So the Senate is back in session, and that means we need to ratchet up the calls to save our horses!!!

The Senate only has a few more days to wake up and pass S. 1915, the "American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act." If we cannot get them to act before the end of session (which should be sometime this weekend), this bill will permanently die and we will have to start the long, hard process all over again next year. We cannot let this happen!

Many groups joined together for another national call-in day to save the horses on December 5. I urge you to contact your senators today and any other time you have a chance over the next few days to remind them that you are still waiting for a vote on this critical bill. You can find contact info for your senators here.

And did you know that studies have shown it only takes 7 personalized, respectful letters to get an issue on a legislator's radar? If you have a chance, please take a moment to write a brief, informative letter and fax it to your senator. (Faxes are considered the most effective current form of communication with legislators since e-mails are being filtered out because the overwhelming number being sent to government employees is interfering with their regular work.) To get information to include in your letter, visit our Web site here.

Hello I was wondering if any news about yesterdays call-in day has been released? When I called both of Illinois' Senators I had to be placed on hold. I guess that was a good thing?

Although it’s hard to gauge the numbers in these cases, the general buzz is that the call-in day was VERY successful, thanks to caring individuals like you who took the time to call. But it’s not over yet, so keep those calls coming!

Well, the 109th Congress has officially come to an end without a final Senate vote taking place on S. 1915, the "American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act." Although it is a shameful farewell for the current Senate, there is great hope that the incoming 110th congress will save our horses by finally banning horse slaughter in America next year.

Many of our staunches opponents have been voted out of congress, like Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., who is widely believed to have filed an anonymous "hold" to block the vote in the Senate this year. So next year, all the calls we’ll be making and letters we’ll be writing will, hopefully, finally make a difference. Our battle begins again on January 4, 2007.

Thank you all for your hard work these past two years. Now take some time to rest and rejuvenate and please enjoy the upcoming holiday season!