WFLF Compassionate Animal TV: Horses

Federal appeals judge halts NV wild-horse roundup

2011-07-15T21:24:00.000-07:00

Federal appeals judge halts NV wild-horse roundup
MARTIN GRIFFITH, Associated Press
Updated 11:57 p.m., Friday, July 15, 2011

RENO, Nev. (AP) — A federal appeals judge on Friday night granted a temporary injunction to halt a government roundup of about 1,700 wild horses from the range in Nevada.

Judge Richard Paez of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued the order after U.S. District Judge Howard McKibben earlier in the day denied a motion to stop the federal Bureau of Land Management's removal of mustangs from public lands near the Utah line.

Paez's order will remain in effect until a three-judge panel (continued)
http://www.westport-news.com/news/article/Federal-appeals-judge-halts-NV-wild-horse-roundup-1468449.php

America's Wild Horses Under Siege - Judge Rules Against Protection of Triple B Wild Horses

2011-07-15T19:11:00.000-07:00

For Immediate Release
Los Angeles, CA
July 15, 2011, 7PM PST

Wild for Life Foundation
Compassionate Animal TV

America's Wild Horses Under Siege

Wild for Life Foundation is deeply concerned for the welfare of the Triple B Wild Horses. Despite a lawsuit filed by wild horse advocates to protect the horses from cruel removal, BLM's planned round up and removal of at least 1,726 wild horses from 1,682,998 acres herd management areas (HMAs) in eastern Nevada will go forward.U.S. District Court Judge Howard McKibben issued a decision in favor of the BLM which allows the BLM to proceed with the Triple B round up to remove wild horses beginning on Saturday, July 16.

There are 975 acres per wild horse is this HMA; yet BLM claims that the wild horse population is five times over the minimum appropriate management level. Horses will be stampeded by helicopter chases in deathly high summer temperatures. Many mares are pregnant and will most likely be unable to keep up the pace for the long distance stampede. Many foals have died in the process of previous round ups because their hooves fall off while trying to keep up with their mothers. 1000's of horses have died after being rounded up and placed in BLM holding facilities.

The BLM blames wild horses for poor range conditions where the land is actually overgrazed by cattle.

Link to Press release by BLM:
http://www.savingamericashorses.org/Judge%20Rules%20in%20Favor%20of%20BLM%20Round%20Up.pdf

Learn more about this issue:
http://www.savingamericashorses.org/home.html

Contact:
admin[@]wildforlifefoundation.org

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WFLF Launches New PSA to Raise Support for Lifesaving Equine Protection

2011-07-14T17:29:00.000-07:00

Wild for Life Foundation launches new PSA to help raise support for lifesaving equine protection.

Click here to see this important message now:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdUXAk6tUvo

Thank you for taking the time to see the important message and please share it with others and help us get the word out.

http://www.lifetimeequinerefuge.org/donate.html

Lifetime Equine Refuge is the lifesaving equine protection program under Wild for Life Foundation (WFLF), a CA 501 (c)(3) volunteer based charity dedicated to saving, protecting and preserving horses in need. Our educational program is dedicated to raising awareness about the equine welfare issues with a focus on the preservation of America's wild horses and the need for protection of all horses from slaughter. WFLF's award winning documentary, "Saving America's Horses" is the 1st and only feature length educational film resource with a focus on protecting both wild and domestic equines.

Lifetime Equine Refuge rescues horses in need and provides them with medical care, food and love. Our rehabilitation and sanctuary program, Garden of Equine provides permanent residency for horses that cannot be re-homed. Visitors benefit from a hands on learning and healing experience. WFLF's equine programs provide social guidance and education about the need for compassionate and humane treatment of all horses and burros.

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Lawsuit Filed to Challenge Triple B Roundup

2011-07-06T16:04:00.000-07:00

Jul 6, 2011

By Laura Allen

Animal Law Coalition
Lifetime Equine Refuge

Saving America's Horses
Wild for Life Foundation

A lawsuit has been filed to try to stop BLM's planned round up and removal of at least 1,726 wild horses from 1,682,998 acres of the Triple B, Maverick Medicine and Antelope Valley herd management areas (HMAs) in eastern Nevada.

Plaintiff The Cloud Foundation describes, "The wild horses of the Triple B, Maverick Medicine and Antelope Valley HMAs are free-roaming on the remote high desert mountains and valleys of east central and northeast Nevada--north of Ely, south of Elko on the Utah border. They have been characterized as a diverse, colorful, intermingling herd with some possessing old mustang origins. Many wild horses descend from an old Shoshone Indian herd known for pintos and paints, as well as a number of medicine hats, horses sacred to Native Americans".
Only 472 horses would remain after the Triple B roundup, and the mares would all be treated with an immunocontraceptive drug, PZP, to prevent pregnancy for up to 2 years. This would leave an unnatural sex ratio of 60% male.
46,000 cows and sheep would be allowed to remain to graze.

According to the Bureau of Land Management, the 1,726 wild horses, with about 975 acres per horse, are destroying the range. But apparently 46,000 cows and sheep are having no effect at all on the condition of the range or water. The BLM refused even to consider the effect of so many cows and sheep on the range, let alone reducing their numbers.

As the Complaint filed by Plaintiffs The Cloud Foundation, Craig Downer and Lorna Moffat explains, "Those that are not re-released (about 1,700) would be transported by big rig trucks to long term holding facilities in the Midwest of the United States, where they would live out their lives in confined, zoo-like conditions, separated by sex or sterilized, wild and free-roaming no more.
"Family members would be permanently separated-stallions and mares from each other, and mares and stallions from their foals. Long-term family bonds would be forever severed. Incarcerated in long-term holding facilities in the Midwest, stallions would be gelded, mares would typically be separated from the gelded stallions, and the acres per wild horse in these fenced facilities would be only a tiny fraction of what it is in their natural homeland in the HMA."

The BLM is required to justify its brutal roundups and removal of wild horses and burros from the range in Environmental Assessments called EAs. Under the National Environmental Policy Act, "whether by Environmental Impact Statement or Environmental Assessment, the agency must ‘study, develop, and describe appropriate alternatives to recommended courses of action in any proposal...'" 42 U.S.C. §4332(E). The implementing regulations provide that this consideration of all reasonable alternatives is "the heart of" the environmental analysis. 40 CFR §1502.14.

EAs when issued in cases recommending roundups of wild horses and burros are typically cookie cutter reports go something like this: The few wild horses and burros, as in this case, are causing degradation of the range and water sources; the range cannot support the horses and most or all are "excess" which must be removed.

Typically, these EAs fail to mention the numbers of livestock that are more likely the culprit of any range degradation or lack of water. There are any number of cases where the evidence establishes that, in fact, the range can support the few wild horses that under the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, 16 U.S.C. §§1331 et seq., are supposed to be protected from "capture", "harassment" and "death" and managed at "the minimal feasible level". Only "excess" horses, those that represent an overpopulation, can be removed. The goal is to maintain a "thriving ecological balance".

In this case the Decision Record ("DR"), Finding of No Significant Impact ("FONSI"), and Final EA ("FEA") were issued on May 17, 2011. True to form, BLM claims the few horses are degrading the range. As the plaintiffs' point out, "the BLM [fails to] explain how any noncompliance with land standards ...is not primarily the result of livestock grazing, which is about eight times higher and more intensive than grazing from wild horses". Complaint, par. 36.

The roundup was to have begun by now but the BLM delayed it pending a July 14, 2011 hearing before the Nevada federal District Court on the plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction to stop the roundup and removal.
(read complete article here)

A Promise of Freedom for America's Horses

2011-06-24T18:41:00.000-07:00

Please Watch this most Important and Time Sensitive Message and Share with Your Friends, Family and Co-workers!
Thank you in advance!
Americans Against Horse Slaughter

You can send the link to your friends by email:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lyuEtB0Nzc

You can donate here:
http://www.savingamericashorses.org/donations.html

GAO 2011 Horse Slaughter Report

2011-06-23T10:02:00.001-07:00

Jun 23, 2011

Courtesy of Laura Allen

Animal Law Coalition

The Government Accountability Office has issued its report, GAO 11-228, on action needed to address unintended consequences of the 2007 closing of domestic slaughter facilities. A principal recommendation: "Congress may wish to consider instituting an explicit ban on the domestic slaughter of horses and export of U.S. horses intended for slaughter in foreign countries."

A bill, S.B. 1176, is already pending in the Senate that would do just that.

(More)

Horse rep may Threaten Defunding - More calls Needed

2011-06-14T09:02:00.001-07:00

House Rep Lummis (WY) expected to threaten defunding with amendment to FUND horse slaughter. DEFUNDING is vital to protecting horses.

Call TODAY and urge your legislator to strongly OPPOSE ANY amendment to restore horse slaughter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewGFPfS1U9I

Tax Payer Funding of Horse Slaughter goes to Vote this Week!

2011-06-13T15:50:00.001-07:00

On May 30^th, the House Appropriations Committee approved an amendment to the FY2012 Agriculture Appropriations bill that prevents your tax dollars from being used to fund inspections of horse slaughter facilities. This bipartisan language has been included in every Agriculture Appropriations bill since 2005. Without this important provision, foreign investors will be able to reestablish horse slaughter in the U.S. at the expense of taxpayers, our own food safety, and the welfare of horses.

The full House of Representatives will vote on the FY12 Agriculture Appropriations bill this Wednesday, June 15. An amendment may be offered to remove the Committee-approved language prohibiting the USDA from spending your tax dollars to inspect horse slaughter facilities. Maintaining the USDA language defunding inspections of horse slaughter facilities as currently included is vital to protecting our horses. It is critical that you call TODAY and urge your legislator to strongly OPPOSE ANY amendment to restore horse slaughter.

Please call your Representative immediately, urging opposition to any attempt to restore horse slaughter.

You can call the main Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to your Representative's office by your state and zip code.

The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act of 2011

2011-06-10T11:36:00.001-07:00

Jun 10, 2011
By Laura Allen
Animal Law Coalition

WFLF Saving America's Horses

Just as U.S. Representatives Jim Moran (D-VA) and Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) are calling for an end to horse slaughter, a bill to make that happen is introduced in the Senate. Here is what Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), the sponsors, have released about this bill:

The Problem: Somewhere between 60,000 and 100,000 horses/year are exported from the United States each year with the intent to slaughter for human consumption.

There are no horse slaughterhouses in the United States, and there is not a demand for horse meat in the United States. Two out three Americans believe the practice of horse slaughter is unnecessary and inhumane. Transport to foreign slaughterhouses is lengthy and cruel.

Horses in the United States differ from other livestock in that they have never been raised for the purpose of slaughter. As such, they are frequently treated with drugs that are toxic when ingested by humans and not approved for use in animals raised for human consumption.

Additionally, we have no system in the United States to track which medications a horse has received throughout its lifetime, which makes horse meat a serious food safety/American food export risk.
The Solution: The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act of 2011, S.B. 1176, amends the Horse Protection Act (HPA) to prohibit the sale or transport of horses or equine parts in interstate or foreign commerce with the intent of processing for human consumption.

The bill, filed on June 9, already has a number of co-sponsors.

(more)

Funding for inspections of horse slaughter in the U.S.

2011-05-31T17:34:00.001-07:00

Good news! Great work! Thanks for your calls :) Funding for inspections of horse slaughter in the U.S. will not take place. We still need to protect our horses from being shipped over federal borders though and strong support is needed to make that happen.

Learn more here:

www.savingamerocashorses.org

Urgent Call to Action

2011-05-30T22:40:00.001-07:00

Please watch this 1 minute PSA then call your representatives first thing Tuesday May 31st!

Legislation voted on Tuesday that could fund horse slaughter in the U.S. with your tax dollars

Call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-2131 or the Committee's number at (202) 225-2638.
(202) 225-2771 for Republicans
(202) 225-3481 for Democrats

Details: http://www.savingamericashorses.org/Urgent%20message%20STOP%20U.S.%20Government%20from%20FUNDING%20Horse%20Slaughter.pdf

Return of commercial horse slaughter to the U.S.?

2011-05-30T11:31:00.001-07:00

Calls Needed TUESDAY to STOP U.S. Government from FUNDING Horse Slaughter Business!
Return of commercial horse slaughter to the U.S.?

The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug, Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Committee has released its proposed appropriations budget for FY 2012.

