Friday, December 31, 2010

Horse Slaughter Proponents attack Rose Parade Mustang Float

Straight from the Horse's Heart

“Slaughterhouse” Sue Wallis and Dave Duquette Sink Even Lower

Float Scares "Slaughterhouse" Sue Wallis and Dave "Doink" Duquette

Chicago (EWA) – Sue Wallis, Executive Director of United Organizations of the Horse (UOH) and organizer of an upcoming meeting of horse slaughter proponents in Las Vegas has launched an eleventh hour attack on not just horses, but floats showing horses.

Wallis, in a letter posted on her summit blog, announced a press release from an obscure member group called the National Tribal Horse Coalition. The organization, originally the Northwest Tribal Horse Coalition, was renamed when it joined UOH in May of 2009. The press release claims the float “is an abuse of the reputation of the North American Indian” because a Native American is included on the float looking over the mustangs.

The float, sponsored by Madeleine Pickens, mustang advocate and wife of oil billionaire T. Boone Pickens, depicts the beauty of these American icons. Wallis, who believes mustangs are feral pests, has long advocated their slaughter.

The bizarre attack comes in the wake of an ethics complaint filed against Wallis by Wyoming resident Patricia Fazio, PhD. The complaint alleges Wallis has improperly used her position as a Wyoming state legislator and violated securities regulations by advertising an “investment opportunity” in a non-existent company. And there have been other revelations about Wallis’ dealings.

Temple Grandin, who gained fame as the designer of more humane methods of cattle slaughter, was being touted by Wallis as the designer of a horse slaughter plant in Wyoming. The plant was to be operated by the nonexistent company Unified Equine (a corporate shell has since been created).

This week Dr. Grandin informed Equine Welfare Alliance (EWA) that she has demanded Wallis quit using her name, and that she had designed no such plant. Other revelations about the Wallis horse slaughter summit have continued to surface, including the fact that several of the prominent organizations listed as sponsors were not.

EWA President John Holland said in a statement about the attack “I cannot imagine Wallis thinking this is a good idea. Sometimes people lose perspective, like when she announced a boycott of Willie Nelson and other celebrities because of their support for equine welfare.”

This latest attack appears to be equally feckless. Pasadena Rose Parade officials were contacted for comment but only provide official statements for the sponsors. They did indicate they were unaware of any issues surrounding Ms. Pickens’ float and that the parade would be held as planned.

Madeleine Pickens could not be reached for comment.

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