In Thursday’s Northern Star, the staff editorial titled “Pritchard will stand ground in Springfield” was not accurate, specifically the paragraph that refers to State Rep. Bob Pritchard’s stance on horse slaughter. Clearly, Pritchard did not represent the views of the people of our district in May, when he voted to support the reopening of the Cavel International horse slaughtering plant. Hundreds of DeKalb County residents signed petitions stating their opposition to this gruesome business, and yet Pritchard chose to ignore us. Pritchard is among the minority of what Americans want for horses. Yet he wants to represent our interests because he feels he knows what is best based on his “experience as a farmer.” In actuality, being a food animal farmer does not mean that he knows anything about what is best for horses.

It is a fact that a working horse is worth much more to the U.S. economy than a dead horse served as a one-tome meal. In fact, according to the American Horse Council statistics, the horse industry contributes more than $112 billion annually to the U.S. gross domestic product. It is also a fact that the U.S. does not make any revenue off of horse slaughtering. Gail Vacca, Illinois coordinator for the National Horse Protection Coalition, said: “The U.S. receives no revenue from the sale of horsemeat. The costs of the slaughter plants are realized in the United States, and the profits on the sales are realized overseas, which effectively negates any income tax being collected from the plants. Also, there is no export tax paid by the plants on the horsemeat.” I don’t feel that any voter who is educated on the horse-slaughter issue could pick a candidate like Pritchard. By doing this, you would be supporting the belief that it is humane for horses to be transported to slaughter on a double-decker truck. These trucks are designed for pigs and cattle, not horses. There is no room for a horse to stand up in a truck such as this, and many times, a horse will arrive at the slaughter plant seriously injured as a result of this cruel method of transport. On the journey, the horses are not required to have rest, food, water or any consideration. By supporting Cavel, Pritchard supports this cruelty.

The overwhelming majority of U.S. citizens, as evidenced by polls, do not want to see our beloved horses end up on a plate in some fancy European restaurant. Horses mean much to our culture. In our country, horses are used for many things, such as work, sport and recreation. And to many, they are simply pets or companions. What horses are not used for in America is food!

Americans do not support the practice of sending their dogs and cats to be slaughtered for consumption in countries where this is acceptable, and we do not support this cruel practice for our horses. Is this something you feel in your heart is right? Please have some compassion. A candidate who supports animal cruelty will never get my vote, and I am appalled the Star would suggest we give people like Pritchard our support.

Gwen Dodt

Senior, psychology

President, National Student Horse Protection Coalition