• ALERT! ~ Patricia Fazio of the Wyoming Animal Welfare Network has recently issued an alert about a bill floating around the U.S. House, H.R. 767 - the Refuge Ecology Protection, Assistance, and Immediate Response Act, that aims to target the eradication of any species classified as a "harmful non-native" on federal wildlife refuges and private lands, potentially leaving hundreds of animal and plant species subject to wholesale slaughter, including wild horses and burros not protected under the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act.

Follow up on the bills status has revealed that it sailed through the House without opposition and now sits in the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works of which Senator Barbara Boxer of California is Chair. If passed, this bill could effectively be used on the Sheldon wild horses and burros and could have massive repercussions to wild horses and burros everywhere including all public land managed by National Park Service, United States Fish & Wildlife Service and of course state managed lands as well such as Big Bend State Park in Texas. Wild Horse & Burro advocates better pay attention to this or they may find themselves up a creek with no paddle!

The source of the alert comes from an organization called Alley Cat Allies as "feral cats" may also be targeted for elimination. Click Here to read their report and stay abreast of the latest developments and possible actions needed or check with The Library of Congress' website (Click Here) and type in the bill number in the search engine.

• The Humane Society of the United States has posted their 2007 Congressional Scorecard on those who supported humane standards and animal rights. Click Here to see where your Representatives stand.
• Read the Lovell Chronicles story on new film techniques being used to reveal the intimate world of the Pryor Mountain wild horses. Interview with Ginger Kathrens of the Cloud Foundation. Click Here to learn more.
• Twenty-five horse trainers are needed for the Wyoming Mustang Challenge to be held in conjunction with the Wyoming State Fair on August 15-16. Click Here to learn more.
• Team Barbaro of Wisconsin do a great job highlighting both the commitment and activism of Phantom Stallion author Terri Farley and her young fans dedicated to helping and saving horses everywhere. Click Here to learn more.
• Rancher Steve Edwards works on breeding the Corolla wild horses due to grave concerns that this extremely pure strain of Spanish Mustang is being "managed to extinction" by the low population levels that have been established. Click Here to learn more.
• "A Donkey's Tale" recounts the story of a local rural community getting hit by "urbanization" when a donkey's braying is determined by the courts to be a nuisance. Long-time residents were stunned and began to wonder what was next - peacocks? roosters? sheep? See what they are trying to do about it and how they are trying to preserve a fast disappearing way of life. Click Here to learn more.
• While this article focuses on the recent exposure of the inhumane and dangerous slaughter practices uncovered recently by the Humane Society of the United States that included downer cows and the 143 million pounds of beef recalled, the statistics and quotes regarding the complete lack of sincere supervision - towards our food and the animals being used for it - echos many of the same truths exposed in the horse slaughter industry. Click Here to learn more.
  

