From: MasinLaw@aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, March 07, 2001 3:10 PM
To: FDADockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: DOCKET # 98P-0151/CP1

U.S. Food & Drug Administration
Dockets Management Branch

RE:  Petition to Prohibit Slaughter of Downed Animals

I am writing to urge support of the Petition Docket #98P-0151/CP 1
to prohibit the slaughter of "downed animals".

There is no humane way to move a downed animal.  They are most often dragged 
with chains, forklifted, prodded....causing more suffering and further 
painful injuries!

Downed animals comprise a small percentage of animals slaughtered, so 
outlawing their marketing would cause no undue economic hardship.  In fact, 
if the market for these animals were removed, perhaps it would encourage 
better treatment and handling of the animals, and thus prevent "downers" in 
the first place!

Animals too sick to stand should not enter the human food chain....some cows 
may even be afflicted with "Mad Cow Disease".  There is a growing consensus 
for such a prohibition, even among livestock industry and government 
officials.

Please support the petition to prohibit the slaughter of downed animals!

Sincerely,
Gabrielle Daughtry
Laguna Beach, California