From: Stripes268@aol.com
Sent: Thursday, March 08, 2001 11:46 PM
To: FDADockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: I would like to bring this to your attention....

To the U.S. Food and Drug Administration,
    Hello, my name is Angela Florio.  I am writing to you because I want to 
inform you of an issue that I believe should be handled immediately:

    Due to the horrendous conditions on factory farms, many animals become 
too weak and sick to stand up or move under their own strength. These 
“downed” animals are shackled, hoisted, and dragged by the leg or neck or 
pushed by tractors and forklifts to the slaughterhouse. The helpless animals 
suffer broken bones, torn tendons, and lacerations from this inhumane 
handling. Studies reveal that most downed animals are fully conscious and 
suffer intensely during the process. All this, so that companies can make a 
few extra dollars.

    In addition to posing an increased risk of 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 that has 
been linked to a fatal human illness (CJD or Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease). 

    I am in definite support of a petition that would be filed by the Farm 
Sanctuary which would prohibit the slaughter of downed animals.  I hope that 
you will take this letter seriously for I strongly believe it is no small 
matter to ignore.  Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
Angela D. Florio