President’s Message:
Pledge Not to Support Horse Racing
The school year has come to a close, and as a teacher, there is now time to reflect on what children are really learning. Sadly, it rarely involves humane education.
Unfortunately, that transfers to the real world. It is astonishing to realize how many people do not see through the “glamorous” facade of horse racing and continue to support what is incredible animal abuse, yet are enraged when dogs or cats are involved in cruelty situations. How can we make them more aware?
In addition to all our other activities, NYSHA is focused on equine education. Board members recently attended the Equine Summit where a coalition of nationally known equine advocates spoke. We have supported and facilitated horse and donkey rescues both as an organization and as individuals. One of our Board members, Patrick Battuello, writes a blog for the Times Union newspaper in Albany entitled “Horse Racing Wrongs,” in which he heartbreakingly reports on the daily tragedies at race tracks across the country. Our billboard, approaching the Capitol in Albany, about horse slaughter is seen daily by thousands.
When I personally speak to people about these issues, or when friends or Boy Scout troops visit my rescued donkeys, and I explain that they could easily have become burgers in another country, they are astounded and sickened. Next year I am hoping to do a school-wide project to sponsor a rescued horse at a local equine facility.
Once anyone with a heart or a conscience becomes aware of the massive and system-wide cruelty in the horse breeding industry, for racing or commercial purposes, it is impossible to turn away and do nothing.
Please, take the pledge on our website to not support horse racing in any form and whenever you have the opportunity, let others know the truth.
As always, for the animals,
Laura-Ann Cammisa
President NYSHA
New York State Humane Association Humane Review, Vol. XXVIII No. 1, Spring/Summer 2014.