WASHINGTON, Jan. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- The decision by the U.S. Fifth
 Circuit Court of Appeals comes as a complete surprise, because the lower
 court had rendered a well reasoned decision based on the merits of the
 case. This decision is subject to further review by the entire Fifth
 Circuit as a whole, or even review by the United States Supreme Court. This
 case is not over, and Beltex and Dallas Crown will be reviewing their
 options with counsel.
     The National Association of Counties, and the largest veterinary
 organizations (American Veterinary Medicine Association and American
 Association of Equine Practitioners) agree with over 200 other
 organizations that not only is the practice used by the plants humane, but
 it's significantly better than the alternative, because there is no plan of
 any kind to address what will happen with these unwanted horses.
     "Those who want these plants to shut down should be careful what they
 wish for," said Charlie Stenholm, former Member of Congress (D-Tex.) and
 spokesman for the plants. "If these plants shuts down tomorrow, the
 nation's patchwork of horse rescue facilities would be overwhelmed. They
 can barely manage to care for the approximately 6,000 horses already in the
 system. Adding an additional 90,000 horses every year will not result in
 humane treatment for horses, and we suspect the people fundraising on this
 issue know that. They have no solution."
     The decision Friday does not mean the immediate shut down of the Texas
 plants, nor does it mean a loss of jobs. After the plants and counsel have
 the opportunity to review the decision in detail, a further announcement
 will be made.
 
 

SOURCE www.commonhorsesense.com