Kasey’s Cure

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US House Resolution 503 would do just that — end both the slaughter of American horses for human consumption and prohibit their export for slaughter in other countries. This bill passed a crucial Senate committee on April 25, 2007 but now it goes to the US House of Representatives where its future is less certain.

TAKE ACTION
Check to see if your U.S. Representative is already a cosponsor of H.R. 503 and if your two U.S. Senators are co-sponsors of S. 311. If so, please call and thank them. If not, please call them today to urge them to co-sponsor the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. You can reach your federal legislators by calling the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121

As you know, Kasey’s Cure has rescued a number of farm animals over the years — including 3 horses, 1 donkey, 10 chickens, 2 geese, 10 rabbits and 6 goats. Mostly of them came to us because either their former owners no longer had use for them or like the Perdue chickens they fell off a truck en route to slaughter.

I am not advocating that you turn your backyard into a sanctuary or become a vegan, but there are ways that you can limit the inhumane treatment and conditions that many farm animals face. Here are just a few easy suggestions:

1. LET MONEY TALK
As a consumer, you have a great source of power in your back pocket—your wallet. You can choose to buy foods that come from small farms where animals are raised in humane conditions. Buy foods with the Certified Humane Raised & Handled® label. Just about all of the meat that you find at Whole Foods is from animals raised in humane conditions. But still ask….

2. FIND OUT WHERE YOUR FOOD COMES FROM
Ask questions! Find out whether the products you buy come from a farm that uses intensive confinement practices, or a farm that allows the animals access to fresh air, exercise and good quality food. Always read labels. Does the product contain artificial growth hormones or genetically engineered ingredients?

3. EAT LOCALLY, THINK GLOBALLY
Support your local food suppliers. You can do this by joining a food co-op, buying food at green markets or farmer’s markets. There are a number of new recipe books that focus on local. fresh ingredients. Check out Amazon.com for more information.

4. GROW YOUR OWN GARDEN
Planting, growing and harvesting vegetables is an amazing experience. Because of the drought this year, my garden needed a lot of watering and the numbers of vegetables harvested was unimpressive. But gardening can instill a new knowledge and respect for the process of harvesting food. You don’t need a large plot of land — you can grow your own herbs in a few pots with soil in a sunny place.

5. THROW YOUR VIRTUAL WEIGHT AROUND
Have a website, MySpace page or blog? Get everyone you know on the Web to be conscious about what they’re eating. Let them know they have a choice to buy foods―without antibiotics or hormones―from farms that raise healthy animals in a humane environment.

Welcome Chase!

I am looking for a sponsor for Chase – our latest rescue at Kasey’s Cure. Recently adopted from the Talbot County Humane Society, Chase is now living happily in our barn keeping the field mice at bay and the horses entertained. He jumps between hay stacks and hides in an old crate in the rafters. He has a few skin problems that will need regular vet care, but other than that he is healthy and playful.

Anyone interested in sponsoring Chase for a few months should contact me directly for a sponsorship form — kaseyscure@aol.com. In return, I will send you photos and regular updates as Chase guards the barn and harasses Sugar and Duke.

Thank you.

Before you buy your next Frosty, ask why Wendy’s is lagging behind Burger King in moving away from eggs produced by caged hens.

U.S. factory farms confine nearly 300 million hens in cages that are so small the birds can’t even spread their wings. Each bird has less space than a single sheet of paper on which to live. Yes, a single sheet of paper.

Grocery chains like Whole Foods Market and Wild Oats Natural Marketplace have stopped selling cage eggs altogether.

Chef Wolfgang Puck is ending the use of cage eggs.

AOL and Google have ended the use of cage eggs in their employee cafeterias.

And local municipalities in Maryland, California and Florida have publicly condemned battery cages.

Cage-free hens generally have 250-300 percent more space per bird and are able to engage in more of their natural behaviors than are caged hens. While cage free hens may not be able to go outside, they are able to walk, spread their wings, and lay their eggs in nests.

So what is going on at Wendy’s? Let’s find out…

Call 1-800-443-7266, ext. 2032 and tell them to get off their perches and encourage them to buy only cage free eggs.