From: Alison Gollup [agollup@kellersupply.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2001 7:12 PM
To: FDADockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: Farm Sanctuary Petition - Docket #98P-0151/CP1


U. S. Food and Drug Administration
Dockets Management Branch 
5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061
Rockville, MD 20852
Fax: (301-827-6870

Senator Maria Cantwell
915 2nd Avenue
Seattle, WA 98174-1009

Senator Patty Murray
2988 Jackson Federal Building
915 2nd Avenue
Seattle, WA 98174-1009

March 20, 2001

Dear U.S. Food and Drug Administration Representative, and Senators Cantwell
and Murray:

I am writing to express my support of the petition filed by The Farm
Sanctuary that would prohibit the slaughter of "downed" animals.  The term
"downed" was coined by the workers who shackle, hoist, and drag animals too
weak and sick to stand up or move under their own strength.  So
slaughterhouse workers commonly use tractors and forklifts to drag these
agonizing animals to the slaughterhouse.  These helpless animals suffer
infinitely and needlessly from this archaic, inhumane and utterly
unacceptable mistreatment.  In addition, these slaughterhouse employees are
posing an increased risk of bacterial contamination, as there is evidence
that some of these downed animals may be afflicted with a form of Bovine
Spongiform Encephalopathy, or "mad cow disease", a disease that has been
linked to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a fatal human illness.  

I am certain, that if you take a moment to think of the pain and suffering
that these sick and dying animals are enduring, and the risk that this
cruelty is posing to humans, that your human compassion and empathy will
move you as it has moved me.

Thank you for your time, compassion, and consideration in this matter.  I
look forward to any response you might have to help me understand how you
can not support this petition (docket number: 98P-0150/CP1).

Respectfully,

Alison Gollup
11749 Greenwood Avenue North, #103
Seattle, WA 98133
(206) 440-9145
alisongollup@hotmail.com