February 27, 2008

• Kentucky's Courier-Journal prints a story titled, "Kentucky's Unwanted Horses Crisis Spiraling" as they recant a story of epic crisis of unwanted horses and attempt to prove it by establishing an unwanted horse hotline. This same kind of story was printed back in March of 2007 titled, "Kentucky Overrun with Unwanted Horses" but real investigations into Kentucky's horse "problem" found absolutely no evidence or cases of unwanted horses throughout the entire state. Ernie Fletcher, Kentucky's Governor issued a letter that publicly stated that article was "filled with inaccurate statements and information" and Kentucky Congressman Ed Whitefield also publicly came forward stating NO ABANDONED HORSES were found in Kentucky. So I guess we are all going to have to remember the journalists who are putting their names to these unfounded stories do get paid. Now the only question is - by whom? Click Here to read the article in full then Click Here to read the truth about Kentucky's unwanted and abandoned horse population in this investigative report, "Deleting The Fiction", which proved every single story published over the last year turned out to be unsubstantiated and completely false.
• Tuesday's Horse, the weekly publication for the International Fund For Horses, provides graphic videos and reports on a hotbed of abuse occuring in Colorados rodeo and veterinarian community. Citing it as a "blizzard of corruption", Tuesday's Horse shares a recently released video by SHARK (SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness) that graphically illustrates how Colorado treats their rodeo horses and just exactly who has been put in charge of maintaining "humane standards" to all animals. Includes a horrendous undercover video showing Dr. Maulsby attempting to break the neck of an tiny elk calf after slaughter workers refused to kill it and when this failed, Dr. Maulsby slits open the babies throat instead. For mature audiences only and even then, nobody should have to watch this kind of thing! Click Here to learn about the whole shocking expose and shame on Colorado!
• Patricia Fazio of the Wyoming Animal Welfare Network has recently issued an alert about a bill floating around the U.S. House, H.R. 767 - the Refuge Ecology Protection, Assistance, and Immediate Response Act, that aims to target the erradication of any species classified as a "harmful non-native" on federal wildlife refuges and private lands, potentially leaving hundreds of animal and plant species subject to wholesale slaughter, including wild horses and burros not protected under the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act. The source of the alert comes from an organization called Alley Cat Allies as "feral cats" may also be targeted for elimination. Click Here to read their report and stay abreast of the latest developments and possible actions needed or check with The Library of Congress' website (Click Here) and type in the bill number in the search engine.
• Horse Talk provides an update on the development of wildlife contraception through darting fertility control drugs to excessive populations, which include deer, bison, elk and wild horses. Click Here to learn more.
• A recent post by Elan Vacations of North Carolina provides a brief history of the Corolla wild horses and the increasing human encroachment that has threatened them to the point of almost vanishing. Click Here to learn more.
• In "Wild Ponies Arrive At Aptos Horse Refuge", the history and journey of foals born to endangered wild herds is chronicled. Includes interviews with President Karen Sussman of the International Society of the Protection of Mustangs and Burros. Click Here to learn more.
• ISPMB is also found urging support for the passage of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act and recounts how America's wild horses and burros went from 2-3 million in the 1900's to merely 60,000. Karen Sussman states today that merely 23,000 wild horses and 4,000 wild burros still exist on public lands. Click Here to learn more.
• "Saving Australia's Wild Horses From Slaughter" discusses the wild horse crisis in Australia and what one grandmother is doing to make a difference. Click Here to learn more.

February 20, 2008

• The Animal Welfare Institute has issued an Alert requesting immediate public involvement to speak up for America's horses. The Illinois General Assembly is scheduled to vote on a bill that would ban the use of double-decker trailer horses are usually hauled in on their way to slaughter. Click Here to learn more and for contact information and let your voice be herd!
• On February 11th, the Homes For Horses Coalition was launched and is dedicated to ending horse slaughter and other forms of equine abuse through a group of professionals working together to actively promote the welfare and protection of horses and other equines. A great research tool too! Click Here to learn more.
• Writer Richard Marcus of BlogCritics has posted two stories on the plight of America's wild horses and burros. Starting with America's Wild Horses Under Threat and the recently posted, Protected Wild Burros In Danger of Extinction, which also provides an account of the recent killings of 71 burros in Big Bend State Park in Texas. He artfully weaves the Big Bend tragedy in with the plight of America's burros by recognizing Congress DID declare burros a protected species in America but Mr. Marcus has yet to realize the loophole that has allowed so many wild burros to be killed anyway - they are only "protected" under BLMs jurisdication. Click the titles to read each article.
• The Nevada Appeal reports thirty-seven horses have now been released at the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center, the results of several wild horse advocacy groups pulling together to make the 104,000 acres sanctuary a reality. Click Here to learn more.
• The BLM has posted a "Drought Conditions" page that includes links to the Drought Information Services BLM uses in determining land use issues. An important link for the hard core researcher. Includes sections on livestock grazing, wildlife and projections for wild horse and burro removals due to "emergency conditions" in 2008. Click Here to learn more.