The proposed bill does not include a provision de-funding inspections for horses to be slaughtered for human consumption. The proposed bill does not prohibit use of funds to inspect horses to be slaughtered for human consumption. The subcommittee report does not mention it.
It is the de-funding of these ante-mortem inspections in appropriations measures that has prohibited commercial horse slaughter for human consumption in the U.S. since 2007. Now, if the subcommittee bill passes, it could mean the return of commercial horse slaughter to the U.S.

Go here for more on the de-funding and the court decision that upheld it.

WHAT YOU CAN DO
The proposed budget bill will be voted on by the full House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 5 p.m. EST in Room 2359, Rayburn House Office Building.

This meeting will be webcast. Audio and video of the hearing will be available by clicking here. Audio only will be available by clicking here.

Call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-2131 or the Committee's number at (202) 225-2638, (202) 225-2771 for Republicans and (202) 225-3481 for Democrat members. Here are the names of committee members to ask for when you call. Go here to find the direct phone numbers of committee members and for your own U.S. representative.

Tell committee members and your own U.S. representative: Vote no on the appropriations bill unless the committee retains the language defunding inspections of horses to be slaughtered for human consumption.

Please forward this message to your friends and ask them to do the same.

Sincerely, Katia Louise
President
Wild for Life Foundation
Director, Saving America’s Horses

Laura Allen
Animal Law Attorney
BOD: Wild for Life Foundation
Advisory Board Member: Saving America’s Horses
Founder, Director: Animal Law Coalition

Link to PDF of this notice: http://www.savingamericashorses.org/Urgent%20message%20STOP%20U.S.%20Government%20from%20FUNDING%20Horse%20Slaughter.pdf

www.savingamericashorses.org

www.wildforlifefoundation.org/home.html

Now see the powerful review PSA from the premiere screening of “Saving America’s Horses – A Nation Betrayed”!

2011-04-04T18:23:00.001-07:00

WFLF Humanion Films
Los Angeles, CA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 6, 2010

Now see the powerful review PSA from the premiere screening of “Saving America’s Horses – A Nation Betrayed”!

The premiere screening was a success and the film was well received by members of the industry in attendance. Audience members were interviewed by WFLF's Compassionate Animal TV at the after party for their comments and reviews which have been produced into a special PSA to help promote this ground breaking film.

Watch the review PSA on the Website! Watch the review PSA on YouTube!

Supporters are requested to help get the word out in support of this film by telling their friends. Please forward this information along with a link to the promo clip or even embed the clip straight into your email for others to see. (Grab the code from YouTube)

How to Help:
Donations are essential to bring this film to the public eye. The film is being produced on donations and in order to move forward significant funds are needed. Various levels of giving are available. Producer and Sponsorship opportunities are still open and people can also donate online or through the mail. Tell your friends about the film! Please help us to save the horses. We are their voice and they need to be heard.

What’s Next:
The film screens next at the International Wildlife Film Festival in Montana May 7th and 10th, 2011. Production will showcase the film through select festivals in the US and abroad as various levels of distribution such as theatrical release, television broadcast and DVD release are developed and considered.

Quotes:
“A masterpiece and an amazing example of expose`.” -Michael Bailey, Producer/ Director Planetviews Productions, Environmentalist

“A well made, shocking, controversial documentary that blows the lid off the abysmal horse slaughter industry in America.” - Harrison Held Star Media

“The film is a tour-de-force of technical filmmaking and covers an impressive scope of issues associated with horses." -Craig C. Downer, Wildlife Ecologist

"Saving America's Horses is the mouthpiece of the horse."-Morgan Griffith, San Diego, CA

About the Film:
"Saving America's Horses A Nation Betrayed is about a journey of courage, honor and betrayal in a country divided; inspiring great hope for compassion and protection of all horses and burros from cruelty. The film features appearances by Paul Sorvino, Michael Blake, Tippi Hedren, Linda Gray, Chief Arvol Looking Horses, Ken Wahl, The Barbi Twins, Willie, Amy & Raelyn Nelson, Jennifer Lee Pryor and more!

Visit www.savingamericashorses.org to learn more!

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In Defense Of Animals Applauds Film Festival Selection Of “Saving America’s Horses”

2011-03-19T11:04:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Elliot M. Katz, DVM, 415-448-0075, emk@idausa.org

In Defense Of Animals Applauds Film Festival Selection Of “Saving America’s Horses”

Documentary’s premiere is Sunday March 27 through the Los Angeles Women’s International Film Festival

Los Angeles, Calif. (March 19, 2011) – In Defense of Animals (IDA), an international animal protection organization with over 100,000 members, applauds the selection of “Saving America’s Horses – A Nation Betrayed” by the Los Angeles Women’s International Film Festival. The film, directed and produced by Katia Louise, is a feature length documentary that examines the arguments made by both the proponents and opponents of horse slaughter as related to both domestic and wild equines. The film also explores environmental issues and the lethal health risks associated with the consumption of America’s horses by people.

IDA has been promoting the film to its membership throughout the past year.

What: Los Angeles premiere of “Saving America’s Horses” at the Los Angeles Women’s International Film Festival

When: Sunday March 27, 2011, 12:45 p.m. – seating begins at 12:30 p.m. Ticket holders will be invited to stay for a special reception following the screening.

Where: Laemmle's Sunset 5, 8000 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90041

According to director/producer Katia Louise, “The film is a compelling compilation of expert testimony, undercover footage and true life stories shot against the dramatic backdrops of America’s beautiful countryside. “A Nation Betrayed” depicts a country divided and inspires great hope for the protection of all horses and burros from cruelty.”

IDA President Elliot M. Katz, DVM said “finally - a film that reveals the tragic consequences and cruelties of the horse racing industry and the horror of horse slaughter. We hope this film arouses the voices America’s horses need for their very survival.”

Michael Blake (Dances With Wolves), Randal Kleiser (Grease), Paul Sorvino (Goodfellas), Linda Gray (Dallas), Ken Wahl (Wiseguy), The Barbi Twins, and Jennifer Lee Pryor are all involved and have confirmed their appearances for this event, as has Mexican matinee idol Jorge Rivero. Food for the reception will be provided by The Veggie Grill, with wine supplied by Du Vin.

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National Call-In Day to support of the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act

2010-10-14T03:00:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Please join us by calling on Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi Tuesday, October 19th and Ask her to schedule a vote NOW on the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act (H.R. 503), legislation to ban the slaughter of American horses for human consumption. Schedule the vote NOW. Tell her she has the power to end immense suffering by scheduling the vote NOW during the remaining session of Congress THIS YEAR! NOW is the time for her to step up and do this. Tell Speaker Pelosi that this bill has 183 bipartisan cosponsors in the House, 28 in the Senate, and tremendous public support.
After you call Speaker Pelosi,(202) 225-0100 or her San Francisco office, (415) 556-4862, call on Senate Majority LeaderSen. Harry Reid702-388-5020 / Fax: 702-388-5030, and Assistant Majority Leader Sen. Dick Durbin(202) 224-2152 or fax (202) 228-0400to schedule a vote on the senate version, S.B. 727. Don’t wait. Do it now. For the horses.

For more information please go to Animal Law Coalition here:

http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=-1&msgid=0&act=11111&c=295898&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.animallawcoalition.com%2Fhorse-slaughter%2Farticle%2F1443

Wild for Life Foundation (WFLF) is a 501 (c) (3) volunteer based, nonprofit corporation dedicated to protecting and saving animals from cruelty. The cornerstone of our work is centered on the welfare of horses. WFLF works to accomplish its mission through education, investigation, multimedia exposure, rescue and outreach.

Now see the powerful OFFICIAL TRAILER for SAVING AMERICA’S HORSES A NATION BETRAYED

2010-10-04T09:22:00.000-07:00

WFLF Humanion Films
Los Angeles, CA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct 5, 2010

Now see the powerful OFFICIAL TRAILER for SAVING AMERICA’S HORSES A NATION BETRAYED. Animals' Angels, USA & CHDC join WFLF Humanion Films’ in the release of the official film trailer for SAVING AMERICA’S HORSES - A NATION BETRAYED!

WFLF Humanion Films is pleased to announce the release of the OFFICIAL TRAILER for the feature documentary film, SAVING AMERICA’S HORSES - A NATION BETRAYED. The Official Trailer features appearances with many cast members including several celebrities and other prominent figures who have all joined Humanion Films’ effort in support this film’s mission; Protection for All Equine from Slaughter… In order of appearance: JoAnne Normile, Beverly Strauss, Shelley Abrams, Dr Nicholas Dodman, Dr Nena Winand, Linda Gray, Senator Mary Landrieu, Susan Wagner, Representative Dan Burton, Paul Sorvino, Julie Caramante, Craig Downer, Michael Blake, Ginger Kathrens, Tippi Hedren, Shane and Sia Barbi, Dr Elliot Katz, Amy Nelson and Paul Rainbird.

Sonja Meadows, Executive Director of Animals’ Angels, USA: “For the first time a film brings together a comprehensive look at what all is involved in this cruel, predatory business; An excellent documentary, suitable for a broad public audience.”

Sinikka Crosland, Executive Director of the Canadian Horse Defence Coalition (CHDC) states: "SAVING AMERICA’S HORSES - A NATION BETRAYED delivers a compelling case for the abolition of a cruel, archaic and predatory industry. A civilized society yearns to be just and compassionate, not supporting practices that are inhumane and potentially detrimental to human health."

“REALLY powerful. Packed!” – Paula Bacon

Julie Caramante, Equine Cruelty Investigator/ Animals Angels: “As a cruelty investigator and someone deeply committed to banning the slaughter of American horses, I strongly applaud this important, straight-up film—it has the courage not to back down but to tell the un-whitewashed, miserable truth about horse slaughter”.

Tribal Leader, former Lt Governor of San Ildefonso Pueblo, Paul Rainbird speaks on behalf of Native Americans that oppose the slaughter of horses and burros in effort to help save equines from slaughter. “It offends me that horses are being slaughtered. SAVING AMERICA’S HORSES - A NATION BETRAYED presents the hard truth and must be seen. I hope awareness really has an impact on people making an effort to become involved." - Paul Rainbird, 1st Lt. Governor of San Ildefonso Pueblo

Michael Blake, Writer DANCE WITH WOLVES, Horse Advocate, American West: “To view Saving America's Horses is essential for stopping the killing. Since the American Government came about it has destroyed Indians, Buffalo and Wolves, and for the last several decades horses are being butchered. No individuals or organizations have been able to stop the removal of what has been put on earth. If the public stands up it can be done. Be sure to see SAVING AMERICA’S HORSES - A NATION BETRAYED and watch it all.

Now see the powerful OFFICIAL TRAILER for SAVING AMERICA’S HORSES A NATION BETRAYED at YouTube and on the official film website. "Saving America's Horses-A Nation Betrayed brings to surface a topic which nobody wants to talk about in a way that everyone will want to see. “ –Kate Dudley

SAVING AMERICA’S HORSES - A NATION BETRAYED is a compelling compilation of expert testimony, undercover footage and true life stories shot against the dramatic backdrops of America’s beautiful countryside. The film depicts a country divided and inspires great hope for the protection of all horses and burros from cruelty.

"The cruelty of equine slaughter recognizes no borders. Over half of the horses slaughtered in Canadian plants originate in the United States. In this predatory industry there is no guarantee of humane treatment at the receiving end where profit, not animal welfare, is the driving force." - CHDC

Supporters are requested to tell their friends and family about SAVING AMERICA'S HORSES - A NATION BETRAYED. Donations can be made on line through PayPal or mailed directly to support this CAUSE. Your generous donation will help bring this film to the public eye.

Please support this film and help us to save America's equines. “We are their voice and they need to be heard” – Katia Louise

More great ways to support this CAUSE

Come Stand With Us! Sign up for Updates! Donate! Collaborate!

Humanion Films, IMA Studios

Music by
Maria Daines, Paul Killington, Peter Rowen, Debra Lopez, Ronnie Niles, Nancy Stanley, Karl Joseph, Emily Shreve & more!

Contact:
WFLF Humanion Films
Email

Kate Dudley, Publicist
Email

Saving America’s Horses is a Project under Wild for Life Foundation (WFLF), a CA 501 (c)(3) nonprofit corporation. The mission of Saving America’s Horses is to protect all equines from slaughter.
www.savingamericashorses.org

Link to PDF of this Post

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Australian Government Plans to Eradicate the Horse Population to further develop a Cattle Station

2010-09-06T10:00:00.000-07:00

By Linda Mira-Bateman
Sept 6, 2010

The Australian government wants to eradicate the horse population and further develop a cattle station on the land. A local group, Wild Horse Kimberley, who has been working with these horses for five years, is willing to work to manage the population through gelding of stallions and use of a contraceptive for the mares, and so manage the population.

