In Arizona

SAFE Act Introduced in Congress

noreply@blogger.com (Barb AZ) — Fri, 6 Jan 2017 09:46:00 -0700

January 6, 2017

Washington D.C. – Representative Vern Buchanan, R-Florida, has introduced the Safeguard American Food Exports Act, otherwise known as SAFE Act, unto the 115th session of congress. The act would permanently outlaw slaughtering horses and would outlaw shipping horses out of the country for slaughter.

While animal welfare organization applaud Rep Buchanan’s efforts, they are wary that such a bill will pass. Legislation has been introduced every year in congress since 2001 to outlaw slaughtering horses, and so far none have passed. With strong bi-partisan support on both sides of the aisle, this may be the session of congress that outlaws the slaughter of horses.

Critics of outlawing slaughter say that it will devastate the horse community, and will lead to mass abandonment and abuse of unwanted horses.

Friday Fun!

noreply@blogger.com (Barb AZ) — Fri, 25 Nov 2016 17:23:00 -0700

Breaking News: Bogus, Bloody BLM Advisory Board Votes to Butcher ALL Wild Horses in Long Term Holding

noreply@blogger.com (Barb AZ) — Sat, 10 Sep 2016 08:22:00 -0700

Straight from the Horse's Heart

Death to 44,000 Wild Horses?

Well they did it; the horse hating, special interest bastards that allegedly ‘Advise’ the BLM have voted that all horses in long term holding, they claim 44,000, be killed…TOLD YOU SO, this morning. Bolstadt and company will not be happy until they murder each and every horse and burro. With the exception of Ginger Kathrens it is what they all want and I hope that they gag on their big fat piece of welfare beef at dinner, tonight.

This board should be dissolved and disbanded IMMEDIATELY, not a moment to waste.

Write whbadvisoryboard@blm.gov and express your views. Although Ginger has been thoughtful and civil, as is her nature, it has proven to be a blunt sword against these boneheads.

More details to follow.

Havasupai Tribe Halts Commercial Hiking Trips Following Horse Abuse

noreply@blogger.com (Barb AZ) — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 10:42:00 -0700

KNAU.org

NPR Arizona Public Radio

The Havasupai Tribe this week closed all access by commercial hiking guides to the Havasupai Campground. The closure follows animal abuse charges recently brought against a member of the tribe whose horses packed gear for the companies’ clients. Arizona Public Radio’s Ryan Heinsius reports.

The falls at Havasupai Campground

CREDIT GRANDCANYON.NET

Listen

Listening...

0:43

Hundreds of guiding reservations were canceled this week after the Havasupai Council halted the trips. Tribal officials say they’re devising a new plan to manage pack animals contracted by guiding companies to haul gear nearly 10 miles to Supai Village.

A member of the tribe was charged with felony animal abuse in April. Several of his horses were found malnourished and in need of medical attention.

At least half a dozen companies lead trips to the waterfalls at the Havasupai Campground on a regular basis, often guiding more than 20 clients at a time.

Access to Havasupai is still available for non-guided visitors with reservations. No other details are available at this time.

Resurrecting a Decades Old Problem at Havasupai

noreply@blogger.com (Barb AZ) — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 13:23:00 -0700

We were first made aware of these problems in 2009, in a post here, although complaints have been documented long before that, possibly decades.

Should we apologize for the graphic image?

Horses and burros are left to die on the trail, or off the trail, left to the elements and predators, carcasses eaten by dogs and wolves.

Other abuses, such as sores, dehydration, underweight horses, working at extreme temperatures with no food or water, have been documented by many observers.

Source:
https://www.facebook.com/StopAnimalViolenceFoundation/

More fallen animals:

"4 pack animals still roped together, had apparently
been spooked by coyote or so overnight, fallen off trail, pack loads still on. 2 dead.
we cut them lose. the small donkey managed to eventually get on its own feet.
removed load from mule, and tried foe almost two hours to get it onto its feet."

Source: https://www.facebook.com/havasuanimaladvocates/posts/265406387148513

______________________________

If you have witnessed these abuses, or posted them here on the blog in the past, PLEASE visit the Facebook page (Click HERE) and share your photos and experiences.

https://www.facebook.com/StopAnimalViolenceFoundation/

THIS NEEDS TO STOP NOW.

Burrowing to the Truth in Arizona

noreply@blogger.com (Barb AZ) — Sat, 4 Jun 2016 08:48:00 -0700

The Desert Independent

John McCain & Jeff Flake say burros are out of control. Arizona Fish & Game calls them "invasives." The facts tell a different story.

By CHARLOTTE ROE
To The Desert Independent

June 2, 2016

Burros have long endured lack of respect from humans, but lately the barbs have become mean as well as misguided. Mojave County Supervisor called for shooting wild burros, later explaining he simply wanted to pressure the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to take action. Arizona Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake called for a Congressional hearing, saying burros’ “out of control” population growth burdens taxpayers. Arizona Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) Chair Kurt Davis proclaimed they do untold harm to “native wildlife and communities” and that AGFC should round up these trespassing “invasives.”

The facts beg to differ.

Burros first arrived in the Americas centuries before the USA was born. They packed along southwestern trails beginning in the late 1700s. They transported goods and firewood, and helped open new, previously inaccessible towns. They hauled prospectors’ equipment to remote mines. Some became blinded from working underground. Eventually, they were turned loose to fend for themselves.

These wily, sure-footed animals adapted to the stark landscape. They became one with the desert and canyons, their mournful cries echoing at night through the wilds. They graze on lower quality forage, and dig deep water holes that benefit bighorn sheep, mule deer and other species. Although cattle and other livestock vastly outnumber wild burros on public lands, the long-eared equines are scapegoated for range degradation. Not one validated study has demonstrated that wild burros destroy fragile habitat. The myth persists, because it suits a certain political narrative.

