled to Washington three times to fight for the bills, and he and his mother, Stacie, plan to keep pressing the case in 2014.
“It’s not good for the horses, community or public safety,” Declan Gregg said in a phone interview Friday.
Gregg, who was the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Humane Kid of the Year in 2012, continues to fight for the SAFE Act, the Safeguard American Food Exports Act, a version of which was introduced in the U.S. House and Senate. That bill would prohibit the sale or transport of horses or horse parts in interstate or foreign commerce for human consumption.
It is a food safety issue, his mother said, because horses are not raised for slaughter and are routinely given medications that are labeled “not for animals intended for consumption.”
Declan Gregg was inspired to speak out two years ago, when he was 9 and noticed his mother was saddened by the horse slaughter issue. He soon found his voice, and encouraged other children to speak out, as well. He promoted letter campaigns to legislators and spoke before the politicians in Concord and in Washington, D.C.
Today, at 11, he is a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, likes drawing and enjoys playing basketball. And he’s a savvy advocate. His family does not own horses, but he says he is fighting for responsible horse ownership…(CONTINUED)
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