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Darby Holladay (301) 734-3265 USDA OFFICIALS TO HOLD HORSE PROTECTION LISTENING SESSION WASHINGTON, April 7, 2006–The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will hold a public listening session on April 19 in Dallas, Texas, to accept public comments on the enforcement of the Horse Protection Act (HPA) and disseminate information on current animal care horse protection initiatives. In addition, this meeting will provide an opportunity for industry members and other interested parties to provide suggestions for the 2007 Horse Protection Act Operating Plan. The listening session will be at the Sterling Hotel Dallas, 1055 Regal Row, Dallas, Texas 75247. Registration will be held on site and begin at 12:30 p.m. The listening session will begin at 1 p.m. and conclude at 5 p.m. local time. APHIS’ animal care program is responsible for enforcing and regulating the HPA. The HPA is a federal law that prohibits horses that have been subjected to a practice called soring from participating in auctions, exhibitions, sales or shows. The HPA also prohibits drivers from transporting sored horses to or from any of these events. Soring is a cruel and inhumane practice used to accentuate a horse’s gait. Soring may be accomplished by irritating or blistering a horse’s forelegs through the injection or application of chemicals, mechanical devices, cuts, lacerations or burns. The listening session provides a venue to interact with APHIS representatives. APHIS will use the information contributed in combination with scientific information and previous public comment as part of an indepth analysis of the horse protection program. For more information on APHIS’ horse protection program, please visit http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ac/hpainfo.html. # Note to Reporters: USDA news releases, program announcements and media advisories are available on the Internet. Go to the APHIS news release page at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/newsroom/. Also, anyone with an e-mail address can sign up to receive APHIS press releases automatically. Send an e-mail message to lyris@mdrdlyriss10.aphis.usda.gov
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