Under the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burros Act ensures, wild burros and mustangs are to be protected on the lands where they roamed as “living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West” that “contribute to the diversity of life forms…and enrich the lives of the American people.” The BLM’s first count in 1974 showed an estimated 15,000 burros in the West. Today, less than 11,000 remain in government-managed herd management areas (HMAs). 1,314 captured burros are incarcerated in dismal, costly government holding corrals.

The Black Mountain HMA, Arizona’s largest, contains over one million acres. In 2013 the BLM stated there were 700 wild burros in this herd area. Today, the Agency claims there are over 1500. And they want that number reduced to a population target (appropriate management level or AML) of 478, or one burro per 2000 acres. At this reported growth rate, the Black Mountain burros would be miraculously fertile. Yet the BLM has never conducted an accurate, credible census. In 2013, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) urged the BLM to revise all its AMLs based on rigorous, up-to-date population statistics and genetic testing to assure viability of the herds.

This was not done.

The BLM is not the main culprit. Livestock ranchers, trophy hunters, oil and mining company owners often view public lands as their private domain. Many commercial interests fight reform and pressure the Agency to get wild equines out of the way. In contrast, local communities and tourists appreciate the burros. It’s time for stakeholders to defend the public interest and preserve these long-eared equines that are living legends of the West. There’s a better way to coexist:

Conduct an accurate population count of HMAs based on scientific census techniques, not random flyovers.
Halt the roundups. BLM helicopter “gathers” harm burros and waste taxpayer money. Post-roundup, foalings increase sharply in a biological response called “compensatory reproduction.” Keeping a burro in the wild costs nothing. Roundups cost $600 per equine, and keeping a burro in permanent holding costs $50,000.
Work with advocate groups and local volunteers to stabilize herd levels using PZP, a safe, reversible, dartable fertility control vaccine that protects herd genetics. Cost per vaccine: $25 annually, or $240 for a longer-lasting, hand-injectable PZP-22 vaccine.
Prevent road accidents by reducing speed limits in areas where burros cross the highway; use signage and night lighting similar to that provided for species such as elk.
Designate a Black Mountain Wild Burro Range, a call recently made by The Cloud Foundation. Retiring livestock from this range and allowing the return of predators would enable natural controls on herd size. It would promote wildlife diversity and restore these desert rangelands for generations to come.

Charlotte Roe is a conservationist, burro adopter, retired foreign service officer/science attaché, and a founder of the Wild Equid League, an affiliate of The Cloud Foundation.

2017 Budget for the BLM Leads Toward Slaughter and Sterilization for Our Wild Horses

noreply@blogger.com (Barb AZ) — Fri, 27 May 2016 11:48:00 -0700

Straight from the Horse's Heart

by Carol Walker, Director of Field Documentation for Wild Horse Freedom Federation, as published on Wild Hoofbeats

Wild Horses in Short Term Holding – a Target for Slaughter

After the proposal to experiment on sterilizing wild mares at the Burns BLM Facility in Oregon, I wondered how the situation facing our wild horses could be come more dire. Now there is news about the Bureau of Land Management’s Budget Proposal for 2017. In this proposal, there is a clause that would remove the protection for wild horses and burros from being sent to slaughter.

Here is Section 110 of the President’s Interior Budget Request:

TRANSFER OF EXCESS ANIMALS
SEC. 110. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of the Interior may transfer excess wild horses or burros that have been removed from the public lands to other Federal, State, and local government agencies for use as work animals: Provided, That the Secretary may make any such transfer immediately upon request of such Federal, State, or local government agency: Provided further, That any excess animal transferred under this provision shall lose its status as a wild free-roaming horse or burro as defined in the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act.
You can look at the whole document here:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/budget/fy2017/assets/int.pdf

This extremely disturbing proposed change to the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act puts thousands of our wild horses held captive in Short and Long Term Holding by the BLM at risk of getting sent to slaughter. The BLM may say that this is to expedite the transfer of horses to other agencies that might have jobs for the horses, but in actual fact, stripping the protection of the Act from the horses makes them a target for slaughter, with no over site, and no responsibility taken by the BLM. Remember the 1794 wild horses sold under the sale Authority Act, without limitation, to Tom Davis that ended up at slaughter?

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_29014000/federal-report-colorado-wild-horse-buyer-sold-mustangs

Given that state and local authorities in many states have repeatedly called for the slaughter of wild horses in holding facilities, it is easy to see that once transferred to the states and other agencies, they will in fact be sold for slaughter. This becomes a convenient way for the BLM to get rid of some of its “wild horse problem” – those pesky “excess horses” whose care absorbs so much of the BLM’s budget.

But the American people do not want the slaughter of our wild horses – the vast majority would like to see wild horses remain wild and free on our public lands, and managed on the range, not rounded up with helicopters, warehoused in holding facilities, and secretly shipped off to slaughter.

Another section of this budget includes the BLM’s “Budget in Brief” which indicates a priority for the BLM in the coming year will be to continue to carry out dangerous and cruel experimental sterilization methods on our wild horses.
“The BLM will also continue expanding the use of contraceptives and the application of spay and neuter to begin to reduce program costs and help address the unsustainable proliferation of wild horses and burros on public lands.”

You can read the whole document here:
From: https://edit.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/uploads/FY2017_BIB_BH007.pdf

The American public would like to see wild horses and burros managed humanely, not experimented upon and sterilized.

As far as “unsustainable proliferation of wild horses” – the simple facts are that wild horses are in only 12 percent of our public lands, and there are currently more wild horses that are captive in holding facilities than on the range. Their numbers are completely dwarfed by the vast amounts of livestock that graze on these same public lands.

The news is not good, but at least now we have the ulterior motives of the BLM laid out in the budget: Opening the door to slaughtering wild horses and burros, sterilizing herds of wild horses and burros without regard to their sustainability, welfare, and continued presence on our public lands.

