20080521 Westminster Eagle: Letters to the editor in response to my May 14th 2008 Westminster Eagle column – “Pictures are worth a thousand words, but

Westminster Eagle: Letters to the editor in response to my May 14^th 2008 Westminster Eagle column – “Pictures are worth a thousand words, but not the whole picture”

Find my May 14^th, 2008 Westminster Eagle column here: Pictures are worth a thousand words, but not the whole picture

Or here: 20080515 Westminster Eagle: Pictures are worth a thousand words but not the whole picture by Kevin Dayhoff

Westminster Eagle Letters 05/21/08

http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?show=localnews&pnpID=978&NewsID=903777&CategoryID=17346&on=1

Humane Society right to stand for cow that couldn't

I take offense at the tone of Kevin Dayhoff's column on the Westminster Livestock auction in the May 14 edition of The Eagle ("Pictures are worth a thousand words, but not the whole picture").

It was both snide and sarcastic as he described the reported inhumane treatment of a sick cow left outside the auction house overnight without food or water.

While I was not there -- nor was he -- I've been to enough livestock auctions in Maryland and Pennsylvania to know that poor or substandard treatment does indeed occur.

I'm glad the Humane Society takes an interest in monitoring these establishments, which, after all, are in the business of making money off these animals.

Mr. Dayhoff's column conveys the attitude that these "events" were misrepresented by the Humane Society and perhaps, were something of a witch hunt. I can't speak to that, but I feel these animals deserve humane, compassionate treatment while they are in our care -- even if they are eventually destined for our dinner table.

Michele Gramens

Westminster

Humane society found wrongdoing in Westminster

In response to The Humane Society of the United States' investigation into the treatment of dairy cows at livestock auctions in four states, including the Westminster Livestock Auction, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer stated:

"The dairy cattle shown in the video were non-ambulatory and were abandoned in parking lots of these auctions and yards. These animals were not in slaughter facilities. However, even though this is not a food safety issue, these actions of animal cruelty are not acceptable."

Secretary Schafer was spot on -- these animals, including the cow at Westminster, were abandoned in helpless and painful conditions by farmers, haulers and auction employees who should have known better.

Maryland law requires market operators to euthanize downed farm animals who are too sick or injured to stand or walk, or place them in the care of a licensed veterinarian at the close of a sale. Westminster appears to have failed to abide by the law, and left the cow to suffer through the night.

The HSUS contacted the Humane Society of Carroll County, whose officer found the cow in such dire straits that he euthanized her and issued a citation to the cow's owner. These are the sad facts of a case now being investigated by the Maryland Department of Agriculture.

It is time for auction owners to treat animals humanely, and to act accordingly, both in terms of ethics and the law.

Miyun Park, vice president Farm Animal Welfare

Humane Society of the United States

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20080521 Westminster Eagle: Letters to the editor in response to my May 14^th 2008 Westminster Eagle column – “Pictures are worth a thousand words, but not the whole picture”