trueCOWBOYmagazine Lela Reynolds 2014 | Page 46

13A tCm: Another volatile issue has raised its ugly head recently and that is the one of slaughtering horses for human consumption and opening up slaughter houses for that purpose here in the USA. Who’s idea is this one and what drives that evil? RT: This is such a misguided concept. Three stateside slaughter houses were shut down in 2007 when the USDA inspection funding budget was defunded. All three were own by foreign interests. They did make money for the communities or the local people. They were only making money for mercenaries in our political and private sectors. Horses are not recognized by the USDA as “food” animals. The wormers, and pain killers we use on our domestics are not for human consumption and could be carcinogenic. Not to mention the fact that horses are, and have always been, companion animals. This slaughter campaign is spearheaded by Wyoming Representative, Sue Wallis. Needless to say I’ve had a few run ins with her. Imagine that! 14A tCm: Do you ever wonder what is wrong with people? RT: Definitely, without a doubt. A lot of what goes on with the treatment of animals, and people, does not compute in my mind. An animal as a piece of property doesn’t compute. Whenever Terry and I adopt horses they become members of our family. I do wonder where are people coming from that many times I am embarrassed to be a human being. I really want to stress that…I am embarrassed. I apologize to all the animals for the cruelty we humans have inflicted on them. If this planet were a living cell, it would be diagnosed with a volatile, contagious virus called “humans”. 15A tCm: Why do you think we have to fight our own government for our personal and constitutional freedoms and those of the living creatures in the USA? RT: Because, I believe, the level of corruption is so high, the government, as a whole, has a lot to hide from the public and keep us in the dark intentionally. Without transparency into their actions, there can be no resolve to the problems perpetuated by them. go to page 60