BLM: Liars, Liars Pants on FIRE

noreply@blogger.com (Barb AZ) — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:55:00 -0700

Straight from the Horse's Heart

“We were about to post the BLM’s latest propoganda and lie-fest when Grandma Gregg sent an email that lit me up. Instead of posting her comment after the article we are using it as a ‘forward’ to the idiot article, it’s just too much…so Grandma, tell us what you think and take it away…!” ~ R.T.

http://www.blm.gov/style/medialib/blm/wo/Planning_and_Renewable_Resources/wild_horses_and_burros/statistics_and_maps/hma_and_ha_stats_all.Par.50867.File.dat/2016_HAHMA_Stats_0316_for%20web.pdf

photo by Terry Fitch of

Wild Horse Freedom Federation

FYI although BLM has claimed that the 1971 population was about 25,345 they FAIL to include the over 70,229 wild horses and burros that were “claimed” by anyone who wanted to round them up from 1971 to 1979. These would be “mustangers” in the truest form of the word and these WH&B would have gone to slaughter – i.e. sold by the pound. And these over 70 thousand are ONLY the ones that were reported and I don’t think anyone familiar with the wild horse and burro issue would disagree that many many many others would have been captured by mustangers and NOT “reported”.

http://www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov/statistics/PopRemAdopStats71-05.pdf

So although we will never know the exact population of WH&B on the day the 1971 Act was passed there is no way in ‘ell you can convince me that it was 25,345 and that those other over 70 thousand were already owned by the people who captured them. No way. I personally have no problem believing that the true wild horse and burro population in 1971 was well over 100,000 and they were not over grazing their lands. The domestic private/corporate livestock were over-grazing since there were many many many more of those on public lands (millions from what I can figure out (http://www.law.gonzaga.edu/law-review/files/2013/11/Coggins.pdf) but the wild horses and burros were not overgrazing their legal lands simply by comparing the numbers of WH&B versus the domestic private/corporate cattle and sheep.

And then we can ALSO talk about their unsupported and non-defensible annual population increases they puke all over us each year and on each and every EA.

Cindy Macdonald (American Herds) wrote a summary about this subject.

American Herds: 1941 vs 1971

Time to get our 100,000 plus wild horses and burros back on their legal lands where they belong.

(Please excuse my rant … but just felt I had to speak up) ~ Grandma Gregg

THE LIE:

Wild Horses and Burros on Public Rangelands Now 2.5 Times Greater than 1971 when Protection Law Was Passed

BLM seeks to expand initiatives to address problems with new legislative authority

46,000 Horses Already Being Cared for Off-Range
Off-Range Care of Unadopted Horses Would Exceed $1 Billion
Necessary Horse Gathers Exceed Available Space and Funding

The Bureau of Land Management announced today that as of March 1, 2016, more than 67,000 wild horses and burros are roaming Western public rangelands – a 15 percent increase over the estimated 2015 population.

The updated numbers show more than twice the number of horses on the range than is recommended under BLM land use plans. It is also two and a half times the number of horses and burros that were estimated to be in existence when the Wild and Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act was passed in 1971. To help address the problem, BLM is seeking legislative authority for additional initiatives.

“Over the past seven years we have doubled the amount of funding used for managing our nation’s wild horses and burros,” said BLM Director Neil Kornze. “Despite this, major shifts in the adoption market and the absence of a long-term fertility control drug have driven population levels higher. A number of program reforms are underway, but assistance is needed from our local, state, and federal partners.”

While herds of wild horses consistently double in size every four years, there has also been a dramatic decrease in adoptions in recent years. In the early 2000s, nearly 8,000 horses were being placed with private adopters each year. Due to a number of economic factors, that number is now down to roughly 2,500 animals each year, compounding an already difficult management situation.

The total lifetime cost of caring for an unadopted animal that is removed from the range is substantial. Costs for lifetime care in a corral approaches $50,000 per horse. With 46,000 horses and burros already in off-range corrals and pastures, this means that without new opportunities for placing these animals with responsible owners, the BLM will spend more than a billion dollars to care for and feed these animals over the remainder of their lives. Given this vast financial commitment, the BLM is now severely limited in how many animals it can afford to remove from the range.

To address these issues the BLM is taking a number of steps, including sponsoring a significant research program focused on fertility control; transitioning horses from off-range corrals to more cost-effective pastures; working to increase adoptions with new programs and partnerships; and requesting two new pieces of legislative authority — one to allow for the immediate transfer of horses to other agencies that have a need for work animals and one that would create a congressionally-chartered foundation that could help fund and support adoption efforts. Additional tools and resources are needed to bring this program onto a sustainable path.

The table below shows the 2016 West-wide, on-range population on a state-by-state basis as of March 1, 2016. This year’s 15 percent increase over the 2015 population compares to an 18 percent increase from 2014 to 2015. The BLM plans to remove 3,500 wild horses and burros from Western public rangelands in 2016.

Wild Horse and Burro On-Range Population as of March 1, 2016

State	Horses	Burros	Total	Maximum AML
AZ	318	5,317	5,635	1,676
CA	4,925	3,391	8,316	2,200
CO	1,530	0	1,530	812
ID	468	0	468	617
MT	160	0	160	120
NV	31,979	2,552	34,531	12,811
NM	171	0	171	83
OR	3,785	56	3,841	2,715
UT	5,440	400	5,840	1,956
WY	6,535	0	6,535	3,725
TOTAL	55,311	11,716	67,027	26,715

Arizona Horse Imprisoned In Stall For Years Learns To Trust Man Who Set Him Free

noreply@blogger.com (Barb AZ) — Sat, 16 Apr 2016 11:07:00 -0700

Straight from the Horse's Heart

Source: the dodo

By Rhona Melsky

The first step he took out of his stall was the hardest.

Monty, a horse locked away in a filthy stall for years, did not seem to understand what was going on. He was hesitant and frightened about coming out of his makeshift prison, where the only attention he received was when his owner threw in some hay, food and water. His only friends were the flies that circled and landed on his gaunt frame.