After many weeks of deliberations, the Government has announced that …….

In October, when mares have just given birth to their foals, the government will slaughter the horses by gunning them down from helicopters..

Their last aerial slaughter in the Kimberley on Frazier Downs resulted in 662 horses dying slowly from bullet wounds in legs and shoulders. Independent observers went in afterward and found horses shot in the back and stomach. Mares had aborted foals as they died. All the horses lay dying in agony. No follow up was done. Foals were found beside their mothers dying of starvation. Locals were alerted to the slaughter when a loan foal wandered onto an Aboriginal Community. He was rescued only to die later. The cull resulted in an investigation and a commitment to change the management of practices – however there is no evidence of such changes having eventuated. And no program was implemented to manage wild horse populations without recourse to wholesale slaughter.

As a matter of urgency, the public is asked to take action to tell the Government, once and for all, that wholesale slaughter is not the answer. Compassionate, humane, long term and sustainable population management is called for.

Assistance is needed to:

Advise the Ministers of your strong opposition to the killing of the horses at Lake Gregory.
The welfare risks of aerial shooting of wild horses at Lake Gregory are high. Chasing and shooting horses from a moving platform is fraught with danger to the animals. Foals in particular cannot keep up with the mob and may be injured in the pursuit. Many horses may die slowly after being wounded.
Call on the WA government to initiate trials of fertility control measures and other non-lethal population management of wild horses on remote properties and State parks.
Demand government develops plans for sustainable animal populations and humane approaches for population control.

Animals Australia has set up a further action on their website to protest against this latest planned atrocity. Animals Australia is requesting the public to take a couple of minutes to access and send an e-mail of protest and to personalize the letter as much as possible.

http://www.animalsaustralia.org/take_action/save-kimberleys-wild-horses/

For more information go to:

http://www.wildhorseskimberley.com/index.html

http://www.savethebrumbies.org/2008/11/19/another-aerial-atrocity-this-time-on-frazier-downs-wa/

http://www.abc.net.au/rural/regions/content/2007/s2349835.htm

Horse Slaughter News and Updates

2010-01-24T19:20:00.000-08:00

Effective Jan 24, 2010: Please check the CA AAHS Blogsite for news and information regarding the topic of horse slaughter in the US. The CA AAHS blogsite features nation wide news and updates as related to horse slaughter in the US with a focus on the western region of the the country.

Thank you.

Wild Horses Remain Under Seige by Government

2010-01-22T12:25:00.000-08:00

Wild for Life Foundation (Jan 22, 2010)
The BLM reports that 118 horses taken to the Fallon facility on Wednesday. They intend to ship the remaining horses at the trap sites to Fallon on 1/22/10 and a new location in the Calico HMA will be established. BLM states that approx 30 mares from the Warm Springs HMA range in body condition from a 2.5 to 3.0, but the BLM does not mention the fact that these mares are still nursing their young. An estimated 20 to 25 horses at the facility have received treatment for vaioius injuries or lameness. Other reports are still coming in.

No wind breaks will be constructed for the general population of wild horses now penned inside the new BLM feed lot, though after much pressure from pro horse advocates, the BLM just announced they now intend to build wind breaks for sick & lame animals...

Recently free roaming Calico wild horses adversely impacted as follows: 1,195 REMOVED, 1,074 AT FEED LOT, 30 IN TRAPS, 2 SHOT AT TRAP SITES, 1 DIED DURING STAMPEDE, 1 ESCAPED- CURRENT WHEREABOUTS UNCONFIRMED, SIX DEATHS ATTRIBUTED TO FEED LOT. (Said totals per BLM) *Note that inconsistencies remain as to the true number of horses on site at the Fallon feed lot.

Read the WFLF Report on the Calico Round Up, "The Look in Their Eyes"

From The Cloud Foundation:
Two more horses were killed at the Fallon Facility in conjunction with the Calico roundup on 1/21/10. Based on the posted BLM report: The Cattoors/BLM ran the feet off a colt on Tuesday, let him stand for a day, then made him ride four hours in a trailer to Fallon where he was unloaded and then shot. At least two of his hooves had fallen off. This colt and his family may have been run by helicopter up to 14 miles on Tuesday. We don’t know how fast over rough volcanic rock and terrain this foal was run. Another mare was down in the trailer, arrived at Fallon alive and then died subsequently. No members of the public were allowed to observe on 1/21/10 and no one will be allowed to go to Fallon Facility until Tuesday, Jan. 26th.

This from In Defense of Animals:
It’s time to get public comments in on another large removal of wild horses which is planned by the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM). This time the BLM intends to remove over 500 of the estimated 645 horses living in or near the “Eagle Herd Management Area” in eastern Nevada outside of Ely. While 500 individuals is fewer than the 2,500 horses currently being rounded up and removed from the Calico Complex in northwest Nevada (click here for Calico update), the Eagle roundup is even more ludicrous because it is 125,000 acres larger than Calico, but the government will only allow 100 horses to remain! In Calico, by contrast, 500-900 horses will be left behind in the approximately 500,000-acre public land complex.

The Obama Administration is continuing the Bush Administration policy of targeting wild horses in order to serve special cattle and other industry interests. Under President Obama's oversight, the BLM is actually accelerating the pace of wild horse removals, with 12,000 horses targeted for capture from our public lands in Fiscal Year 2010 alone. The majority of these horses will be sent to government holding facilities, where they will join the 35,000 wild horses already stockpiled at taxpayer expense.

This from the Cloud Foundation:
Captured Calico Wild Horses Denied Windbreaks
BLM’s double-standards leave nearly 1000 captured mustangs in the cold
Fallon, NV (January 19, 2010)— 956 wild American mustangs rounded up off public land by helicopters in the past two weeks now stand in a feedlot-style Bureau of Land Management (BLM) contracted holding facility outside of Fallon, Nevada on private land. The new Fallon facility is not equipped with shelter, windbreaks or protection of any kind for the horses. High winds, rain and snow are expected to continue through the end of the week. In Calico, herds can move to sheltered canyons for protection from the harsh winter weather. Yet, in Fallon, they are deprived of adequate protection despite recommendations from wild horse advocates. This is in direct opposition to BLM’s own standards.
“I’m confused by the double standard. Before members of the public are allowed to adopt a wild horse from BLM we must prove we have adequate shelter. Why doesn’t BLM have to meet the same standards?” asks Ann Evans, adopter of three mustangs.
Yesterday, members of the public reported an inhumane lack of windbreaks. No apparent effort has been made to tie canvas tarps on fences to block the howling wind and the anticipated driving snow. On Friday January 15, advocates asked local Nevada BLM staff, Directors and top-level Department of Interior (DOI) under-secretaries to intervene on behalf of the horses by creating wind blocks.

Click here to join the Unified Call for an Immediate Moratorium on Wild Horse & Burro Roundups
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Rep. Sacia of IL is Working to Reopen Horse Slaughter Plants

2010-01-14T13:08:00.000-08:00

Illinois state Rep. Jim Sacia has wasted no time this year in introducing H.B. 4812, a bill to repeal the state's 2007 ban on slaughtering horses for human consumption. Similar bills introduced by Rep. Sacia in 2008 and 2009 failed to pass.

Rep. Sacia's bill, H.B. 4812, would also allow horses to be shipped into the state for slaughter for human consumption with no certificate of veterinary inspection contrary to current state law governing horses. 510 ILCS 65/4 The new law would also exempt downed, sick, diseased, lame or disabled horses from the requirements of the Humane Care for Animals Act governing animals in this condition. 510 ILCS 70/5, 7.5

This means Rep. Sacia and the interests he represents in the horse slaughter underworld understand that horse slaughter is brutal and cruel and so would want to exempt their sordid practice from the animal cruelty laws and inspection requirements.

To mask its harsh treatment of horses, the bill would also establish an Equine Assistance Rescue Fund that would theoretically provide funds for equine rescue organizations and increase facilities and programs for the care and maintenance of rescued horses. But the plan is to fund this, in part, through a $25 per horse fee for each horse slaughtered in Illinois.

(more)

FOUR HUGE STEPS FORWARD FOR THE HORSES IN FOURTEEN DAYS!

2010-01-14T12:21:00.000-08:00

Los Angeles, CA
Wild for Life Foundation
January 15th, 2010

FOUR HUGE STEPS FORWARD FOR THE HORSES IN FOURTEEN DAYS!

1. With just FOURTEEN days into the New Year, WFLF has just returned from a week long stay on the Calico Range where we documented the round up and holding of 100’s of wild horses. Just released, check out the WFLF Calico Report; “The Look in Their Eyes”.

2. Also check out the brand new WFLF Humanion Films PSA. In this “Message from the Filmmaker”, Katia Louise tells it like it is, exposes the proponents and promises to fight for the protection of all equines from slaughter until they are safe.

3. With the kick off of the new WFLF “WANTED Horse Campaign”, we encourage all equine rescues to reference the recent WFLF publication entitled, “Homeless YES, ‘Unwanted’ NO”.

4. WFLF is proud to announce that volunteer Executive Director, Katia Louise has just been appointed the West Coast Regional Coordinator for Americans Against Horse Slaughter.

Katia Louise said, “It's an honor and privilege to accept this position and to stand among those who continue to so courageously fight for this worthy CAUSE.” AAHS Co founders Shelley Abrams and Debra Lopez are encouraged in that this year promises to be very active in the fight to end horse slaughter. “Things are heating up on this issue once more and we have much work ahead of us”, said Katia Louise.

Katia is committed to bringing the truth to the public eye. As the newly appointed West Coast Regional Coordinator for AAHS, Katia asks those who oppose the barbaric practice of horse slaughter to be ever strong in this fight. “Many have been duped by the pro slaughter proponents and their clever campaigns of misinformation”, said Katia.

As highly regarded spokesperson and champion for the health and welfare of both wild and domestic equines, Katia's been working to end horse slaughter since 2004. Ms Louise is a Broadcast Journalist, Talk Show Host, Filmmaker, Actress and a lifelong animal advocate. Earlier this year she produced "Saving America's Horses" an audio documentary for international radio which in part inspired the making of the film currently in production, “Saving America’s Horses – A Nation Betrayed”. As Executive Director of WFLF Humanion Films, she formed a national coalition of the top anti-slaughter equine experts and pro-horse specialists which in 2009 officially teamed up efforts with AAHS to raise even more awareness for this cause.

Contact:

Kate Dudley, Publicist

Humanion Films Production

www.savingamericashorses.org/home.html

Americans Against Horse Slaughter
www.americansagainsthorseslaughter.com
email: aahsus@gmail.com

Link to PDF

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New West Coast Regional Coordinator for AAHS

2010-01-13T18:11:00.000-08:00

Philadelphia, PA (Americans Against Horse Slaughter) Jan. 13, 2010

American's Against Horse Slaughter Welcomes Katia Louise from WFLF As Our New West Coast Regional Coordinator

AAHS is very pleased to announce the appointment of Katia Louise as our West Coast Regional Coordinator. "With the AAHS membership growing by leaps and bounds, we find it necessary to implement Regional Coordinators." said Shelley Abrams co founder of Americans Against Horse Slaughter. This year promises to be very active in our fight to end horse slaughter and having someone the caliber of Katia Louise in this position will prove to be a great asset.

As highly regarded spokesperson and champion for the health and welfare of both wild and domestic equines, Katia's been working to end horse slaughter since 2004. Ms Louise is a Broadcast Journalist, Talk Show Host, Filmmaker, Actress and a lifelong animal advocate. Earlier this year she produced "Saving America's Horses" an audio documentary for international radio which in part inspired the making of the film currently in production, “Saving America’s Horses – A Nation Betrayed”. As Executive Director of WFLF Humanion Films, she formed a national coalition of the top anti-slaughter equine experts and pro-horse specialists which in 2009 officially teamed up efforts with AAHS to raise even more awareness for this cause.

Americans Against Horse Slaughter is thrilled that Katia has agreed to join us as the West Coast Regional Coordinator. She is looking forward to working with our members.

Americans Against Horse Slaughter is a non funded, grassroots national movement comprised of supporters of a federal ban on the slaughter and the transport to slaughter of American horses for human consumption overseas. Americans Against Horse Slaughter has no other agenda, other than to stop the brutal slaughter of American horses.

