The purpose of this petition is to allow the horse owning and non-horse owning public to voice their concern over the growing problem of starvation and neglect cases that are on the rise due to lack of options to dispose of unwanted horses. Since there is no operating Slaughter facilities in the U.S., the horse market has declined dramatically in that horses have lost their salvage value. If that isnt enough, thousands of horses are now being trucked out of the country to Mexico and Canada, to be processed. This has done nothing but prolong the suffering of these animals, extended periods of time spent on trucks with no water, food or rest. In these tough economic times, people are losing their jobs, their homes and many are faced with tough decisions. Their horses will only be an after thought. There are news reports coming in daily of abandoned animals left to fend for themselves from all over the country. This is no joke, this is by far a worse fate than being sent to slaughter where they will be utilized and processed humanely. Many people will not spend several hundred dollars to euthanise their horse, but instead, will abandon or turn the animal loose. We feel that there is indeed an enormous need for humane slaughter as a safety valve for people who have no other choice. We also feel that there is a great need for legislation in the humane transport of all animals destined for slaughter. WE URGE YOU TO OPPOSE ANY LEGISLATION TO RESTRICT THE HUMANE SLAUGHTER AND TRANSPORT OF HORSES IN THE U.S.