Monty locked in his stall (Michelle Forster)

When his rescuer, Travis Underwood, first saw Monty, he didn’t know what to expect when he opened the gate.

(Travis Underwood)

Monty was one among many horses and dogs found on a 10-acre property in Scottsdale, Arizona, in the summer of 2014. Trisha Houlihan, founder and executive director of Saving Paws Rescue, AZ of Phoenix, had been alerted about neglected dogs on the property, Michelle Forster, a volunteer with the organization, told The Dodo.

(Photo: Michelle Forster)

The woman who owned the property, known only as Donna, had been left with animals after her husband died in the summer of 2014 after a long illness, and everything at the property went into disarray. “Her husband kept her isolated,” Forster said.

According to Forster, Donna’s husband had been breeding German shepherds and owned roughly 21 horses. The widow reached out because she needed homes for two of the dogs who had been severely neglected. When Forster did a courtesy call to check on the dogs and take photos, she had no idea she would find an animal hoarding situation in the process. However, the animals did have food, water and shelter, as required by Arizona law.

Due to the horrible conditions, Houlihan accompanied Forster on a subsequent visit to document the animals. She reached out to Underwood, a longtime volunteer with Saving Paws, for his assistance.

Travis gains Monty’s trust (Lisa Cramton)

Initially, Donna wanted to sell the horses, mainly Arabians and quarter horses. “But the market was saturated at the time,” Forster said. “Everyone was trying to get her to understand that the horses didn’t have the value that she originally thought.”

The horses had been badly bitten by flies, and they had not received any general care. They were not let out of their stalls, had not been exercised, and were denied hoof care, vet care and basic grooming. Although some of the horses were worth money on paper, most were not marketable because they had not been trained and were in bad condition.

Read the rest of this article HERE.

The elephant in the room at BLM’s National Wild Horse & Burro Advisory Board meetings

noreply@blogger.com (Barb AZ) — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 09:59:00 -0700

Straight from the Horse's Heart

The elephant in the room (photo: bassamsalem)

This is a public comment letter that K.R. Gregg, Environmental Researcher, sent to the BLM’s National Wild Horse & Burro Advisory Board:

April 10, 2016

National Wild Horse and Wild Burro Program National Advisory Board Members

Attention: Ramona DeLorme, 1340 Financial Boulevard, Reno, Nevada, 89502-7147

whbadvisoryboard@blm.gov

I request that this letter be provided to all board members and also be included in the official minutes and the administrative record for the meeting. Thank you.

Re: National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board Public Comment

Dear Sirs/Madams:

I have heard people talk about the “elephant in the room” during BLM meetings and then ignore the REAL elephant in the room, which is that there are NO excess wild horses and burros on their congressionally designated legal lands.

Do not allow the BLM and USFS and Farm Bureau, the extractive and mining giants, hunting lobbyists and the domestic livestock grazing associations to pull the wool over your eyes. There are no excess wild horses and burros on their legally designated land.

Per the 1971 Congressional Wild Horse and Burro Act, the land is to be devoted PRINCIPALLY, although not exclusively, to the wild horses and wild burros’ welfare in keeping with the multiple-use management concept of public lands.

Definition of “principally”: First, highest, foremost in importance, rank, worth or degree, chief, mainly, largely, chiefly, especially, particularly, mostly, primarily, above all, predominantly, in the main, for the most part, first and foremost.

There is NO reason for these wild horse and burro removals and destruction procedures … because there are NO excess wild horses and burros on their legally designated land.

In 1971, when Congress passed the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act, these animals were found roaming across 53,800,000 million acres. That amount of acreage could support more than about 250,000 wild horses and burros, but even after 22,200,000 acres were stolen from the American people by government agencies, the remaining 31,600,000 acres could support more than 100,000 wild horses and burros today.

It is currently independently estimated that less than 20,000 wild horses and burros are living on their legal land today and yet the government continues its aggressive removal and destructive management toward total wild horse and burro extermination.

There is NO reason for these wild horse and burro removals and destruction procedures because there are NO excess wild horses and burros on their legally designated land.

Dr. Don Moore responds to spin of 2 National Wild Horse & Burro Advisory Board Members

noreply@blogger.com (Barb AZ) — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 10:03:00 -0700

Straight from the Horse's Heart

(It doesn’t look like Dr. Leon Pielstick has put on the sterile sleeve yet in the photo above.)

Below we’ve posted: 1) the comment Don Moore, DVM to BLM on their barbaric plan to sterilize wild mares. 2) the response to this from two National Wild Horse & Burro Advisory Board members – Sue McDonnell (NOT a vet) and Julie Weikel, DVM. 3) Dr, Don Moore’s response to their response.

Here is a copy of Dr. Don Moore’s original comment to the BLM regarding wild mare sterilization experimentation:

Attention Project Lead:

BLM stated it was “investing in a diverse portfolio of research projects to develop new, modern technologies and methods for wild horse and burro management”. BLM is looking to improve existing population growth suppression methods or develop new methods according to the environmental assessment. However, BLM does not need to investigate the safety and efficacy of three separate methods of surgical sterilization of wild horse mares. These three methods have been performed on domestic mares and discounted as a last and least preferred method to manage hormonal issues.

The three surgical procedures for permanent sterilization of mares described in the mare sterilization research project, ovariectomy via colopotomy, tubal ligation and hysteroscopically-guided laser ablation of the oviduct papilla all require certain pre-operative and post-operative considerations for aseptic surgical protocol and pain management. Pre-operative bloodwork and a thorough examination are always performed on the relatively few domestic mares which are spayed. Other options other than surgery are always considered first due to the risk involved with any of these procedures. Aseptic surgical protocol and pain management is the standard of care for each and every surgery or the performing veterinarian would undoubtedly be sued by the owner and reprimanded by the state veterinary board.