Contact: Americans Against Horse Slaughter/www.americansagainsthorseslaughter.comemail: aahsus@gmail.com

MAN’S BEST FRIEND CAMPAIGNS TO END HORSE SLAUGHTER

2010-01-12T15:04:00.000-08:00

MAN’S BEST FRIEND CAMPAIGNS TO END HORSE SLAUGHTER

Americans Against Horse Slaughter launches a new public awareness campaign inspired by pet lovers and concerned citizens from across the country.

Philadelphia , PA (Americans Against Horse Slaughter) January 11, 2010 - Americans Against Horse Slaughter was contacted by hundreds of concerned citizens, and other animal advocates after their recent discovery of American horses being slaughtered for the sole purpose of human consumption. The meat is then shipped to foreign countries overseas to be served as a high price delicacy.

"Are our dogs next?" says Lori Colon of Wadsworth IL . "This is unbelievable and a disgrace! I thought horses are considered our pets, our companions! We don't eat horse meat here!" continued Colon.

"I think the recent press about the wild horse roundups has shed light on our country's dirty little secret, horse slaughter", said Shelley Abrams, co founder of AAHS. “The wild horse advocates and organizations that have worked for so many years to protect the wild horses have done a wonderful job of creating mass awareness to the general public through the media and that has inspired the lay person to learn more.” Abrams added.

While the wild horses are in the forefront right now due to the unconscionable round ups taking place around the country which also put them at risk for slaughter, it is important to remember that our thoroughbreds, quarter horses and all breeds of horses are currently being inhumanely slaughtered for human consumption every day.

Americans Against Horse Slaughter is calling on all animal lovers and animal advocates to rise up against this brutal practice of horse slaughter by voicing their concerns to their Congressman and their two U.S. Senators and asking them to co-sponsor The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act; House Bill HR503 and Senate Bill S727.

Chairman John Conyers, Jr. issued a statement today thanking all the members of Americans Against Horse Slaughter (AAHS) for their unwavering support of HR503, The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act.:

“The transportation and slaughter of horses for human consumption is cruel and inhumane, and I intend to continue my efforts to stop this terrible practice. We now have 176 cosponsors to H.R. 503,and support for the bill continues to grow. The support of Americans Against Horse Slaughter (AAHS) is critical to passage, and I appreciate and commend their efforts.”

AAHS would like to thank Congressman Conyers Chairman of the Judiciary committee for his recognition of our efforts and assure him that we will continue to work closely with his office to pass HR503.

Contact: Americans Against Horse Slaughter (americansagainsthorseslaughter.com)

Email: aahsus@gmail.com

Homeless Yes! - "Unwanted" NO.

2010-01-10T13:58:00.002-08:00

Wild for Life Foundation, Exposing the Truth

Homeless YES! "Unwanted" NO
Have you or someone you know been misled or duped about horse slaughter? Horse slaughter is NOT humane euthanasia. The so called "unwanted horse problem" is a phrase coined by the AAEP to support their position in favor of horse slaughter. You may be a follower, or be a member of one of the entities listed below and not even realize that they are actively fighting to reopen horse slaughter plants in the US. You or an entity you belong to might even be parroting their favorite pro slaughter argument; the so called "unwanted horse problem". You may be supporting an entity that has aligned with UHC's position even though you remain adamantly against horse slaughter. Your own rescue organization may even be listed on the Unwanted Horse Coalition's website as a supporter without your knowledge or permission…

Please Beware!!
Pro slaughter proponents have one of the strongest lobbyists around; the Ag Department. (The US Department of Agriculture)

A Partial Listing of some of the entities that support horse slaughter, or that are listed as member organizations of the Unwanted Horse Coalition (a pro slaughter proponent) are listed below:
* AAEP (American Association of Equine Practitioners)
* AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association)
* The Unwanted Horse Coalition
* UOH (United Org of the Horse)
* United Horseman's Front
* AHC (American Horse Council)
* AQHA (American Quarter Horse Association)
* American Humane Association
* Various State Horse Councils
* American Paint Horse Association
* The Farm Bureau
* BLM (Bureau of Land Management)
* The Jockey Club
* California Thoroughbred Breeders Association
* Arabian Horse Association
* Maryland Horse Breeders Association

The Unwanted Horse Coalition (UHC) and the UOH (United Org of the Horse) supports horse slaughter. Their theme is to restore horse meat processing (aka horse slaughter) in the US to control the so-called “unwanted horse problem” and what they claim to be the overpopulation of wild and feral horses on federal, state, tribal, and private lands.

For a more complete list of entities that are on record as supporting horse slaughter, click here. Current list of Unwanted Horse Coalition Member Organizations

Don't be duped by pro slaughter attempts to misinform the public. The UOH (United Org of the Horse) claims that Tribal horse people from across the Nation have joined their cause. They also claim that name celebrities have been paid off to advocate against animal cruelty... But these things are NOT true.

The UHC is clever to list rescues as available facilities. If not for their position in support of horse slaughter it might make sense to be affiliated with them in this way. We at WFLF have to wonder how many rescues inadvertently trust the misinformation propagated by the UHC, the AVMSA and the AAEP. We understand that rescues are busy saving horses and don’t have time to do their own research and discovery. Even the majority of members in the veterinary community simply rely on information put out by these types of organizations, when in truth the slaughter process has been found to be very inhumane.

WFLF suggest that Anti slaughter supports use caution when connecting with new friends and or joining new groups on social websites like Facebook and MySpace, etc. Pro slaughter proponents have been increasingly clever with distributing misguided information. (UOH)

Support the WFLF "WANTED HORSE CAMPAIGN". Stomp out cruelty. The "unwanted horse" argument is a pro-slaughter position. Slaughter makes cruelty profitable. Please support the WFLF "Wanted Horse Campaign". Together were are their voice and they need to be heard.

www.savingamericashorses.org

© Wild for Life Foundation 2010

Calico Report by WFLF: "The Look in Their Eyes"

2010-01-09T18:47:00.001-08:00

January 10, 2010 (modified Jan 11, 2009)
By Katia Louise
WFLF Humanion Films
Compassionate Animal TV

Wild for Life Foundation (WFLF) is working hard behind the scenes and on the front lines for the protection of all equines from slaughter. We just returned from the Calico range where through our film and media programs we've documented the BLM round up and removal of wild horses from their rightful homes on the Calico range. We witnessed the separation of young foals from their mothers and documented the many wild horses now in holding at the new BLM facility in Fallon, NV.

The new Indian Lakes facility is barren at best. It is still under construction with welders and workers on site. What struck me the most was its remote location. Far off the beaten path, this new BLM short term holding facility sits on a 160 acre private flag lot property. We were told by the BLM that it will not be open to the public once they complete the current round up. The BLM states that all wild horses currently being rounded up from the Calico Complex will be transported to this facility. When asked how long the horses would be held there, we were told that after a few months some maybe placed up for adoption and some would go to the Mustang Make Over program which they are apparently expanding. When asked what would happen to the rest of them, it was uncertain. The BLM representative on site that day was Lili Thomas and she said that the remaining horses would most likely be transported from there after a couple years. It was unclear as to where they would wind up after that.

We drove across hundreds of miles of unpaved back mountain roads in the general HMA areas of the Calico Range and despite the BLM claims that wild horses in the region are “over populating and excessive”, we only sited nine horses.

When inquiring about the purpose of the round up the BLM cites a variety of justifications. BLM Winnemucca District Manager Gene Seidlitz said “the Calico Complex consists of five HMA’s with a total of 550,000 acres, and that is not enough range area for 3,040 wild horses to thrive”. Based on the same, Mr. Seidlitz explained that the BLM must therefore remove the so called “excess” horses for their own protection… BLM, says that placing these wild horses in pens of approximately 700 square feet per horse is supposed to be the best thing for them. These arguments do NOT make sense when you do the math; each wild horse living on the Calico Range prior to this round up had approximately 180 acres to roam freely (again, that's 180 acres per horse).

The BLM website states that these wild horses are starving, thin and under nourished, yet every wild horse that we observed roaming free, at the trap site and at the new holding facility was visibly well proportioned with no signs of malnourishment. When documenting the newly arrived Calico horses at the Indian Lakes holding facility, Lili Thomas said “the environment would show signs of destruction caused by these horses long before it would be apparent that the horses were starving”. She further explained this concept by using the analogy that “people would still look the same for a while after their home refrigerator had been emptied”. In a responsible management system it makes sense to relocate animals before evidence of poor body condition or plant- induced toxicoses. In my opinion, considering the natural migratory grazing patterns of equines, it makes more sense to allow the horses to migrate across the established HMA's on their own, and if the BLM has data showing that the equines are not migrating sufficiently; why hasn't the BLM provided that data to the public? Using AUM's (animal unit months) of forage from the BLM Grazing web page, in 1941, 22M AUM's were authorized to livestock. In 2008, 12.5M AUM's were authorized to livestock, but of that amount 8.6M AUM's were actually used. In 2008, only 397K AUM's were allocated to wild horses/burros, a mere 4.6% of the total forage used, concluding that cattle still far outnumber our wild herds.

What many researchers have found to be occurring is that the BLM removes the wild equines from the range lands rather than relocating them to HMA's where the BLM has zeroed them out. it seems to be a pattern that once the equines are gone, the BLM sells extended grazing permits to cattle ranchers for the same lands. Wildlife ecologist Craig Downer, states “the digestive system of this species compliments the environment and helps to replace the nutrients that are otherwise stripped by other grazing animals such as cattle and sheep”. Based on the several independent scientific studies that compare the grazing patterns of cattle to equines, it can be concluded that wild equines replenish the environment whereas cattle do the opposite. Based on these findings and other BLM activities, it's been concluded that the BLM is mismanaging the legally established wild horse and burro herd areas to the detriment of equines. Moreover, it seems that the BLM management practices are to the benefit of livestock owners rather than to the equines that have been given the rightful use of these lands by law.

The BLM reports that by the end of the day on January 8th, 2010 another 70 horses have been "gathered" from the Calico Complex. Though we are getting mixed reports from various BLM sources, in sum there now appears to be approximately 660 wild horses held at the new Fallon facility and another 105 wild horses held in pens on site where trapped. The wild horses once chased down by helicopters into the traps are maneuvered onto trailers and transported to sorting pens at the round up site. From there they are unloaded, marked by with paint on their back, by color to designate which HMA they came from and then they separated.

When asked specifically where these horses are coming from, we were told by the BLM that they are currently "gathering from two herd areas within the Calico Complex"... Black Rock Range East and Black Rock Range West. BLM representatives say that the horses cross back and forth between herd areas on their own so it's hard for them to know where the horses are actually coming from. The BLM also admits that they "push the wild horses across HMA borders" in order to meet their round up quotas. It seems that the reason for the paint markings placed on the wild horses which are supposed to define the true and correct HMA they came from are probably meeting some unknown BLM agenda. BLM authorities were not willing to say just how far these horses were run before lead into the onsite traps by their "Judas" horse.

During the briefing on site, we were told that they were being rounded up from the mountain tops where they cross back and forth between the HMA’s. BLM staff also said they would be taking horses from the Paiute Summit Lakes reservation. Concerns were raised by horse advocates about the removal of wild horses from the non public lands of the Summit Lake Paiutes. In defense of their removal of 250 wild horses from the Summit Lake area, BLM representatives stated that "the Summit Lake Paiutes requested the BLM to remove the horses because they were destroying their resources". It's important to note that the Summit Lake reservation is adjacent to the Black Rock Range West. During a recent interview WFLF conducted with a Paiute elder from another tribe; we were told that the Summit Lake reservation is completely uninhabited. It's significant to also note that when looking at the regional map of the HMA's, that the horses rounded up from these areas would have been forced to transverse miles and miles of various terrain, including vast plains of lava beds, and elevations of over 2,000 feet higher than the trap site.

Neither media nor the public were given access to observe the entire round up areas while we were there. The limited viewing area where we were told to remain made it impossible to observe the horses as they were driven by helicopter down from the range and across the terrain to the trap site. We were not allowed to get close enough to the trap site to observe the condition of the horses upon their arrival without binoculars or a special telephoto lens. By 2pm, the Lisa Ross of the BLM told us the round up was over and that we had to leave the area, but before we left, we noticed that another group of wild horses had been driven into the trap site by helicopter. We have since learned that the helicopters will continue to roundup the horses and bring them in as long as they can see, which on this particular day, under fair weather conditions, there would have been enough time that we could have observed the round up for another three hours of day light.

