From: ricksonml@aol.com
Sent: Friday, February 09, 2001 8:34 AM
To: FDADockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: Downed animals!!

U.S. Food and Drug Administration 
Dockets Management Branch 
5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061 
Rockville, MD  20852 
FAX: 301-827-6870 
E-mail: FDADockets@oc.fda.gov 



    Re: DOCKET NUMBER 98P-0151/CP1 
    



To The FDA: 

I urge you to grant Petition 98P-0151/CP1 to prohibit the inhumane treatment 
of downed (already suffering and sick) animals for the following reasons: 



    1.  Animals too sick or injured even to stand should not be allowed to 
    enter the human 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 Encephalopathy or "Mad Cow 
    Disease"), a disease which has been linked to a fatal human illness (CJD or 
    Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease). 
    
    2.  It is impossible to move downed animals humanely, and they are 
    typically 
    pushed with tractors or dragged with chains - inhumane processes which 
    cause 
    injuries ranging from bruises and abrasions, to broken bones and torn 
    ligaments.  This is an outrage. 
    
    3.  Downed animals comprise a very small percentage of animals slaughtered, 
    and prohibiting their marketing will cause no undue economic hardship. 
    
    4. 90% percent of downed animals can be prevented with better care and 
    handling according to industry experts. Removing the market for downed 
    animals will provide an incentive to industry to prevent downed animals in 
    the first place. 
    
    


This common-sense measure requires that animals who are too sick to stand 
("downed animals") be humanely euthanized at stockyards.  It's only human. 

Thank you for your consideration. 

Sincerely, 
Michelle L. Rickson 

AnimalVoices 
We Speak For Critters Who Can't 
#10 5th Street 
Scotia, NY 12302 
ricksonml@aol.com