Wild mares will not have their surgeries performed in a sterile surgical suite. Their surgery will be performed in a non-sterile chute or standing in stocks at the local BLM facility without benefit of routine standard of care. Unlike domestic mares who are easily handled, the very handling of these wild mares presents additional pre-operative stressors, which cannot be mitigated.

BLM does not possess the statutory authority to treat America’s wild free roaming mares as research test subjects to perform surgeries which are not the standard of care for domestic mares.

Case in point, is a photograph of Dr. Leon Pielstick as he was beginning to perform a surgery attired in bibs used predominately for working cattle and performing the surgery with a non-sterile plastic sleeve that is used to pregnancy check cattle. This is not acceptable for a domestic mare, why wild mares? To learn this procedures has been performed on some of the Sheldon wild mares, undoubtedly in a similar manner, is gross negligence and inhumane on the part of the Department of Interior and the veterinarians who performed the surgery in less than aseptic conditions.

This type of trial and error butchery is a violation of the least feasible management clause of the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act.

In private practice, colopotomy is considered an inferior procedure with likelihood of post-surgical infections and complications (i.e., colic) especially during these unsterile conditions. Post-operative care usually lasts several days to often weeks and mares are monitored and in most cases are monitored in box stalls or cross ties, which cannot be accomplished with wild mares. Post- operative bleeding is a situation which cannot be easily remedied even in domestic mares.

Standard of care for tubal ligation and/or ovariectomy is performed under aseptic conditions with a laparoscope and pain mitigation along with private confinement and treatment which can last days to weeks. Complications can also be colic, infection and pain mitigation is required.

Hysteroscopically guided laser ablation is not a preferred method by board certified equine surgeons because it is considered experimental even under the best of conditions. Field veterinarians and veterinary students are woefully inadequate to perform any of these surgeries, which in my opinion should only be done by board certified equine surgeons in appropriate surgical suites and with post- operative care performed by educated and expert staff in an equine veterinary hospital setting.

In recent conversations with Littleton Equine Medical Center veterinarians Scott Toppin, DVM, DABVP and Kelly Tisher DVM the following comments were made to me.

Dr. Toppin stated he had serious concerns about the dangerous and inhumane conditions under which these surgeries would be performed. He also stated concerns about the sterility of the procedure and pre and post-operative pain control.

Dr. Tisher shared that their practice equine surgeon, Dustin V. Devine DVM, MS DACVS, performs approximately six to twelve of these surgeries with a laparoscope annually. Littleton Equine is the leading equine veterinary private practice in Colorado.

Mass experimental surgeries performed under these conditions outlined in the proposal, amounts to negligence and abuse. I believe experiments such as this proposal are unethical, inhumane and unwarranted. Any veterinarian(s) who would perform these experiments is in violation of the oath taken as a graduating veterinarian, “above all else, do no harm”. If a veterinarian in private practice performed these procedures in the manner described in this document they would most certainly be reported to and disciplined by the regulatory board of that state. Discipline would likely mean suspension of that veterinarian’s license to practice in that state.

All horses should be judged the same when it concerns care. Elective, unethical treatment should not be performed on either domestic horses or wild horses. BLM gives the impression that all wild horse areas are overpopulated, when in fact, most wild horse areas do not have a genetically sustainable population without intervention. This is due to over manipulation of herds to promote adoption, decreasing original herd use areas and allowing livestock to over graze our public lands. Once again, BLM is exceeding the statutory authority granted by Congress in the management of our wild horses.

Since the inception of the WHBA, BLM has practiced a management for extinction policy. It is ever so clear in the “experimental research policy” BLM is now proposing.

Sincerely,

Donald E. Moore, D.V.M

*******

Comments by Sue McDonnell (who is NOT a vet) and Julie Weikel of BLM’s National Wild Horse & Burro Advisory Board to an advocate who sent an email with link to an article by Debbie Coffey and Dr. Don Moore’s comment to the BLM:

BLM and Fish & Wildlife Service Experimenting on Wild Horses

Responses from Sue McDonnell and Dr. Weikel:

McDonnell, Sue

Julie Weikel R. E. Cope pielstick@gmail.com

Apr 1 at 7:05 PM

Thank you for the link. That is very helpful. I trust that you want the information you circulate to be accurate, so I will share what I know.

I work with people who do this procedure in a world class equine vet hospital where I work, the University of Pennsylvania New Bolton Center. I have had ovariectomy via colpotomy done on my own research and clinical mares, and i find it a relatively non invasive procedure for ovariectomy. I should explain a couple things that you may understandably misunderstand about the procedure.

You mention the rectal palpation sleeve and implicate it as unsatisfactory because it is used also with cattle. The photo shows what to me looks like a sterile glove over the palpation sleeve. That is how it is done for ovariectomy via colpotomy on a farm or in a clinic or at a vet school hospital for horses. Using the clean (or sterile, Probably can’t tell for sure by photo alone) sleeve and sterile glove, all surfaces (typically only the sterile glove) that contact internal abdomen of the patient that should be kept free of “germs” are sterile. The sleeve is used as additional coverage that is very clean if not sterile as added protection. The bibs are not relevant, really, and they could be very clean, but it doesn’t matter much since they don’t touch the internal abdomen of the patient.

I will copy the veterinarians on the board, Dr. Cope and Dr. Weikel, to comment if they have time and can add to my comments. Believe it or not, out in the open air can in many cases can be a “cleaner” environment in terms of infection for colpotomy than inside a hospital, where germs and resistant strains tend to accumulate. If the outdoor area is dusty there would be concerns. Veterinarians are usually doing their best to protect the animal patient. I am not a vet, but have worked professionally with veterinarians in a vet school for over 35 years, and have found very few veterinarians who don’t try their best in this regard. I hear Dr. Moore’s concerns, and have not worked with Dr. Pielstick myself, but trust he is doing his best, which looks from your photos to be as good as here at a world class vet hospital or at other fine vet clinics.

