Seacoast Boy Who Fought for Horses Named ASPCA's Kid of the Year

Seacoast boy who fought for horses named ASPCA's Kid of the Year


Declan Gregg of Greenland pets Barney on an afternoon in February this year at the N.H. SPCA in Stratham. Gregg testified against horse slaughter this year before lawmakers in Washington, D.C.Ioanna Raptis/iraptis@seacoastonline.com

By Joey Cresta as posted on Seacoastonline.com
jcresta@seacoastonline.com
October 23, 2012 2:00 AM

GREENLAND — A 10-year-old local boy has been named winner of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' Kid of the Year award for his efforts to fight horse slaughter in the United States.

Declan Gregg, of Greenland, who enjoys spending time with the horses at the N.H. SPCA office in Stratham, and who learned about horse slaughter earlier this year, has spent the better part of 2012 pushing lawmakers in Washington, D.C., to do something about the practice.

Horse slaughter is a controversial topic in the United States, with opponents saying the process is cruel toward horses and that the meat is not fit for human consumption. Though horse meat is not commonly consumed in this country, it is considered a delicacy in other parts of the world.

In response to the controversy, Gregg started a Web site, www.children4horses.blogspot.com, and began speaking with lawmakers about why he felt horse slaughter was wrong. He testified before the N.H. House Environment and Agriculture Committee and traveled to Washington to present letters to Congress as part of the Million Horse March children's letter-writing campaign to stop horse slaughter.

The ASPCA noted in its award announcement that Gregg's efforts garnered the support of Congressman Frank Guinta, R-N.H., who has co-sponsored the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.

"Declan spoke before celebrities, Congressmen and Senators to lobby against horse slaughter and advocate for the protection of horses under the Act. His blog, which has been visited by individuals in more than 80 countries, provides commentary on horse advocacy issues and also includes poetry, news, photos and artwork," the ASPCA noted.

The ASPCA's Kid of the Year award is dedicated to Tommy P. Monahan, a 9-year-old Staten Island, N.Y., boy who died in 2007 trying to save his dog from a house fire.

In total, the ASPCA gives out seven awards, including dog and cat of the year, as part of its annual Humane Awards. They will all be honored at a luncheon in New York City on Thursday, Nov. 8.

On his blog, Gregg expressed his appreciation to the ASPCA for the award.

"I am so honored to have been chosen to receive this year's ASPCA's Humane Kid of the Year Award," he wrote. "I can't wait to go to New York City to meet all the other wonderful award recipients and thank all the people who have supported me at the ASPCA."