----- Original Message -----
From: Lifeforce
To: dnvcouncil@dnv.org ; walkerc@dnv.org
Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2008 11:16 AM
Subject: Ammending the Animal Performance Bylaw

To: DVN Council, Laughing Stock Ranch, Animal Advocates
From: Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce
Re: Laughing Stock Ranch Letter

Laughing Stock Ranch's letter to your Council and Animal Advocates shows that she didn't get the point of our letter. I was talking about the Pony Ride Business or Industry that can result in abuses such as ponies and horses being slaughter. I said she took horses to an auction where most of the animals are are sold for slaughter. There are basic Auction prices and animals are not always sold by-the-pound. Another Lower Mainland auction advertizes "Good Slaughter horses $10-25". In her letter she did agreed that ponies are sold for slaughter and maybe her animals "unknowingly" have been.

On March 30, 2008 I photographed Laughing Stock Ranch at the Fraser Valley Auction (FVA). They took three horses to the auction on that day so I don't why she claims "On occasion I take a horse...." She states that "rarely" she takes a pony - so she has taken ponies too. She admits to having unwanted ponies as the ones that are hard to train and not suitable for pony rides (these ones would not be on any buyers waiting list as easy to ride ones). Part of the Pony Ride Businesses' secrets is that there can be forced training (whippings and kicking) before being deemed not suitable/not being able to break them. These excess ponies are sold for food slaughter..

At auctions some animals are sold as pets but most of them for food slaughter. At the FVA Horse Sales there are "equestrians", rodeo stockmen, slaughter buyers and others. There is no guarantee that the buyer will not slaughter them for food - immediately or at a later time. She states that her animals are "never knowingly sold for meat" and ponies do not "generally go for meat" . So she admits that they could have ended up being slaughtered and that ponies are sold for meat. While if the seller takes an animal to auction the seller is aware of the horse meat trade. People who I talk to at the auction said that they knew it. If you want to save and protect animals that have made money for you don't repay them by supporting and giving money to an auction business that does sell horses, ponies and other animals for food slaughter.

I said that another pony ride business had a pregnant pony, that food and water is often withheld during the work so they don't urinate and leave manure and that ponies must work on pavement. I said that this was part of the animal abuse of the industry in general. The Laughing Stock Ranch ponies were worked on pavement in the tennis court at Blueridge Days. Withholding of food is supported by Cynthia who writes that hay is only provided "when we drive".

It is time to end the exploitation of animals to make money for people. We must stop the cycle of abuse by stopping the Pony Ride Industry. I hope this this Council will act ethically and amend of the Animal Performance Bylaw. I look forward to your response.

Peter Hamilton
Founder, Lifeforce Foundation
Vancouver, BC
lifeforcesociety@hotmail.com
www.lifeforcefoundation.org