From: jtk1@acf3.nyu.edu
Sent: Friday, March 16, 2001 3:48 PM
To: FDADockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: docket 98P-0151/CP1

U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Dockets Management Branch
5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061
Rockville, MD 20852

Regarding: docket 98P-0151/CP1

I am writing in support of the petition to prohibit slaughter
of downed animals.

If an animal can't even stand there is too great a chance that
eating it could pose health hazards and so it should not enter
the human food supply.  As the BSE plague has recently shown
it is also unwise to process sick animals into animal feed or
other products.

While the meat packing industry will doubtless complain that
dealing with downers in a proper and humane fashion will be
too costly, the number of downers is very small and doing so
should not in fact be unduely expensive.

Also, downers can not be moved humanely to slaughter.
They are typically pushed or dragged causing injuries and
suffering.  While the industry may be willing to sell their
humanity cheaply, we as a society should not accept cruelty
and abuse.

	The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way
	its animals are treated.
						- Gahndi

Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,

John Kesich              kesich@nyu.edu              10 Linden Drive
                                                     Highland Mills, NY 10930