With further regard to the separation process at the round up site, shortly after being driven into the traps, the mares are placed into one pen, the foals in another pen and the stallions into another. The BLM states that foals age 6 months and up are ready to wean and it’s easier for them to deal with that way. These foals are being weaned under extremely stressful circumstances; a winter round up by helicopter and long distance travel, etc. It was obvious to all non BLM observers in attendance that both the mares and the foals were experiencing extreme anxiety.

Knowing that these are sentient beings, I couldn't help but notice the look in their eyes as we left the last group of mares and foals who had just been trapped. Their eyes said it all... "Why are we here? What just happened to us?..." They had no idea that they had just spent the last free roaming moments of their lives and that they were about to forever lose their family bonds.

As a side note, when asked about burros living in the area, Winnemucca District Manager Gene Seidlitz said that there was "a viable herd living just north of Winnemucca", but he was unable to tell us any more than that.

As a result of documenting and observing these conditions we at WFLF believe that the round up activities that took place during the set observation were most likely staged by the BLM in order to portray conditions that they would like the public to believe exist on any given day. We find it curious as to why the round up is being conducted on private land where additional BLM staff and armed marshals are employed as escorts to and from the round up, especially when there are hundreds of miles of public land available adjacent to the area and which could have easily provided a working trap site for the so called “excess” wild horses. Placing the trap site on public land would have likely enabled observers to fully view the round up without obstruction.

Written permission is required for any use of this report.
© Wild for Life Foundation 2010

WFLF fully supports the calling of a Moratorium on all BLM round ups and further encourages a full judicial/ congressional investigation into the BLM management practices as related to wild horses and burros. We further believe that an independent entity be assigned to document and record each and every equine that is rounded up by the BLM and or is currently under their jurisdiction through holding, in transport or otherwise.

Wild for Life Foundation (WFLF) will continue to monitor, research, investigate and document this and other BLM round up activities. More comprehensive information about this issue as related to horse slaughter will be included in the WFLF Humanion Films feature documentary film production, SAVING AMERICA HORSES A NATION BETRAYED.

Saving America's Horses A Nation Betrayed is about protection for all equines from slaughter. We have been working around the clock behind the scenes and on the front lines investigating the corruption and misinformation. Help us help save America’s horses and burros. We are their voice and they need to be heard. ~ Katia Louise

You can help bring this film to completion with a much needed donation. Please donate now!

Americans are called Upon to Help End the Slaughter of ALL Equines, Both Wild and Domestic

2009-12-04T10:03:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WFLF Humanion Films
DEC 4, 2009
LOS ANGELES, CA

American's Against Horse Slaughter and WFLF Humanion Films team up to call on all Americans to help end the slaughter of all equines, both wild and domestic.

WFLF Humanion Films is in production on the feature documentary film entitled “Saving America's Horses A Nation Betrayed”. The mission of the film is for the protection of all equines from slaughter. Through a focused look into the horse slaughter industry, this film seeks to advance compassion for horses, raise awareness for their suffering, and expose the corrupt driving forces supported by those who profit from the sordid practice of horse slaughter.

Humanion Films is the film label under Wild for Life Foundation (WFLF), a California nonprofit public benefit corporation organized for the purpose of protecting animals from cruelty and protecting wildlife from extinction.

Americans Against Horse Slaughter is a grassroots movement comprised of constituents from all 50 States. Their only mission is to end horse slaughter through the passing of Federal legislation.

CONTACT:
Katia Louise
EMAIL

Debra Lopez
EMAIL

www.americansagainsthorseslaughter.com

WWW.WILDFORLIFEFOUNDATION.ORG
WWW.HUMANIONFILMS.COM
WWW.SAVINGAMERICASHORSES.ORG

About WFLF Humanion Films:

WFLF Humanion Films is in production on the feature documentary film entitled “Saving America's Horses A Nation Betrayed”. The mission of the film is for the protection of all equines from slaughter. Through a focused look into the horse slaughter industry, this film seeks to advance compassion for horses, raise awareness for their suffering, and expose the corrupt driving forces supported by those who profit from the sordid practice of horse slaughter. Humanion Films is the film label under Wild for Life Foundation (WFLF), a California nonprofit public benefit corporation organized for the purpose of protecting animals from cruelty and protecting wildlife from extinction.

About AAHS:

Americans Against Horse Slaughter is a grassroots movement comprised of constituents from all 50 States. Their only mission is to end horse slaughter through the passing of Federal legislation.

Motion for Injunction to Stop Calico Complex Roundup!

2009-12-03T20:00:00.000-08:00

by Laura Allen

Dec. 3, 2009: The plaintiffs, In Defense of Animals and wildlife ecologist, Craig Downer, have filed a motion for an injunction in their lawsuit alleging the proposed roundup and removal of up to 2,500 wild horses or more from the Calico Mountain Complex in Nevada, violates the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act, 16 U.S.C. Sections 1331 et seq.

A hearing is set December 16.

BLM announced yesterday, Dec. 2, that it will proceed with the Calico roundup on Dec. 28 despite the more than 10,000 comments received during the public comment period which closed barely more than a week ago. Of course, whether BLM proceeds with its plans depends on U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman who will decide the plaintiffs' motion for an injunction.

The massive roundup and removal of thousands of wild horses from the Calico herd areas was originally set to begin on Dec. 1, but after this lawsuit was filed, the U.S. Department of Justice ordered a delay until December 28. Also, the BLM had announced the roundup before the public comment period closed and before it had even issued a formal decision or complied with the National Environmental Policy Act ("NEPA"), 42 U.S.C. §§ 4321, et seq. NEPA requires the agency to prepare Environmental Assessments or EAs or, if indicated, Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) or Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), for any proposed changes to public lands that may have a significant environmental impact. The law directs the agency to identify environmental concerns, consider alternatives including no action at all and take a "hard look" at the problem and minimize significant environmental impact. A significant environmental impact includes actions that are likely to be highly controversial or have uncertain effects on the quality of our lives and that affect cultural and historical resources. 40 C.F.R. §1508.27(b).

(Continued)

Canadians Call to Stop Horse Slaughter in Canada

2009-11-24T07:35:00.001-08:00

News Update re Canada Horse Slaughter Story
WFLF, Los Angeles, CA
Nov 24rd, 2009 7AM
by Katia Louise

Subsequent to the alarming news that hit the wires in Squamish, BC early Monday, sources report that Mountain FM Radio 107.1, aired an update that the SPCA and RCMP of Canada visited the Sea to Sky Stables and found no signs of abuse or neglect.

It's unclear as to the fate of the horses that may be sold for slaughter this week end. An anonymous source states that the conditions at the stables have been ongoing and that authorities may or may not discover the situation with just one visit. Local Canadian horse advocates remain concerned, and they hope authorities will continue to monitor the situation.

Pro-Horse advocates encourage stable owners to release their retiring horses to rescue organizations instead of selling them off to the cruel slaughter pipeline. Funds are donated by people who oppose horse slaughter for rescue operations/ purchasing slaughter bound horses; most of which are young and healthy.

Advocates point out that stable owners and others in the horsemanship industry that are constantly criticized for profiting from the sordid practice of horse slaughter can instead benefit from viable alternatives and at the same time gain much recognition and admiration by the public for responsible efforts that would help to put an end to the cruel slaughter of horses.

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Return America’s Wild Horses to Their Rightful Ranges: A Response to Secretary Salazar’s Plan for America’s Wild Horses Equids

2009-10-08T15:41:00.000-07:00

October 8, 2009- COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO-- On October 7, 2009, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced a new initiative for the Bureau of Land Management’s Wild Horse and Burro program. The Secretary announced that this is a “national solution to restore the health of America’s wild horse herds and the rangelands that support them by creating a cost-efficient, sustainable management program that includes the possible creation of wild horse preserves on the productive grasslands of the Midwest and East.”[1]

The Cloud Foundation is encouraged that the Interior Department realizes that there are problems with the management of wild horses on public lands by the Bureau of Land Management and is considering ways to improve the Wild Horse and Burro Program.

However, the Cloud Foundation questions the need to develop seven new preserves in the mid-west and east (at an estimated initial cost of $96 million) when there are 19.4 million acres of designated wild horse and burro of rangelands that have been taken away from them since 1971. In just the past few weeks, 12 herds (620 horses) were zeroed out on an additional 1.4 million acres in Eastern Nevada. “It would seem that the best use of taxpayer dollars and the most humane plan for the nearly 32,000 wild horses in government holding[2] would be to return them to their native lands” says Ginger Kathrens, Volunteer Executive Director of the Cloud Foundation. “These millions of acres were identified for use by wild horses and burros and these lands are already owned by the American public.”

Rather than spending over thirty million dollars this fiscal year (October 1, 2009- September 30, 2010) to remove a record number (over 12,000 wild horses and burros) from the range, only legitimate emergency roundups and removals should be conducted. “The BLM continues to lead the public to believe that exploding populations of wild horses are causing degradation of the range and they must be removed before they all starve. This is without merit because wild horses and burros make up only a fraction of animals grazing the range, far greater damage is caused by the privately-owned cattle who outnumber the horses more than 100 to 1,” states Arizona advocate Julianne French.

The intent of Congress’ 1971 Free-Roaming Wild Horse and Burro Act was not for wild horses to be corralled and penned. The clear intent was that the wild horses and burros be allowed to live on western rangelands designated primarily for their survival in self-sustaining populations.

Initial Recommended Steps for the Management

of America’s Wild Horses & Burros:

1) 1. Cease all roundups until independent analysis can be made of each herd management area. Move forward only with emergency removals if deemed necessary by independent as well as BLM specialists.

2) 2. Return wild horses and burros in good health to the 20.8 million acres of public land designated primarily for their use in 1971 that has since been taken away from them. As per the ROAM Act (§1579): “ensure that, to the extent practicable, the acreage available for wild and free-roaming horses and burros shall never be less than the acreage where wild and free-roaming horses and burros were found in 1971.”

3) 3. Reanalyze appropriate management levels (AMLs) for herd management areas (HMAs). Currently only about 25% of wild horse and burro herds are genetically viable.[3] AMLs should not be reduced due to the private use of public lands for livestock grazing. Currently AML “is based on consideration of wildlife, permitted livestock, and wild horses and burros in the area.”[4] It is not cost-effective to remove wild horses from an HMA at a cost of $2600- over $3000 per individual removed in order to allow a cow/calf pair to graze for a payment of $1.36/month. Cattle, who originated in southeast Asia, damage the land to a far greater degree than wild horses, who are of North American origin.

4) 4. Congress should follow-up with hearings on the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program as recommended by the Government Accounting Office (2008 report).

Photos and more information available from:

The Cloud Foundation

719-633-3842

info@thecloudfoundation.org

[1] Department of Interior press release, 10/7/2009.

[2] Nearly 32,000 wild horses are in holding as of 10/7/2009 according to BLM records. No independent inventory has been conducted and the truth of this number cannot be verified.

[3] Genetically viable defined here as a population of horses 1 year and older that is at or above 150-200 individuals with a Ne (genetic effective number) of 50 or more. This is the bare minimum for genetic viability of wild horse and burro population. More information here.

[4] According to Nevada BLM site, accessed 10/8/2009

BLM Proposes NO Real Change to its Wild Horse and Burro Program 10-7-09

2009-10-08T15:36:00.000-07:00

By Laura Allen

In a telephonic news conference today Secretary of the Dept. of Interior Ken Salazar and Bureau of Land Management Director Bob Abbey announced what they described as a new initiative for managing the wild horses and burros.

Secretary Salazar said the proposal will "better protect the wild horses". He described the wild horse population as "out of control" and "a problem simmering and growing over time". The total population of wild horses, both on public lands and in holding facilities is, according to Salazar, 69,000 compared to 25,000 in 1971 when the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act was passed to protect wild horses on public lands.

Salazar claims the operation of holding facilities for excess horses will cost taxpayers $29 million, or about 70 percent of the total 2009 enacted wild horse and burro program budget of $40.6 million.

He insisted that "arid western lands and watersheds" can't support these populations of wild horses "without significant damage to the environment" and "degrading public lands". He also said the horses are "not in good condition" because of lack of forage. (Salazar did not mention the thousands of cattle grazing and drinking and fouling water on these lands or land swaps and sales, development and mining as well as in Nevada a plan to siphon off water from herd areas; surely if public lands are "degraded", these are far more of a factor.)

