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Subject: DOWNED ANIMALS

     PLEASE GRANT THE PETITION TO PROHIBIT THE SLAUGHTER OF DOWNED ANIMALS 
DOCKET NUMBER 98 O151/CP1. 
     THESE ANIMALS WHO ARE TOO SICK OR INJURED EVEN TO STAND SHOULD NOT BE 
ALLOWED TO ENTER THE FOOD CHAIN.
      IN ADDITION TO POSING AN INCREASED RISK FOR BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION, 
THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT SOME DOWNED ANIMALS MAY BE AFFLICTED WITH A FORM OF 
BSE(BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPHY OR MAD COW DISEASE), A DISEASE LINKED TO A 
FATAL HUMAN ILLNESS.
      IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE DOWNED ANIMALS HUMANELY, AND THEY ARE PUSHED 
WITH TRACTORS OR DRAGGED WITH CHAINS,,INHUMANE PROCESS WHICH CAUSES INJURIES 
RANGING FROM BRUISES AND ABRASIONS, TO BROKEN BONES AND TORN LIGAMENTS.
     DOWNED ANIMALS COMPRISE A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF ANIMALS SLAUGHTERED, 
AND PROHIBITING THEIR MARKETING WILL CAUSE NO UNDUE ECONOMIC HARDSHIP.
      INDUSTRY EXPERTS HAVE ESTIMATED THAT 90 % PERCENT OF DOWNED ANIMALS CAN 
BE PREVENTED WITH BETTER CARE AND HANDLING. rEMOVING THE MARKET FOR DOWNED 
ANIMALS WILL PROVIDE AN INCENTIVE TO INDUSTRY TO PREVENT DOWNED ANIMALS IN 
THE FIRST PLACE.
     THANKYOU,
      SINCERELY,
       DIANE DICRISTO