I hope this is helpful. Please let me know what you think.

Sue McDonnell
Julie Weikel

McDonnell, Sue

R. E. Cope pielstick@gmail.com

Apr 1 at 8:30 PM

Thank you Dr. McDonnell for a very thorough coverage of (name redacted) concerns. I concur with all the points you make and add that dust management is routinely addressed during these procedures. I would also add that long term pain management and long term antibiotics are also routine for this procedure.

Certainly any handling of wild horses is stressful for them. However, the goal with these procedures is to achieve population stabilization so that further gathers are greatly reduced and bands can be left undisturbed, thus reducing total lifetime stressful events.

Julie Weikel DVM

*********

And Dr. Don Moore’s response to these comments by Sue McDonnell and Julie Weikel :

The University of Pennsylvania New Bolton Center is no doubt a fine surgery facility. I am also certain that surgeons at the New Bolton Center operate in surgical suites that are properly vented and sterilized, and for Dr. McDonnell to suggest anything less is to insult the very facility she is works for.

It has been my experience at Colorado State University that surgeons as well as veterinary student observers in the suite, were routinely in sterile, long sleeved surgical gowns and gloves. They also wear surgical masks and caps. This is the same protocol used by the excellent private practice facility I spoke with when researching these procedures. Standard of care dictates this diligent surgical preparation of the patient and surgical suite.

To suggest a “clean” sleeve is acceptable for abdominal surgery is ridiculous. Aseptic conditions are the required standard of care for any abdominal surgery and the equine patient is more susceptible to peritonitis than any other species that veterinarians deal with. To suggest an outdoor “facility” used by BLM could be a better choice than any properly equipped surgical suite is ludicrous. Academia and research facilities are no longer exempt from good standard of care.

Again, for BLM and the Advisory Board to propose this type of mass experimental surgery under the conditions outlined in the proposal, amounts to negligence and abuse.

To accept this mass butchery by BLM under the guise of research is inconceivable in a civilized society and to apologize for it suggests a complete misunderstanding of the ethics we as veterinarians pledge to adhere to.

For BLM to promote that there is over population of wild horses on public lands is without merit. Most wild horse areas are managed at levels below what is needed for self-sustaining, genetically viable numbers. Many wild horse areas, such as the Little Bookcliffs (which has long utilized PZP), still need to have additional animals introduced to avoid inbreeding. The Advisory Board would best focus research efforts to change the current BLM management practice of managing wild horses in significantly smaller subsets of original herd use areas that cannot physically allow for genetically viable, self-sustaining herds. The next focus should be proper management of the domestic species that are causing range degradation.

Donald E. Moore, D.V.M.

BLM Offers $10K Reward in Nevada Wild Horse Killing

noreply@blogger.com (Barb AZ) — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 11:29:00 -0700

Straight from the Horse's Heart

Source: Multiple

“Although pleased that the BLM is taking the lead in investigating why a wild horse was murdered while in their care, it begs the question; why are we hearing this five months after the fact? Something does not add up.” ~ R.T.

Former wild horses imprisoned by the BLM photo by Terry Fitch of Wild Horse Freedom Federation

RENO, Nev. — The Bureau of Land Managementis offering a $10,000 reward in the investigation of the killing of a federally protected wild horse at a state prison camp near Carson City in early October.

BLM spokeswoman Jenny Lesieutre said Monday they need the public’s help to find the person or persons responsible for the shooting at Northern Nevada Correctional Center’s Stewart Camp Conservation Center.

The camp is home to about 1,500 BLM horses are kept as part of a training program used to gentle and train the animals before adoption.

The crime is punishable by up to a year in prison and a $2,000 fine.

Lesieutre she says few details are being released because it is an ongoing investigation in connection with state corrections officials.

Anyone with information should call BLM’s crime hotline at 1-800-521-6501.

Bouvry Exports' Prime Feedlot, Alberta, Canada

noreply@blogger.com (Barb AZ) — Wed, 9 Mar 2016 10:19:00 -0700

Animals' Angels

Date:
Wednesday, March 9, 2016 - 09:15
Investigation Category:
Horses

Investigators returned to Bouvry’s largest feedlot, which holds approximately 10,000 horses at any given time, to check if conditions had improved since their 2014 visit. Investigators noticed right away that the work force was very active as feed trucks were continuously keeping the troughs filled. Other workers were constantly driving around the lot, an activity that could only be described as patrols checking the feedlot for potential intruders. All activities were conducted via vehicle; at no time were workers observed checking the condition of the animals in the pen area on foot.

The horses were kept in pens segregated by mares with foals and geldings. There were approximately 100-200 horses in each pen, all soaking wet from the rain. Most of the horses had a BCS of 7-8 and had been fattened for quite some time. Many had overgrown hooves and were coughing continuously.

The horses had 1-2 numbers branded onto their right shoulder; some horses also had a U-shaped brand on their right hindquarter. Some of the more recent brands, especially on the younger horses, appeared infected. In some cases the burn was quite severe and large, red wounds were clearly visible.

Regarding the pen area, no improvement was noted since our investigators’ last visit. There was still no shelter of any kind for any of the animals and several of the pens appeared very crowded and covered in manure.

Only limited quantities of water was visible, which appeared to be insufficient for the number of horses kept in the pens. The horses were observed licking rain water off of each other and off of the fencing.

One of the large pens held three mares and their foals. Some straw was visible, but it was soaked from the heavy rain. One of the foals was repeatedly coughing. A draft horse with an overgrown left front hoof was limping badly. Another lame horse was seen in the same pen.

Several of the younger draft horses had strong nasal discharge. Investigators observed a young foal, lying down by itself outside of the pen area. It had eye discharge and was very weak on its legs. When the foal moved, it did so only very slowly as if the action was quite painful.

Investigators noted that there were five horses that had escaped the pen area and were wandering along the fence line. One of them, a bay, was limping.

