It shocks the conscience for a public newspaper such as the Times-Gazette to be a “Proud Sponsor” of “Big Lick” Animal Cruelty to Tennessee Walking Horses.

Simply put, it is an egregious violation of the public trust placed in a home town newspaper of record which is often the moral conscience of a community for the Times-Gazette to dare “proudly sponsor” Animal Cruelty.

Sadly, this is business as usual for the Times-Gazette newspaper located in Shelbyville,  TN.     Last July 25, 2019,  when the duly elected Republicans and Democrats of the United States Congress voted - 333 to 96 – in a historic landslide mandate to remove the nearly EIGHT POUND STACK shoes and CHAINS to end the torture of “Big Lick” Tennessee Walking Horses, the Times-Gazette made no real effort to cover both sides of the story.

Tennessee Walking Horses are tortured from an early age to learn how to do the “Big Lick”.   It is a pain induced gait. The horses throw their legs high while wearing Chains and 6 – 8 pound stack shoes.   Caustic chemicals are applied to sensitive skin above the horses hooves, and then wrapped with plastic to “cook in” the chemicals which causes the skin to be blistered. 

TORTURE OF "BABY HORSES" DOING "BIG LICK" - JULY 14, 2020

http://billygoboy.com/2020/07/14/living-inside-the-big-lick-bubble-part-i-starting-baby-horses-under-saddle-at-marcom-stables-sparta-tn/

When the chains hit the skin,  the horses throw their front legs high while squatting down on their back legs – creating the cruel “Big Lick”.  “Big Lick” TWH are the only horses in America which wear Chains in the show ring.   

According to Tennessean and Noted Equine Vet Dr. John Haffner,   the "Big Lick" is a "business built on the suffering and pain of horses".   Dr. Haffner is a member of the Horse Science Faculty at MTSU (Middle Tennessee State University) in Murfreesboro, TN.

Regarding the historic PAST ACT vote on July 25, 2019,  the Times-Gazette relied on “Wire and Staff Reports” to do a one sided story with no interviews or photos with the PAST ACT supporters.   It only published pictures of “Big Lick” Animal Cruelty Racket” spokespersons,  and their comments.

On August 22, 2019,   when animal welfare advocates with the grassroots Citizens Campaign Against “Big Lick” Animal Cruelty (CCABLAC) came to Shelbyville and peacefully assembled before the Shelbyville City Hall;  and then peacefully protested in front of the TN Walking Horse National Celebration gates for the fifth consecutive year, the stories were covered by NewsChannel5 TV (NBC) Nashville, and the Times Free Press newspaper of Chattanooga, TN.

Although located only five minutes away, the Shelbyville Times-Gazette did not send a reporter or photographer to cover either of the events.

The ten day Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration starts on August 27, 2020, and for the sixth consecutive year,  "WE, The People" - Citizens Campaign Against "Big Lick" Animal Cruelty (CCABLAC) animal welfare advocates will be present to protest against the "Big Lick" Animal Cruelty.

It’s now time for the people of Tennessee,  America and the World to tell the Times-Gazette newspaper in Shelbyville, TN that “Enough Is Enough”.

Please let this newspaper know what YOU think of it being a “Proud Sponsor” of “Big Lick” Animal Cruelty to Tennessee Walking Horses, and urge it to fairly cover both sides of the story.

Please SIGN and SHARE this Petition and urge the Shelbyville Times-Gazette newspaper to:

1.             Remove the “Proud Sponsor” of “Big Lick” Animal Cruelty to Tennessee Walking Horses sign from in front of its building.

2.             Fairly cover both sides of the story.

3.             Editorially urge the END of “Big Lick” Animal Cruelty to Tennessee Walking Horses by removing the nearly eight pound stack shoes and chains.  

Your Signatures and Comments will be delivered to the General Manager, Editor and newspaper owners.  (There is no publisher listed in the newspaper).