Greenland boy back in D.C. speaking out against horse slaughtering
By LAURENNE RAMSDELL
lramsdell@fosters.com |
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
|
GREENLAND — Nine-year-old Declan Gregg will take his efforts to end the brutal treatment of horses back to the nation's Capitol today, joining forces with the "Horses on the Hill" campaign and Congressman Frank Guinta to bring an end to the horse slaughtering.
This week's venture to Washington, D.C., comes only a month after Declan's first trip to the Capitol, where he spoke to Congress about the U.S. slaughtering industry and its inhumane treatment of horses.
The 9-year-old's interest in horses grew dramatically after finding out the methods used to slaughter horses. After studying both sides of the slaughtering industry, reading information that both promoted and opposed the killing of such animals, Declan said he wanted to do all he could to help save horses from such a fate.
Declan created a blog,www.children4horses.blogspot.com, to provide readers with links to various horse related websites and information about legislation related to the meat packaging industry.
After being made aware of a bill going through the state Legislature that would exclude horse meat from inspection, processing and sales, Declan testified for the cause he is so passionate about before a packed house at the state's capitol in Concord.
The 9-year-old's efforts to voice his concern over the inhumane treatment of horses did not end there, however, as he then went to Washington, D.C., to address the U.S. Congress.
Joining forces with representatives of the Million Horse March, Declan presented Congressman Frank Guinta with more than 200 letters he had collected from children detailing why protecting horses is so important to them.
Moved by Declan's drive to lobby for what he believes in, the congressman has decided to co-sponsor a bill known as H.R. 2966 or the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.
According to Declan's mother, Stacie Gregg, Guinta called her son last week to tell him that his advocacy for horses inspired him to take a stand on the inhumane treatment of horses.
Gregg said the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has invited Declan back to D.C. to continue lobbying against horse slaughter along with representatives of the "Horses on the Hill" campaign. Once there, Declan will also team up with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), who are participating in the "Horses on the Hill" lobbying event.
While lobbying with the "Horses on the Hill" campaign, Declan will have the opportunity to meet with an array of legislators to speak about the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.
"I think it will be good for him as an advocate to learn the ropes about how lobbying works," said Gregg.
Eager to reunite with Guinta, Declan will meet with the congressman today so he can thank him for his co-sponsorship and talk about the ways they can work together to address horse brutality.
This week's venture to Washington, D.C., comes only a month after Declan's first trip to the Capitol, where he spoke to Congress about the U.S. slaughtering industry and its inhumane treatment of horses.
The 9-year-old's interest in horses grew dramatically after finding out the methods used to slaughter horses. After studying both sides of the slaughtering industry, reading information that both promoted and opposed the killing of such animals, Declan said he wanted to do all he could to help save horses from such a fate.
Declan created a blog,www.children4horses.blogspot.com, to provide readers with links to various horse related websites and information about legislation related to the meat packaging industry.
After being made aware of a bill going through the state Legislature that would exclude horse meat from inspection, processing and sales, Declan testified for the cause he is so passionate about before a packed house at the state's capitol in Concord.
The 9-year-old's efforts to voice his concern over the inhumane treatment of horses did not end there, however, as he then went to Washington, D.C., to address the U.S. Congress.
Joining forces with representatives of the Million Horse March, Declan presented Congressman Frank Guinta with more than 200 letters he had collected from children detailing why protecting horses is so important to them.
Moved by Declan's drive to lobby for what he believes in, the congressman has decided to co-sponsor a bill known as H.R. 2966 or the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.
According to Declan's mother, Stacie Gregg, Guinta called her son last week to tell him that his advocacy for horses inspired him to take a stand on the inhumane treatment of horses.
Gregg said the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has invited Declan back to D.C. to continue lobbying against horse slaughter along with representatives of the "Horses on the Hill" campaign. Once there, Declan will also team up with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), who are participating in the "Horses on the Hill" lobbying event.
While lobbying with the "Horses on the Hill" campaign, Declan will have the opportunity to meet with an array of legislators to speak about the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.
"I think it will be good for him as an advocate to learn the ropes about how lobbying works," said Gregg.
Eager to reunite with Guinta, Declan will meet with the congressman today so he can thank him for his co-sponsorship and talk about the ways they can work together to address horse brutality.
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