(continued)

New Message from Ginger Kathrens 9/19/09

2009-09-19T06:33:00.000-07:00

Dear Wild Horse Supporters;

I would like to personally invite you and all your friends to join us for a very important event: "Mustangs On The Hill" in Washington DC on September 29th. This event follows the BLM Advisory Board Meeting on the 28th of September in Arlington, VA-- Please click for more details on the BLM Meeting.

For Mustangs on the Hill we will be gathering on the West Front Lawn of Capitol Hill on the 29th in the morning for a press conference and then we will fan out to meet with key Senators, focusing on those who serve on the Committee of Energy and Natural Resources, to ask them to support the ROAM Act. (Restore our American Mustangs Act is now S. 1579). We are hoping to have several celebrity speakers in addition to speakers from a range of horse and animal advocacy groups! Please invite everyone you can. A flier, our most recent press release and a photo of the event t-shirt are all attached as well.

We are encouraging everyone to make appointments with their US Senators- call 202-224-3121 or click here. We are trying to focus on members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to get the ROAM Act out of committee... click here for names and contact information. Please call, fax, e-mail all and request that they support the ROAM Act!

Please invite everyone you can! There is a huge outcry for wild horses now, partly as a result of this disastrous round up of the Pryor herd. Perhaps this will be the catalyst for real change -- please join us and help preserve and protect our wild horses! As one supporter said: "this is a betrayal, not only of our wild horses, but of our nation."

We hope to have a considerable group of people present, kindly RSVP to mustangsonthehill@gmail.com

Cheers,

Ginger Kathrens

Volunteer Executive Director

The Cloud Foundation, Inc.

“Mustangs on Capitol Hill” on September 29Th

2009-09-17T01:50:00.000-07:00

On September 29Th, horse advocates will be headed to Washington D.C. in an effort to support The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act (HR503/S727) and The ROAM ACT (S1579/HR1018).

"Mustangs on Capitol Hill" will be gathering on the West Front Lawn of Capitol Hill on September 29th from 8:00AM to 4:00PM. People are encouraged to bring signs with illustrations and can also bring brochures and literature to hand out. For more information on this event, please log onto The Cloud Foundation blog

In addition to “Mustangs on Capitol Hill” on September 29Th, there’s an effort to keep a strong presence in D.C. through the end of this congressional session. We are encouraging our members and all horse advocates who can attend D.C. for a day or two, to do so between September 29th and the end of October. The Horse Defense Fund will be lobbying for both The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act and for The ROAM ACT during the week of Oct. 18th. This means we would need folks in D.C. for a day or two during the week of Oct. 4th, Oct. 11th and Oct. 25th.

Please visit The Cloud Foundation to learn more

Some Horses from Cloud's Herd Could End Up Slaughtered

2009-09-17T01:23:00.000-07:00

By Laura Allen

Horse Slaughter

Update Sept. 10: Curiously, when a concerned citizen called the BLM to ask the fate of the horses to be permanently removed from Cloud's Herd, she was told all would be adopted to good homes.

But the BLM states on its own website that "sale-eligible horses (over 10 years old) will go through the sale authority process (oral competitive bid for one round then first come-first serve)."

That means kill buyers will be there to purchase the horses for slaughter. Jerry Finch of Habitat for Horses states, "Previous statements by the BLM were that they would remove only 70 of 190 horses. Today they are exceeding that number by going beyond their specific Herd Management Area (HMA) and rounding up bands outside of their legal perimeter in Custer National Forest, branding and tagging them and shipping them to holding pens ready to be sent away. All this is being done by a contractor previously convicted of ..capturing and killing unbranded horses, mares and colts running at large on public land."

The auction for these horses from Cloud's Herd is planned for September 26. Go here for the reaction of some members of Congress to BLM's continued harassment and elimination of America's wild horses.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Keep writing and calling! Don't wait. Do it now. Of course, be very polite.

BLM Director Bob Abbey
Call: 202-208-3801 or 866-468-7826
Fax: 202-208-5242
Robert_Abbey@blm.gov

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden

Phone: 202-456-1111 or 202-456-9000

Fax: 202-456-2461

House Committee on Natural Resources 202-225-6065

Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 202-224-4971

Find and contact your U.S. senators here and urge them to tell the BLM to stop this atrocity to Cloud's Herd and also vote yes on S.B. 1579. Go here for more on S.B. 1579.

Go here to write your U.S. representative and urge him or her to tell the BLM to stop the roundup of Cloud's Herd.

Plan to attend or send a statement to the meeting of the National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board on Sept. 28-29.

For more on this, read Animal Law Coalition's earlier reports below.

Update Sept. 9: The Pryor Mountain Roundup has been called off! The BLM is leaving alone around 25 horses - 4 family bands.

Red Raven and his family are hiding in the mountains. Two foals are thought to be with this family.

The BLM will release some horses today, including most of Cloud's family. (Cloud is pictured here in captivity.) But there is no plan to release older horses slated for sale, meaning slaughter.

Update Sept. 7: Cloud, pictured here in captivity, the namesake of the herd, has been captured. But not without a fight. Go here for more.

The BLM has also announced that of the 70 wild horses that will be permanently removed, those 10 years of age and older, will be sold. That means these animals will likely end up at Mexican or Canadian slaughter houses. Earlier BLM had said the horses would be adopted to good homes.

Sadly, the contractor hired by the BLM for the round up of Cloud's Herd in the Pryor Mountains, is Dave Cattoor, previously indicted on federal charges of illegally running down wild horses and foals in Nevada with a helicopter and selling them for slaughter. The BLM pays him $7,000 per day for this round up.

Watch video of the roundup of Cloud's Herd and discussion of the controversy.

Update Sept. 2, 2009: U.S. District Court Judge Emmet G. Sullivan in Washington, D.C., has denied a motion for a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction, (attached below) filed by Cloud Foundation, Front Range Equine Rescue and nature photographer, Carol Walker, in their lawsuit to stop the roundup of Cloud's herd.

The motion basically asked the judge to order the roundup delayed until the lawsuit is resolved. A hearing to resolve the lawsuit on summary judgment is set for December 3, 2009.

The U.S. attorneys representing the BLM in the lawsuit agreed to delay the roundup set to begin Sept. 1 until the judge ruled on the motion. The judge issued the denial following a hearing on Sept. 2.

Watch the videos here for more information. Go here for a look at what happens to horses including foals during these roundups.

Original report: Beginning on September 1, 2009, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), an agency within the U.S. Dept of Interior, plans to begin rounding up "nearly all wild horses" in the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range in Montana.

The Cloud Foundation estimates there are 190 wild horses living in the mountains that are 1 year old or older.

The herd is called Cloud's Herd for the horse filmed by Ginger Kathrens, founder of the Cloud Foundation, when he was just a colt. Cloud lives wild and free with his family. At least for now.

The BLM plans to remove permanently "up to 70 adults including foals", having decided they are excess horses. 60 mares will be treated with a fertility control, Porca Zonae Pellucidae (PZP), and released. The way the BLM put it in its Environmental Assessment or EA which the agency is required to prepare pursuant to National Environmental Policy Act ("NEPA"), 42 U.S.C. §§ 4321, et seq., "The method of capture w[ill] be helicopter drive-trapping using temporary traps of portable panels as well as trapping directly at Britton Springs Corrals. After capture in the trap, horses would be sorted on site and treated with fertility control or taken to the Britton Springs administrative site for sorting and application of fertility control. Treated mares and stallions identified for retention would be released either during or after gather operations. ....Excess wild horses removed w[ill] be prepared for adoption or sale at the Britton Springs Facility."

Cloud or his family could well be among those horses deemed to be "excess" by BLM and sold. Certainly, it is unlikely they will be together again as a family.

Excess wild horses is a legal term that means horses BLM has decided to remove from an area "to preserve and maintain a thriving natural ecological balance and multiple-use relationship in that area" or for some other legal reason. See 16 USC §1332(f).

Under a 2004 amendment to the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act, which authorizes BLM to manage these animals, "excess" horses "shall be sold...if the excess animal is more than 10 years of age; or ... has been offered unsuccessfully for adoption at least 3 times." 16 U.S.C. §1333. Any horse sold under this provision is no longer subject to the protections of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. 16 U.S.C.§1333. Since this amendment became effective, BLM has sold thousands of wild horses for slaughter.

The horses are panicked, terrified, traumatized and many times injured as they are run down by the helicopters. Families will be separated and destroyed, probably forever. It is unlikely the BLM would bother to keep even horses marked for release together in their families.

Go here for more information about what happens to these wild horses and burros when the BLM rounds them up.

As a reason for the removal of the 70 horses including foals from the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range, the BLM says only there has been "resource damage". Its EA cites to "[d]eteriorating range and forest conditions associated with past management practices". In BLM's Record of Decision issued this month, August, 2009, the BLM says only the removal will limit the horses to their herd area, "limit competition among wild horses and wildlife" presumably for food, and "prevent deterioration of rangelands and vegetation resources". It is mentioned there has been limited water.

But, according to Cloud Foundation, there has been 3 years of rainfall that has ended the drought and left the range in "excellent condition".

The BLM also refers to a need to "maintain a multiple use relationship for the area".

The wild horses and burros are actually supposed to be protected under the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971. In passing that law Congress declared that, "wild free-roaming horses and burros are living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West"..."[T]hey contribute to the diversity of life forms within the Nation and enrich the lives of the American people". Congress recognized the wild horses and burros are "fast disappearing from the American scene". "[W]ild free-roaming horses and burros shall be protected from capture, branding, harassment, or death; and to accomplish this they are to be considered in the area where presently found, as an integral part of the natural system of public lands." 16 U.S.C. § 1331.

Indeed, the Pryor Mountain wild horses are descendants of horses in the Lewis and Clark expedition that came to be owned by the Crow tribe in the early 1800's. George Reed, Secretary of Cultural Education for the Crow Tribe Executive Branch, wrote in 2006: "We advocate preserving our heritage, culture and language, and these Pryor wild horses are part of our culture."

The WFHBA requires that BLM management activities be at "the minimal feasible level." Id. According to its own regulations, BLM must protect wild horses and burros from unauthorized capture, branding, harassment or death and provide these animals with humane care and treatment. 43 C.F.R. § 4700.

Under the WFHBA, wild horses are "to be considered in the area" where they were found in 1971 "as an integral part of the natural system of the public lands." 16 U.S.C. § 1331. These legally protected areas are known as "herd areas," and are defined as "the geographic area identified as having been used by a herd as its habitat in 1971." 43 C.F.R. § 4700.0-5(d).

A brutal wholesale round up and removal, even slaughter, of so many horses is surely a direct violation of the protections of the WFHBA. It's hardly management of the herd at the "minimal feasible level".

According to the Cloud Foundation, this removal of 70 horses will leave this unique and historical herd genetically non-viable and unable to sustain itself into the future. Equine geneticist, Gus Cothran, Ph.D. of Texas A&M University, states that "a census population of 150-200 is required to achieve the minimum effective population size.... The [Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Herd] has been one of the most important and visible herds within the BLM Wild Horse Program and it is important that it stays viable."

Just last month a federal judge entered an injunction to stop a BLM decision to eliminate an entire herd of horses in a range in Colorado. The BLM had decided simply to eliminate the horses even though the agency agreed the horses were not "excess". The BLM has also decided to eliminate entire herds, 620 horses, from their ranges in Nevada.

The Cloud Foundation, Front Range Equine Rescue and nature photographer Carol Walker, have filed a lawsuit and a motion for a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction in the federal district court in Washington, DC to stop the roundup and removal of horses from the Range.

The plaintiffs claim the BLM has violated NEPA by failing to prepare and Environmental Impact Statement, consider alternatives, and take a "hard look" at the environmental consequences. They claim the BLM's proposed action means the herd will not be genetically viable. Also, the plaintiffs claim BLM relied on a 2004 study to support its contention the range has deteriorated when there is evidence that since then with the end of the drought, the range conditions have greatly improved.

The plaintiffs also claim these actions by the BLM violate WHBA's mandate to manage the wild horses at the "minimal feasible level" and protect them from harassment, capture and death.

A copy of the Complaint is attached below to this article. Animal Law Coalition will bring you more information about this lawsuit as it becomes available. In the meantime:

Read about BLM's final solution for America's wild horses and burros.

Listen to Angels for Cloud on WFL Endangered Stream Live radio

Go here for information about and how you can help pass a bill pending in Congress, Restoring Our American Mustangs or ROAM, S.B. 1579, that would restore protections under the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act 0f 1971 that were lost in 2004.

For more on this historic herd, go to http://www.cloudfoundation.org/

Some information was provided for this article by Equine Welfare Alliance. Photographs courtesy of R.T. Fitch.

