The Animal "Rights" Groups Respond!

NEWS UPDATE - 2001

U.S. Express Mail - Shipping Crisis

Webmasters note: Of course, as soon as the the poultry industry and the people who have shipped other birds safely thru the USPS had contacted their representatives with the truth (instead of the misinformation provided by the animal "rights" groups), and legislation had been introduced, the animal "rights" newsgroups went to work on the internet urging their members to write to Congress to defeat the bill. Examples of their attempts are shown below.

Message: 4 Date: Wed, 19 Sep 2001
From: Artem****@hotmail.com
Subject: Please Contact Your Senators re: S. 1397 to Prevent Certain Death of Baby Chicks

Please Contact Your Senators re: S. 1397 to Prevent Certain Death of Baby Chicks

Source: ASPCA News Alert 9/19/01

SENATE BILL 1397 EXPOSES BABY CHICKS TO CERTAIN DEATH (TWO SAMPLE LETTERS APPEAR BELOW)

Each year, hundreds of thousands of baby chicks are shipped via the United States Postal Service (USPS) as regular mail. Considered "perishables" and classified in the same category as vegetables and flowers, many of these animals are injured and killed during shipment as a result of temperature extremes, crushed and damaged enclosures, and lack of food and water. Concerned about the welfare of these animals, several major carriers have refused to continue this inhumane practice. Says ASPCA Federal Associate Counsel Mark Hodor, "The ASPCA commends Northwest, American and United Airlines for their decision not to transport baby chicks as regular airmail."

Unfortunately, USPS is unwilling to agree to a small fee increase requested by Northwest Airlines, which would ensure that baby chicks are classified as "live animals." "It is important for the USPS to recognize that shipping these animals as 'perishables' substantially increases the risk of injury and death," says Hodor. "The ASPCA urges the USPS to develop new shipping standards that will afford greater protection to baby chicks transported through the postal system."

Poultry producers and other members of the poultry industry have protested the airlines' ban, and have sought the help of Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA), who has introduced S. 1397. Should this proposed legislation pass into law, the airlines would be forced to accept baby chicks from USPS and continue to subject these animals to inhumane treatment. ASPCA News Alert readers, we need your help to stop S. 1397 in its tracks.

============================================================================= SAMPLE LETTER #1: Remember to add your name & address and fax or mail a hardcopy if possible. Please follow up with a phone call within a week. To find the names of your two Senators, go to http://www.senate.gov/senators/senator_by_state.cfm or click on the Legislative Action Center at http://www.aspca.org. ------------------------------

RE: Please OPPOSE the House Version of S. 1397 to prevent inhumane treatment and certain death of baby chicks in transport

Dear Senator:

I ask you to VOTE AGAINST S. 1397, should it come to floor vote, in order to prevent the inhumane treatment of baby chicks.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of baby chicks are shipped via the United States Postal Service (USPS) as regular mail. Considered "perishables" and classified in the same category as vegetables and flowers, many of these animals are injured and killed during shipment as a result of temperature extremes, crushed and damaged enclosures, and lack of food and water. Concerned about the welfare of these animals, several major carriers have refused to continue this inhumane practice. Says ASPCA Federal Associate Counsel Mark Hodor, "The ASPCA commends Northwest, American and United Airlines for their decision not to transport baby chicks as regular airmail."

Unfortunately, USPS is unwilling to agree to a small fee increase requested by Northwest Airlines, which would ensure that baby chicks are classified as "live animals." "It is important for the USPS to recognize that shipping these animals as 'perishables' substantially increases the risk of injury and death," says Hodor. "The ASPCA urges the USPS to develop new shipping standards that will afford greater protection to baby chicks transported through the postal system."

Poultry producers and other members of the poultry industry have protested the airlines' ban, and have sought the help of Senator Charles Grassley, who has introduced S. 1397. Should this proposed legislation reach the Senate floor, I ask you to vote AGAINST it to prevent the airlines from accepting baby chicks from USPS and continue to subject these animals to inhumane treatment.

I will call your office next week to determine your position on this important issue.

Sincerely yours,

===========================================================================

SAMPLE LETTER #2: Please also contact your one United States Representative and request that s/he OPPOSE this bill if it reaches the House of Representatives. Contact the Congressional switchboard at (202) 224-3121 or write a letter to: The Honorable (Representative's name), House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515. To find the name of your U.S. Representative, go to http://www.house.gov/writerep/ or click on the Legislative Action Center at http://www.aspca.org

------------------------------- RE: Please OPPOSE the House Version of S. 1397 to prevent inhumane treatment and certain death of baby chicks in transport

Dear Representative:

Should a comparable House version of AGAINST S. 1397 reach the House floor, I ask you to vote AGAINST IT in order to prevent the inhumane treatment of baby chicks.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of baby chicks are shipped via the United States Postal Service (USPS) as regular mail. Considered "perishables" and classified in the same category as vegetables and flowers, many of these animals are injured and killed during shipment as a result of temperature extremes, crushed and damaged enclosures, and lack of food and water. Concerned about the welfare of these animals, several major carriers have refused to continue this inhumane practice. Says ASPCA Federal Associate Counsel Mark Hodor, "The ASPCA commends Northwest, American and United Airlines for their decision not to transport baby chicks as regular airmail."

Unfortunately, USPS is unwilling to agree to a small fee increase requested by Northwest Airlines, which would ensure that baby chicks are classified as "live animals." "It is important for the USPS to recognize that shipping these animals as 'perishables' substantially increases the risk of injury and death," says Hodor. "The ASPCA urges the USPS to develop new shipping standards that will afford greater protection to baby chicks transported through the postal system."

Poultry producers and other members of the poultry industry have protested the airlines' ban, and have sought the help of Senator Charles Grassley, who has introduced S. 1397. Should a comparable House version of this proposed legislation be introduced, I ask you to vote AGAINST it to prevent the airlines from accepting baby chicks from USPS and continue to subject these animals to inhumane treatment.

Sincerely yours,

NFSS Home Page | Who We Are | News | Articles | Bulletin | Bulletin Index | FinchSave | Classifieds | Legislation | Board of Directors- Meetings | Educational Outreach | Links | Showing | Judges | Shows- Events | Finch Shop | NFSS Bands | Affiliated Clubs