February 17, 2008

• The New Mexico Senate has taken a step in the right direction as they voted unanimously to pass Senate Memorial 35 to establish a a wild horse park in Sandavol County. Led by Senator Komadina (R-Corrales), New Mexico believes that wild horses would make great ecotourism for New Mexico and they have begun to study the feasibility of getting one started on BLM lands near Placitas. Click Here to learn more.
• Now through February 29, the Artists Co-Op Gallery located in Reno, Nevada is producing a a Wild Horse Art show where you can wander through a dream world for horse lovers. Everything from wall sized photos and paintings to original horse jewelry, lariat baskets featuring horsehair and turquoise, autographed copies of The Phantom Stallion and Wild Horse Island books and more is available now. The Wild Horse Co-Op located at 627 Mill St. - near Wells Avenue, will be donating a portion of its proceeds from book and art sales at the gallery to benefit Hidden Valley's horse protection fund. Call (775) 322-8896 for more information.
• American Horse Defense Fund is growing and to help accomodate its success, they are providing a new toll free phone number to help their members reach them. Starting February 19th, 2008 the old phone number will no longer work (the one with a charge!) and you can reach them toll free at 1-866-956-AHDF (2433) and fax them at 1-866-676-9758.
• Australia finds a prize winning race horse escaping to run wild with the local "brumbies" (what Australia calls wild horses) and the owners have posted a reward for his return. Click Here to learn more.
• "Rescuing "brumbies" of Australia" again brings the spotlight on Australia's brutal policies of killing wild horses and burros and leaving them to suffer and die. One of the focuses is Jan Carter, grandmother and harpist turned horse rescuer as the founder of Save The Brumbies, who is dedicated to finding humane ways of dealing with Australia's 300,000 wild horses. Click Here to learn more.
• "BLM Recommends Smaller Herd" reports on the ongoing Pryor Mountain wild horse issues.Click Here to learn more.
• An inspirational story, "Roaming Free" about the Missouri Wild Horse Leagues successful efforts to STOP National Park Service in 1994 from completely zeroing out a historic herd in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Click Here to learn more.
• Nevada Allocates Aid for Wild Horses (called feral in the article) for $59k to round up and feed about 100 horses roaming near Virginia City, Nevada. Click Here to learn more. The Nevada Appeal reports that $60,000 was approved for wild horse management of Nevada's Virginia "estrays" (wild horses under state jurisdiction) managed by the Department of Agriculture. Click Here to learn more.
• Dr. Phil Sponenberg has become a specialist in identifying rare breeds of livestock brought to the Americas. Includes several wild horse groups including the Spanish mustang, Choctaw wild horses and Pine Tacky saddle horses in the deep South where only three have been discovered and indentified to date. States BLM consults with Dr. Sponenberg regarding Spanish mustangs within their care. Click Here to learn more.
• "OBX Wild Horses Becoming More Endangered" reports that the Corolla and Shackleford herds, listed under The American Livestock Breed Conservancy, has been moved from the Threatened category into the Critical category. The next step on the list is extinction. The 89 and 110 wild horses, respectively, are being managed at such critically low levels that their ability to survive at all has become critical. Click Here to learn more.

