About two years ago I became involved in an online chat group for Another Chance 4 Horses rescue. Through the conversations on the group I learned many things, many depressing and upsetting things. I learned about how using a cattle method to slaughter horses was inhuman, how horrible accidents happened in double decker trailers and the injuries that occur when shipping a horse in a double decker.
I learned how politics worked and how lobbyists were paid to work. I learned how horses that were children's pets, racehorses, work horses, show horses were sold for a few dollars to be brutally slaughtered. I learned how bad for the environment the slaughter plants were. It just didn't seem right to me. During this time I adopted a horse that was slated for slaughter. She came to me so scared and skinny but in time began to trust. I had to do my part to stop this from happening to other horsese like her. So I decided to start writing letters to my state representatives. I got other people involved and they wrote letters. Eventually we were successfull and the last horse slaughterhouse in the US was finally shut down in August 2007!
In 2008, I focused more on getting another bill passed that would prevent American horses from shipping to Canada and Mexico for slaughter. I stopped keeping abreast of what was happing in the legislative world in the states. I was very narrow minded and all I knew was there was a secret hold placed on the bill by Senator Larry Craig and that the agenda was to GET THAT BILL PASSED! With 2008, there was also promise of a new President and with it came new Hope.
Sadly, the economy was getting worse and worse. My husband lost his job in November of 2008 and with the loss of the extra income, I became depressed. With the depression came feeling of hopelessness. I started feeling insignificant and powerless. I didn't send one letter or email for 3 mos. What was the point?
Then I heard the news. Due to the state of the economy, pro-slaughter advocates in 7 states were able to get bills written to explore the feasibility of horse slaughter in their states. I was blind-sided and had no idea any such discussions had been taking place. Had I kept abreast with the news and information portals then maybe I could have at least done something to help.
I decided some good had to come of this. I dedicated more of my time to helping. I contacted magazines and was able to get free ad space and booths for the horse rescue. I wrote a letter to the editor about the slaughter bills and it was published. I became a board member for SaveDaHorses.org and created flyers to educate the public. I became involved with the Top Ten Rescues, a group dedicated to raising funds for rescues, those on the frontlines working for animals. I learned there will always be peaks and valleys and just because things look dismal, doesn't mean that some positive can't come from it.