The Future of Cloud's Herd

2009-09-07T18:08:00.000-07:00

Listen to the Future of Cloud's Herd with Ginger Kathrens on WFL Endangered Stream Live beginning Sept 8th, 2009 6PM PST/ 9PM EST

Cloud Round Up Update Summary for Sunday Sept 6th

2009-09-05T09:52:00.001-07:00

The Cloud Foundation now has a blog with updates. We will continue to provide news in general about the Pryor Mountain round up, Please check for regular updates straight from The Cloud Foundation.

The last update for this post o\was Sept 5th/ Thank you for caring about Cloud and all the wild horses. Supporters are encouraged to NOT be silenced. Our American horses need your voice now more than ever. Keep your calls and emails going to the White House and the Press. It may take a Presidential Order to stop the BLM, but to make that happen, more calls and emails are needed.

Photos courtesy The Cloud Foundation and RT Fitch

Thank you for your support,
The Team at Wild for Life Foundation
WFL Endangered Stream Live
Compassionate Animal TV
Saving America's Horses, A Nation Betrayed

---
BEGIN UPDATES:

Saturday: Sept 5th, 2009, 8AM PST/ 9AM CST
From Ginger: "BLM is planning on removing around 40 horses today, completely, from the Custer National Forest. Field Manager Jim Sparks told us today that all those horses "fall within removal criteria" but truly they are just removing all of them. From 21 year old mares like Grumpy Grulla (who used to be with Raven) to young foals and the 19-year-old band stallion Conquistador. The older horses especially should not be removed. The BLM plans to helicopter drive these horses into traps on Commissary Ridge in the Custer National Forest and trailer them for nearly two hours down the mountain to the holding pens at Britton Springs near Lovell, WY.

On Sunday we think that the Cattoors will round up all the horses on the mountain-top-- Cloud's band included-- and drive them the 10-12 miles down the mountain. We are most concerned with the week-old filly and the elderly Bigfoot. There is no reason to bring these specific horses down the mountain and we are requesting that the roundup crew leave them alone."

Friday: Sept 4th, 2009, 10PM PST/ 11PM CST
A total of 19 wild horses were rounded up today. No horses were injured but with high temperatures in the 90's the foals looked a bit sore and tired by the time those to be set free were released.

Sept 4th, 2009 4:00 PM PST/ 5PM EST
Mares and foals are being taken back to their points of origin.

Sept 4th, 2009 10AM PST/ 11AM CST
17 horses have been rounded-up, but not Cloud's. BLM doesn't appear to be near his area yet. The choppers are looking for another band of 10. There are reports that if they may call it quits for the day soon because the heat is so bad.

The viewers are being allowed to move closer to the pens to take pictures.

Thursday: Sept 3, 2009, 9PM PST, 10PM CST
Due to warm temperatures the roundup ended earlier than expected. By the end of the day, a total of fifteen horses were captured with the help of a helicopter and two wranglers and taken to corals at Britton Springs.

Sept 3, 2009, 12PM PST, 1PM CST
7 have been captured – Calypso’s band with one foal. All the horses appear to be fine.

Cloud advocates say that horses weren’t sweating and were walked into the pen. They are on their best behavior because of everyone that is watching. Because it is extremely hot, they may call it a day.

Sept 3, 2009, 9AM PST/ 10AM CST
BLM is appears to be taking a more transparent position and are allowing viewers to move to another ridge location so everything isn't hidden from their view. Film crews are on the ground and are filming everything.

This slide show set to music features some of the wild horses of the Pryor Mountains in Montana that are being removed permanently from the wild during a roundup in September, 2009. Photos by Carol Walker, author of Wild Hoofbeats: America's Vanishing Wild Horses, www.wildhoofbeats.com and music is "along the Coyote Highway" by Cordillera.

Most recent Footage and News Articles
Cloud Foundation Press Release
MS NBC Video News Report 1
MS NBC Video News Report 2

Cloud’s Herd to be Rounded Up by Federally-Indicted Contractor

2009-09-03T01:40:00.000-07:00

LOVELL, WYOMING - SEPTEMBER 2, 2009 - A Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) request by The Cloud Foundation and Front Range Equine Rescue was denied today in Federal District Court. The TRO was filed to stop the round up of the Pryor Mountain horses, an action unprecedented in size and scope. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has contracted with the federally-indicted Dave Cattoor to round up America’s most famous wild horse herd beginning September 3, 2009. Wild horse advocate and investigator, Julianne French, explains the situation further in a youtube.com video posted today on The Cloud Foundation website.

In 1992, Cattoor was indicted by a federal grand jury for hunting wild horses, aiding and abetting. Cattoor rounded up federally protected American mustangs, corralled them into pens and loaded them into trucks bound for a Texas slaughterhouse. He pled guilty to those charges. “Since that time we suspect that he has received at least $20,000,000,” says wild horse advocate, Julianne French. “And we know for sure, from the Federal Register website, that Cattoor has earned over $12,000,000 in the past nine years alone.”

While Cattoor is currently under investigation by the Department of Interior Inspector General for procurement fraud, BLM chooses to continue their relationship with the Cattoor Livestock Roundup Company.

“Generally, an indictment would eliminate a contractor from consideration,” added French. “However, Mr. Cattoor has been rewarded and made a millionaire many times over by the taxpayer-funded BLM—despite the public outrage.”

“If I ever had a felony charge, even if I had been exonerated, I’m not supposed to get a federal contract.” stated Howard Boggess, Crow Elder and Historian. “Why are they above the law?”

A photographic report, The Use of Helicopters to Remove Wild Horses and Burros from Public Lands, displays newborn foals run to exhaustion, found hog-tied on the range, horses and burros bleeding from their nostrils, broken legs and injuries sustained during long gallops to capture pens. Link to report.

Fully knowing the public’s concern about wild horse roundups BLM is still debating whether independent humane observers will be granted access to round up operations in the Pryors. “Where is the transparency and full-disclosure of this new administration?” asks Ginger Kathrens, Volunteer Executive Director of the Cloud Foundation.

In the Pryor Wild Horse herd, young foals, only days old, will be rounded up and potentially removed. BLM plans call for nearly all the 188 horses remaining in the Pryors to be rounded up in order to apply infertility drugs. Seventy horses will be permanently removed and put up for adoption and sale on September 26, 2009.

According to noted geneticist Gus Cothran Ph.D. of Texas A&M University, 150 – 200 animals are required to maintain genetic viability. This removal would leave only 120 horses in the spectacular Pryor Mountains. The Cloud Foundation is urging Americans to speak up now, or lose this unique herd forever.

Learn more at Angels for Cloud
The Cloud Foundation

Photo Credits: The Cloud Foundation

BLM Closing Pryor Mountains for Wild Horse Round Up

2009-08-29T19:41:00.000-07:00

Aug 29, 2009

Pryor Mountains Closed to Public from Aug. 31 through Sept. 10

BLM has announced that the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range will be closed to public access from August 31 through September 10 despite public outcry against the round up of wild horse. Officials claim that the closure will protect the welfare these wild horses during the removal.

They may reopen the range sooner depending on how long it takes to remove Cloud's Herd. Signs and barricades will be posted at main entry gates to keep the public and media out of the area. Helicopters will be used to remove 190 wild horses from the range. The BLM plans to "even out the sex ratio of the herd" and treat mares with a fertility control vaccine.

During a recent interview on WFL Endangered Stream Live, with Ginger Kathrens of the Cloud Foundation, she stated that the horses are terrified by the low flying helicopters, many foals won't make it through the round up, and that they run so hard that their little hoofs fall off.

The BLM says that some of the horses will be released back to the range, but 70 horses (approximately 1/2 the herd) will be permanently removed. Kathrens explained that these horses are very trusting of people and that Cloud and her family have no idea about the impending chaos.

Earlier this year, management officials determined that 170 horses were two many horses to reside in the Pryor Mountain range. The round up includes this year’s foals, but they won't be counted. The agency says that the "multiple-use relationship" of the range is the reason for the removal and that a thriving ecological balance will be achieved.

BLM prefers to call the operation a gathering, but in a statement made by Katia Louise of WFL Endangered Stream Live, she said, "This is a full on helicopter assault. It's a complete betrayal to these wild and magnificent horses, to the freedom that our country was built on and to the American people."

Listen to Ginger Kathrens on Angels for Cloud, on WFL Endangered Stream Live, talk radio for animal protection.

Americas Wild Horses an Endangered Species: Under Gov't Attack

2009-08-20T18:52:00.000-07:00

By: The Campaign to Keep Americas' Wild Horses Wild & Free

Activist Action Alert; Last Chance to Save Nevada's Wild Horses!

Update: What is happening to Americas Wild Horses in Nevada is happening in every state that still has wild horses. Its seems as if there is a definite plan by the BLM to get all wild horses off of our public lands. Currently, Nevadas Ely District BLM is planning on "zeroing out" or permanently removing 11 wild horse herds with a total population of over 600 horses, in addition, they are taking another million acres from their historic rangelands. The herds slated for removal any day now are, the Golden Gate-Seaman Combined, the White River & Caliente.

The final decision and approval for these plans came down on August 14, 2009, and on August 16, 2009 I did file by fax an administrative appeal and also a petition for a stay of action until my appeal can be heard. The removals are slated to begin at any time.

We have experienced wild horse, animal law & public lands attorneys and professional experts like biologists and ecologists,land management and wild-life specialists, supporting us in many ways. Some of the attorneys and/or their firms have expressed an interest in this case and may even be willing to take the lead in it, but of course, they want the paralegals and other "non-lawyer professionals to do all the work for them! lol Dont you know its the truth? They want a rough draft of a complaint and I have already started one (with a request for a TRO and Injunction) but could use some help with that as I am very busy these days (who isnt, I know I know) We could also use a couple of PIs also who are willing to do so foot/leg work for us also. There is much evidence yet to be uncovered that will only bolster our "prima facie" case againts the BLM for gross mismanagement of the Wild Horse & Burro Program on many counts. Remember, these animals are supposed to enjoy federal protections and the BLM is out to eradicate them off of our public lands all together!

Any wild-horse lovin' legal-type folk are encouraged to get involved in this winning case. The Wild Horse Advocates just got a wonderful ruling in the DC District Court that backs up what we have been saying for years; that the BLM dosent have the authority to do what they are doing with the program (See; Colorado Wild Horse and Burro Coalition, et. al., v. Salazer, Aug. 14, 2009).

Click the link below to read more about it and to see what you can do to help keep these herds wild and free. Even if you cant "hop on board" with us, there is something you can do that will take only a few moments, if you will,...but do it now please. Time is of the essence!

http://www.freewebs .com/saveourwild horses/actionale rtelynv.htm

Friend of Equines
Chris Jubic, Save Our Wild Horses

Bureau of Land Management on Rampage to Destroy Famous Wild Horse Herd

2009-08-20T10:27:00.001-07:00

Cloud and the wild horses of Montana’s Pryor Mountains are world famous but fame it appears is not going to protect the herd from a drastic government round up planned to begin September 1st in their spectacular wilderness home.

There are currently only 190 wild horses (one year and older) living in the Pryor Mountains. The BLM plans to remove 70 of them, plus foals. According to the foremost equine geneticist, Dr. Gus Cothran, 150-200 adult horses are needed in the herd to ensure their genetic diversity, which is vital to their long term survival.

These 70 horses would be placed in jeopardy. Any horses over 10 years of age can be bought directly by killer buyers and transported over the Northern border to Canadian slaughterhouses or south into Mexico. Younger horses not adopted would be put into government holding with 33,000 others that the BLM has removed from the wild and has proposed killing because they can no longer afford to feed them.

BLM cites poor range condition as the reason to remove the horses but abundant snow and rain for the past two and a half years has produced wonderful range conditions according to all who have visited Cloud and his herd. The Agency is not listening to anyone. They want this herd gutted. Nearly all the mares returned to the range would be given an experimental two-year infertility drug, PZP-22.

This helicopter round up is just one among many that the BLM is trying to complete, perhaps before the Obama Administration can catch up with what is going on.

The Pryor Mountain wild horses are descendants of the Lewis and Clark horses who were stolen by the Crow Indians in the early 1800's. They can be traced further back to the horses brought over with the Spanish Conquistadors in 1500 making them one of the most Spanish of all wild horse herds in North America.

A Stallion is rounded up in Challis, Idaho- photo by Elisa Kline. July 2009.