February 8, 2008

• The Lompoc Record published an emergency call by wild horse rescue, Return To Freedom, as a mare named Scout, one of 28 other horses that were rescued from the floor of Cavel's Illinois slaughterhouse, requires life-saving surgery due to a sudden emergency. Return To Freedom is requesting help in paying for this surgery that will save Scout's life. Click Here to read the article in full. To help with Scout's surgery, send any contribution to: Scout's Surgery -Return To Freedom, P.O. Box 926, Lompoc, CA 93436 or call (805) 737-9246 for debit or credit card donations. Scout thanks you for your love and support!
• The Utah State University, Equine Teaching and Extension Team have just released a paper titled, "Effect of the Closing of the Horse Harvest Facilities on the Horse Industry" The paper examines 4 arguements against horse harvesting and leads the charge by frequently citing the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). The undergraduates who produced this paper also quotes an increase in abandoned horses as per the Associated Press and cites the cost of humanely euthanzing a horse can run upwards of $400, something they claim is "quite expensive" (ah...the college days, huh?). A low-income household is cited in this report as up to $75k with a household average of $50,000 with merely 25% of America's horse owners falling in this income category that the horse slaughter industry, or lack of it, is affecting. Other economic factors cited are loss of jobs in the previous three "horse harvesting facilities" (known to have high turn overs and immigrant workers), $26 million in economic loss and an additional $20-29 million in disposal costs. Brian Dees, President of the Georgia Equine Rescue League is quoted as stating, "the number of unwanted horses has gone through the roof, the number of request to take horse off a person's hands has gone up by as much as 5000 percent" (no source provided as to where Mr. Dees got this figure from) and "not having the harvesting facilities is one of the worst things that has happened to the U.S. horse industry." Many of the references and quotes taken to support the reinstatement of the horse slaughter industry are merely 30-60 days old with little evidence offered as to whether those involved in the study bothered to substantiate these statements. Despite using the majority of studies and quotes cited in the last 60 days, somehow the students fail to include the "Deleting The Fiction Report" released on 12/23/07 that provided real evidence that all abandoned horse reports had so far proven to be false. Also not considered was the Animal Welfare Press Release citing the AVMA was part of a coalition of companies that own the now defunct slaughter houses and has blocked every effort to pass the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, nor was the Veternarians For Equine Welfare's press release "White Paper on Horse Slaughter", created to address misinformation being circulated by the American Veterinary Medical Association included in their examination of the issues. One other odd note - somehow the University fails to examine the fact that horse meat has a total lack of medication regulations that are applied to other "food-producing animals" despite their focus on the necessity of providing horse meat through horse harvesting for human consumption. The undergraduates conclude that the "facts" are haunting those that made the "wrong decision" as the industry and horses suffer everywhere.
• A group of students at the University of Georgia, Speak Out For Species, hosts its annual film festival throughout February on various topics to help raise awareness for the plight of animals. They will showcase "Last of the Spanish Mustangs", an award winning powerful documentary by Len Johnson that highlights some of the most dramatic issues facing both what's left of America's wild horses, the agency in charge of protecting them and horse slaughter in America. A must see! To purchase your own copy of "Last of the Spanish Mustangs", Click Here for more information.
• The Nokota Horse Conservancy, founded a decade ago, will provide four Nokota horses to initiate a breeding program in France due to the Francois Marchal families interest in the Nokota horses. The Nokota Horse Conservancy believes the horses are descendants of the last surviving wild horses in North Dakota and have been working to preserve them. Click Here to read the article in full.
• Mona Jerome, founder of the Ever After Mustang Rescue shares stories of her adopted mustangs and the Rescue. Mona is the Maine State coordinator for the American Mustang and Burro Association and describes why she is so intent on saving America's wild horses. Click Here to read Mona's story titled, "No Way To Treat Proud Animals".
• Ruben Villasenor has been selected as one of 50 horse trainers in the Extreme Mustang Makeover's next competition. Mr. Villasenor describes what the financial benefits of being selected are and as it turns out, probably not much! He's doing it he says because of concerns that wild mustangs not adopted end up at slaughter and has asked for help from the community to defray costs of the two months of training. Click Here to read the article in full.
• The BLM is seeking bids for one or more new pasture facilities to care for and maintain wild horses. With over 70,000 wild horses and burros being removed from public lands in the last six years, there are now more wild horses and burro in containment centers than roam free on "their range". BLMs estimates that as many as 2,500 will continue to be removed annually. The solicitation for bids ends March 24, 2008. Click Here to read the article in full.
• The BLM Forest Service has announced their new 2008 Grazing Schedule Fee still the same as 2007 - $1.35 per month to feed one cow and one calf on public lands. Click Here for more information.

ADOPTIONS

The Bureau of Land Management is offering multiple adoptions for wild horses and burros at the following locations.

Ohio Expo Center - 70 wild horses and burros - February 16th and 17th, 2008.
Click Here for more information.

Warm Springs Correctional Facility, Nevada- 16 horses - February 9th, 2008. Click Here for more information.

Navarro County Expo, Corsicana Texas - 90 wild horses and burros - February 14th-16th, 2008. Click Here for more information.

Ridgecrest BLM Facility, CA - February 23, 2008. Click Here for more information.

February 3, 2008

• BLM has announced the National Wild Horse & Burro Advisory Board will be meeting in Tuscon, AZ on February 25, 2008 at the Radisson Suites. Written public comments must be submitted by 2/15/08 to be considered. Click Here to read the article in full.
• BLM in Ridgecrest CA will hold a wild horse and burro adoption event on Saturday, February 23, 2008. Click Here for full details.
• BLM announces an adoption in Corsicana Texas starting with a preview day on 2/14/08 through 2/16/08. Again we find that an adopter can apply and gain approval to load up a wild horse or burro the day of the adoption event without BLM personnel checking out the adopters facilities to determine if they meet the legal requirements. Click Here to view the article in full.
• An interview with National Park Ranger Rachelle Daigneault, provides information and insight about the Assateague Island ponies and their wild free-roaming state. Click Here to read the article in full.