Shortly after spotting this group of horses, investigators saw another horse that was severely limping and moving his head up and down when walking. A Paint horse was also struggling due to a club foot and was barely able to put weight on his left hind leg.

Investigators found two rib sections outside the pen area, which appeared to be from a horse. Several coyotes were also spotted roaming the area by investigators.

This recent investigation shows that Bouvry has made no improvements to their feedlot -- the horses still have no access to shelter and multiple horses with health concerns were found. It appears that the only thing Bouvry has invested in is an increased work force, hired to patrol the premises.

Animals’ Angels will continue to monitor Bouvry’s operations and report all findings to the EU Commission.

BLM Considers Wild Burro Agreement

noreply@blogger.com (Barb AZ) — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 08:35:00 -0700

Straight from the Horse's Heart

By HALEY WALTERS Today’s News-Herald

“A little bit of Wild Burro propaganda, maybe?!” ~ R.T.

Wild burro captured by BLM ~ photo by Terry Fitch of Wild Horse Freedom Federation

The Bureau of Land Managementmay enter into an agreement withArizona Game and Fish Commission to team up on Arizona’s burro problem, following talks yesterday in Washington.

Senator John McCain, representatives from Game and Fish plus several county supervisors sat down to discuss the area’s relentless burro overpopulation and ways to combat it. Arizona Game and Fish submitted a proposal that is under consideration by the BLM.

“I look forward to BLM’s review of the proposal,” McCain said. “I also believe it’s time that Congress holds a hearing to examine the rapid growth of burro populations in Arizona. I look forward to continuing this conversation until a sustainable, long-term solution is agreed upon.”

The proposed solution would place more of the burro burden onto the Commission, alleviating the billion-dollar financial strain the management costs for burro management places on the BLM each year.

“The resolution includes burro capture, transports and an aggressive marketing campaign to adopt them out,” Mohave County Supervisor Steve Moss said. “It’s a very compassionate resolution if it works.”

McCain is expected to pursue an intergovernmental agreement that would validate this partnership and may pursue a possible special senate hearing to examine how federal law is impacting the situation. The Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 only permits the BLM to manage burro herds.

““It’s clear to all parties that the current incarnation of the federal government’s Wild Horse and Burro program is no longer effective and must be re-evaluated,” Arizona Game and Fish Commission Chairman Kurt Davis said. “The impact this non-native, feral animal is having on our native wildlife, our communities and taxpayers is only escalating and no longer can be shoved aside by the BLM.”

Moss said BLM officials don’t expect the capture-adopt method to completely solve the problem, but he and other stakeholders said they are in complete support of the measure if it slows the growth of burro populations.

“We’ll find out over the next several months and years if it has had an impact,” Moss said.

4 major wild horse & burro advocacy groups come out against BLM’s cruel plans to do sterilization research on wild mares (Mon., Feb 8th)

noreply@blogger.com (Barb AZ) — Mon, 8 Feb 2016 12:22:00 -0700

Straight from the Horse's Heart

Special action alert. Join us on Monday, February 8th, 2016

6:00 pm PST … 7:00 pm MST … 8:00 pm CST … 9:00 pm EST

Listen to the live show (HERE!)

You can also listen to the show on your phone by calling (917) 388-4520.

This show will be archived so you can listen to it anytime.

_____________________________________________

Four major wild horse and burro advocacy groups and advocates are uniting to speak out against Bureau of Land Management (BLM) plans for cruel sterilization experiments on wild mares (including pregnant mares). The BLM extended the Environmental Assessment comment deadline until Feb. 10th, because American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign (AWHPC) asked for and received additional documents that the BLM had not made available to the public. AWHPC then requested additional time to review these documents. (Information is given below so that after listening to this show, you can add YOUR comment to save the wild mares from these barbaric experiments.)

Our guests for this show include:

Suzanne Roy, Campaign Director, American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign (AWHPC)

Paula Todd King, Communications Director, The Cloud Foundation (Ginger Kathrens is in the Pryors, but she’ll try to call in)

Best-selling author Terri Farley (Wild at Heart: Mustangs and the Young People Fighting to Save Them)

Karen Sussman, Pres. of International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros (ISPMB)

Carol Walker, Dir. of Field Documentation for Wild Horse Freedom Federation

BLM’s heinous plans are to STERILIZE wild horses, including “studies” (experimentation trials) using several methods on 225 wild mares: ovariectomy via colpotomy, tubal ligation, and hysteroscopically-guided laser ablation of the oviduct papilla. The BLM is going to do this experimentation at BLM’s Wild Horse Corral Facility in Hines, Oregon, but will eventually do sterilizations out in the FIELD.

Leon Pielstick, DVM, inserting a chain ecraseur (and his arm) viacolpotomy incision

A link to the Environmental Assessment is HERE.

Please submit your comments by Feb. 10th, by fax or email to the BLM Burns Office, with the heading:

Attention: Mare Sterilization Research

Mare Sterilization Research Project Lead

email to: blm_or_bu_mareresearchea@blm.gov

or Fax: (541) 573-4411

BLM Burns District Office:

Attention: Mare Sterilization Research

28910 Highway 20 West, Hines, Oregon 97738

(You may only want to put your name and email address on your comment, since entire comments – including personal identifying information – may be published as part of the EA and Decision Record process.)

Be sure to listen to Jonathan Ratner of Western Watersheds Project,

on Wild Horse & Burro Radio on Wed., Feb. 10th.

Tonight’s show is hosted by Debbie Coffey, V.P. and Dir. of Wild Horse Affairs forWild Horse Freedom Federation.

To contact us: ppj1@hush.com, or call 320-281-0585

TO LISTEN TO ALL ARCHIVED WILD HORSE & BURRO RADIO SHOWS, CLICK HERE.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/marti-oakley/2016/02/09/wild-horse-burro-radio-stop-blm-sterilization-research-on-wild-mares

1/20/16 – Carol Walker, Dir. of Field Documentation for Wild Horse Freedom Federation, on BLM’s plans to sterilize wild horse and burros. Listen HERE.