TAKE ACTION:

Contact BLM:

State Office
5001 Southgate Drive
Billings, MT 59101
Phone: 406 896-5000
Fax: 406 896-5299
E-mail: MT_SO_Information@blm.gov
State Director: Gene Terland
Associate State Director: Howard Lemm

Billings Field Office
5001 Southgate Drive
Billings, MT 59101
Phone: 406 896-5013
Fax: 406 896-5281
E-mail: MT_Billings_FO@blm.gov
Field Manager: James Sparks

Robert_Abbey@blm.gov

To help stop this and save these majestic animals, Call and Email President Obama and Vice President Biden and tell them that you do not want a misguided agency destroying Americas wild horses. 202-456-9000 or 202-456-1111 or write. Tell them to intervene on behalf of the Pryor Wild Horse Herd. The BLM appears to be on a rampage to manage wild horses to extinction.

Sign Petition: Stop the Massive Removal of Cloud's Wild Horse Herd

Read about the Challis Idaho round up here

Documents Reveal BLM Secret Plan to Destroy Wild Horses

Noted Equine Geneticist Dr. Gus Cothran warns against massive removal

The Humane Society of the United States Releases List of Humane Options for Disposal of Horse Remains

2009-08-04T15:16:00.000-07:00

August 4, 2009

WASHINGTON — The Humane Society of the United States released a national list of humane resources for horse owners making end-of-life arrangements for their equine companions.

"Providing a humane, dignified death for your horse is simply responsible horse ownership," said Keith Dane, The Humane Society of the United States' director of equine protection. "No one likes to think about the death of a beloved companion, but planning ahead is key to understanding your options. This resource list gives horse owners the information they need to plan effectively."

The list includes state-by-state information on low-cost euthanasia programs, equine crematories, horse cemeteries, rendering facilities and landfills. State agriculture and veterinary contacts and state regulations are also included.

A recent survey of equine veterinarians and carcass disposal service providers indicated it costs about $300 for humane euthanasia and carcass disposal. In most parts of the country, this cost is equal to or less than the cost of one month's care. With proper care, horses can live well into their 20s and 30s. The latest available data shows there are more than 9 million horses in the United States, making this resource a valuable tool for the millions of Americans involved with horses.

The Humane Society of the United States is providing this list because, due to variations in laws and the availability of services across the country, horse owners often don't know their options when it comes to disposing of their horse's remains. With hundreds of listings for service providers across the country, this tool will ease the burden of seeking out disparate sources of information. It is expected that the list will grow over time, as the public and service providers become aware of this resource. Vendors who wish to have their information added to the list should contact Marika O'Brien at mobrien@hsus.org.

This resource is part of The Humane Society of the United States' Horses: Companions for Life program. The program aims to educate the general public and new, prospective and current horse owners about responsible horse ownership and companionship. Published last year, "The Humane Society of the United States Complete Guide to Horse Care" is the keystone of the program.

HSUS Contact Pepper Ballard, 301-258-1417

Saving America's Horses

2009-02-05T09:11:00.000-08:00

"Saving America's Horses"

with

Paula Bacon - John Holland - Laura Allen

URGENT ISSUE!

Hearing Set for N.D. Bill to Spend $100,000 for

Horse Slaughter!

Don't be duped by the misinformation of a desperate industry looking for free tax dollars to line the pockets of its foreign investors.

By Laura Allen, with permission

H.B. 1496 which proposes to spend at least $100,000 of taxpayers' dollars to find a way to open a horse slaughter facility in North Dakota, is set for hearing before the House Agriculture committee on Friday, Feb. 6 at 9:00 a.m. in the Peace Garden Rm. of the State Capitol at 600 E. Boulevard in Bismarck.

Urge the House Agriculture Committee members and to vote NO on H.B. 1496! Contact or Call 701-328-2916 or send a fax to 701-328-3615 or Email them at lcouncil@nd.gov

Contact a North Dakota state representative!

Contact N.D. senators and urge them to vote NO on H.B. 1496.

Please be polite.

ABOUT THE PROPOSED NORTH DAKOTA BILL

While the rest of the United States is struggling economically, especially state and local governments, hit hard by what has been called the worst recession since the Great Depression, money seems to be overflowing the coffers of North Dakota.

State Rep. Rod Froelich and Sen. Joe Miller propose that the state's Department of Commerce spend $100,000 studying the feasibility of opening an "equine processing facility" aka horse slaughter house in that state. Their proposal is contained in a bill, H.B. 1496, which they are asking the state legislature to approve.

The bill explains that the costly study would involve examining the markets for horse meat and other products from horses, the applicable laws, and available funding. (More)

"Horse Harvesting" by John Holland

FACTS ABOUT HORSE SLAUGHTER

Horse slaughter is also not a means of euthanizing "unwanted horses". This is a myth perpetuated by the horse slaughter industry. Horse slaughter is a multi million dollar a year business that is driven by a demand for horse meat. Kill buyers buy horses at auction for slaughter, and the USDA has said over 92% of American horses slaughtered, are healthy, not old, sick, injured, or neglected. These horses were not unwanted; they were simply sold at auction, and their owners had no control over who purchased them. Without the kill buyers who skulk around horse auctions, looking for the best potential horse meat, most of these horses would be purchased by others or end up in rescues or sanctuaries.

As John Holland, a free lance writer and researcher on horse slaughter, has explained, "Kill buyers do not go around the country like dog catchers gathering ‘unwanted horses' as a public service."

As Americans Against Horse Slaughter points out, "Just over 100,000 horses were slaughtered in the U.S. in 2006. If slaughter were no longer an option and these horses were rendered or buried instead, it would represent a small increase in the number of horse being disposed of in this manner - an increase that the current infrastructure can certainly sustain. Humane euthanasia and carcass disposal is highly affordable and widely available. The average cost of having a horse humanely euthanized and safely disposing of the animal's carcass is approximately $225, while the average monthly cost of keeping a horse is approximately $200."

Also, the horse slaughter industry actually encourages the over breeding of horses. Because owners can make money from the brutal slaughter of their horses, they have an incentive to over breed. (more)

Background Information

The question always asked is if horse slaughter for human consumption is illegal, what will we do with the unwanted horses? As if a multi-million dollar a year industry is driven by unwanted horses. Horse slaughter is driven by a demand for horse meat. Typically, kill buyers buy horses at auction for slaughter. The kill buyers are not looking for the unwanted or abused or neglected horses. They are looking for healthy horses that can be slaughtered for horsemeat, a delicacy in parts of Europe and Asia. The USDA has said over 92% of American horses slaughtered are healthy.

Resource:

Animal Law Coalition GO!

(Learn More)

TAKE ACTION!

SIGN ONLINE PETITION! For the support and cosponsorship of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, bill H.R.503/S.311, H.R.305 and bill H.R.6598, the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act. SIGN NOW!

Save Wild Horses and Burros from Slaughter! Help Restore Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act Gutted in 2004

Contact your U.S. representative and urge him or her to vote YES on the anti horse slaughter bill. Learn more about the Conyers-Burton Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2009, H.B. 503.) GO!

Also, tell your representative to vote YES to stop cruel horse transporting in the US (H.R. 305, the Horse Transportation Safety Act). This will put an end to the cruel transports of horses on double decked trailers. Learn more! GO!

About Our Expert Panel of Guests

Paula Bacon, Americans Against Horse Slaughter. She was mayor of Kaufman, TX 2003-07 where Belgian owned Dallas Crown operated for almost 30 years until the city finally closed them in 2006 for various violations.

"Our job today is to amass and activate people into calling, emailing and faxing the U.S. Congress—until this is done. Perhaps mark your calendars and every Tuesday or alternate day on Wednesday, call, email, fax, but calling is very because we want to keep staff busy with us and the issue on peoples’ minds."

- Paula Bacon

John Holland, Senior Analyst Americans Against Horse Slaughter. He is also a world renown author on the subject of horse slaughter.

"Despite the closing of all domestic horse slaughter plants, American horses continue to be barbarically slaughtered in Canada and Mexico. These exports have rapidly grown to match the highest levels of slaughter in over ten year."

- John Holland

Laura Allen, Animal Law Coalition. She is regarded as one of the nation's most active and astute Animal Law Attorney's.

"Documents never before made public reveal the USDA was aware of extreme cruelty during horse slaughter at facilities in the U.S. The documents dispute claims horse slaughter in the U.S. was in any sense humane and instead reveal a brutal, terrifying ordeal that should be permanently banned."

- laura Allen

Learn more about our guests. GO!

GO TO FEATURED SHOW & RESOURCE PAGE NOW!

Hearing Set for N.D. Bill to Spend $100,000 for Horse Slaughter!

2009-02-04T23:33:00.001-08:00

URGENT ISSUE!

Don't be duped by the misinformation of a desperate industry looking for free tax dollars to line the pockets of its foreign investors.

By Laura Allen, with permission

Urge the House Agriculture Committee members and to vote NO on H.B. 1496! Contact or Call 701-328-2916 or send a fax to 701-328-3615 or Email them at lcouncil@nd.gov

Contact a North Dakota state representative!

Contact N.D. senators and urge them to vote NO on H.B. 1496.

Please be polite.

Stop BLM's proposal to kill 33,000 wild horses!

2008-11-11T14:25:00.000-08:00

Credit: The Cloud Foundation

In this defining moment for America, with what we hope will be an administration favorable to wild horses, we still need to keep up the momentum to save them.

On November 17th the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board will meet in Reno and we urge you to attend this meeting if possible! We expect the board to discuss a BLM proposal to kill some or all of the 33,000 wild horses currently in holding facilities and it would be great to have a large contingent of wild horse supporters there. The BLM board is accepting comments now through November 12th and I ask you to write on behalf of our horses. You can submit your comments to the Advisory board c/o Ramona DeLorme.

We need to make it clear to the BLM that we will not allow them to kill our wild horses. They have continued to round up horses this fall, only increasing the number of horses in holding. There are 19.4 million acres that have been cleared of all wild horses and it is time that they are returned to their legal homes.

Please join me in sending your comments to the BLM Advisory Board and, if you can, please come to the meeting in Reno. I will not be there as I will still be in Massachusetts, but will have a letter read at the meeting by my good friend and friend of wild horses, Kate Riordan.

Wild Horse advocate, author and photographer Carol Walker recently witnessed the Sand Wash herd round-up in Western Colorado and returned with these disturbing photos. One gray mare became stuck under a trailer for over fifteen minutes and horses being loaded had to climb over her. As you can see, the horses are in beautiful condition. Regardless, they lost what they most cherish… their freedom and their families. This is yet another unnecessary and poorly conducted round-up. Please continue to contact your senators and representatives and ask them to help protect our wild horses. Click here to see Carol’s photos.

The Government Accounting Office will soon be releasing their investigative report on the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro program. What comes out in that report may have direct implications for the horses.

One of our international wild horse supporters, Nadine, recently wrote from Germany: “I can’t imagine America without wild Mustangs, for us they are a symbol of America, they are living legends and wonderful horses. They just belong there.” We'll continue working to convince BLM to protect rather than destroy an American treasure beloved worldwide.

Happy Trails,
Ginger Kathrens
Volunteer Exective Director
The Cloud Foundation

PS: Two other events for The Cloud Foundation are Equine Affaire on November 13th-16th in Massachusetts and a special evening presentation I will be making at Denver University on December 5th, click here for more details. Hope to see you at one of these events!

Stop Cruel Horse Slaughter

2008-06-12T22:15:00.000-07:00

On June 10, 2008, the Canadian show "The National" did an extraordinary twenty minute piece on horse slaughter. It explained that while the US has a temporary ban on horse slaughter, US horses are being trucked to any of seven slaughterhouses in Canada to be killed, and that the horse slaughter business in Canada has grown 75% as a result. The horses may be trucked from the US for 36 hours without food or water, and they face gruesome deaths when they arrive. The piece makes clear how urgently we need to pass the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, which would ban the transport of US horses to other countries for slaughter.

Global Support: For ways to take action in support of saving horses click here.
US Citizens: To encourage the support of your legislators please click here.

Click here to watch the CBS story on line at

It includes distressing footage and a moving voiceover with sections such as:
"Inside the holding pens at Natural Valley Farms, the latest shipment of horses wait quietly for what the morning will bring. Race horses who've stopped winning, work horses who just aren't working out, the pets of teenage girls who've moved away to college. "

A good thought to remember is "We must not refuse to see with our eyes what they must endure with their bodies." So please at least click the link (stations count clicks) and watch what you can.

Please click here to learn more.