1/27/16 – Marjorie Farabee, Dir. of Wild Burro Affairs, on threats to shoot wild burros in Arizona. Listen HERE.

Sen. John McCain got it wrong about wild burros

noreply@blogger.com (Barb AZ) — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 09:50:00 -0700

Straight from the Horse's Heart

Unfortunately, Sen. McCain was misinformed if he thought there was an “exploding” burro population in Mohave County. Wild burros are almost extinct in the United States due to mismanagement by the Bureau of Land Management. You can contact Senator McCain HERE.

Source. McCain.senate.gov

Senator McCain Urges Interior Department to Address Exploding Burro Population in Mohave County

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Interior Director Sally Jewell this week urging the agency to address problems with managing the exploding burro herd population in Mohave County, which are damaging lands from over-grazing, harming other wildlife, and causing numerous car accidents in the area.

“The Interior Department’s mismanagement of the [Black Mountain Burro Herd Management Plan] has resulted in significant unintended consequences for Mohave County,” writes Senator McCain. “For example, burros have devastated the areas’ natural resources by over-grazing the land, which has subsequently harmed native wildlife like quail, rabbits, and doves. Furthermore, burros have migrated into residential neighborhoods in search of food, posing a significant public safety hazard to the community. In just over two years’ time, the burros have been responsible for 24 car accidents in Bullhead City, Arizona… I strongly believe that any update to the Black Mountain HMA must address public safety and natural resources concerns.”

The signed letter is here and the text of the letter is below.

The Honorable Sally Jewell

Secretary

U.S. Department of the Interior

1849 C Street NW

Washington, DC 20240

Dear Secretary Jewell:

I wish to bring to your attention the concerns of Mohave County, Arizona, regarding efforts by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to update the Black Mountain Burro Herd Management Plan.

As you know, Mohave County is home to the largest Herd Management Area (HMA) in Arizona, totaling approximately 1.1 million acres. The HMA was established in 1996 under BLM’s Black Mountain Ecosystem Plan at a time when HMA totaled just 478 head. However, reproduction rates have outpaced BLM’s ability to manage the herd. Today, the herd population in Mohave County has exploded to over 1,500 head while only 120 wild horses and burros are adopted each year on average.

The Interior Department’s mismanagement of the program has resulted in significant unintended consequences for Mohave County. For example, burros have devastated the areas’ natural resources by over-grazing the land, which has subsequently harmed native wildlife like quail, rabbits, and doves. Furthermore, burros have migrated into residential neighborhoods in search of food, posing a significant public safety hazard to the community. In just over two years’ time, the burros have been responsible for 24 car accidents in Bullhead City, Arizona (see attached).

Against this backdrop, I ask you to (1) indicate if you are aware of the public safety and natural resources concerns raised by Mohave County in connection with the Department’s mismanagement of burro herd populations in Mohave County; (2) outline a plan of action and associated milestones by which the Department intends to return burro population numbers to levels that can be more reasonably managed; and (3) identify what additional legislative authorities, if any, you need to address this problem.

I strongly believe that any update to the Black Mountain HMA must address public safety and natural resources concerns. The response you provide will be most appreciated, and I look forward to your timely reply.

Sincerely,

John McCain

United States Senator

###

Permalink: http://www.mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2015/6/senator-john-mccain-urges-interior-department-to-address-exploding-burro-population-in-mohave-county

Related Files

6 25 15 McCain Letter to Interior Director re Mohave County Burro Herd Management Plan.pdf (1.4 MBs)

AZ Burros: Two Articles!

noreply@blogger.com (Barb AZ) — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 10:45:00 -0700

Mohave County Supervisors to discuss SHOOTING WILD BURROS on Jan. 19th at 9:30 am in KINGMAN, AZ

SOURCE: WILD BURRO PROTECTION LEAGUE

Black Mountain wild burros (photo: Marjorie Farabee)

by Marjorie Farabee, Dir. of Wild Burro Affairs, Wild Horse Freedom Federation

Shooting our wild burros is not an option! (ACTION ALERT BELOW)

The threat:

“District 5 Sup. Steve Moss is asking staff to contact the Bureau of Land Management to reduce the burro population to 817. One option is to seek legislation to allow state agencies to issue hunting permits to bring the population under control. Another option is to file a lawsuit against BLM.”

However, the fact is:

The Bullhead Parkway is in between the burros and the river, where the burros need to get water to survive.

Map showing that Bullhead Parkway is in between the burros and the river.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/B…

“Three burros were killed Dec. 27 in two separate incidents on the Bullhead Parkway. Both drivers were unhurt but their cars were heavily damaged. Another burro had to be euthanized after it collided with a car in February 2015, also on the Parkway. A herd of about nine burros have recently been seen on the Parkway grazing on the side of the road and in the center median.”

The title of the article below should read: Supervisors vex wild burros!

http://www.mohavedailynews.com/…/article_2f6ceeb0-b9c4-11e5…

ACTION ALERT: What you can do:

Let the Mohave County Supervisors know that the burros are important to preserve. Call them and politely explain why the burros should be protected. Provide solutions. Explain why the burros are important to protect. Let them know about alternatives such as overpasses and underpasses to get to the Colorado river. While these provisions are being built, they can provide stock tanks to keep the burros from crossing.

Those of you who live close to Kingman should go to this meeting and speak up for our burros. The few remaining wild burros need you NOW. Meeting Tuesday morning (1/19/16) at 9:30 a.m.

From the Mohave County Supervisor’s Agenda:

“Those wishing to address the Board at the Call to the Public regarding matters not on the Board agenda must fill out and submit to the Clerk a Call to the Public – Request to Speak Form located in the back of the room prior to the meeting. Action taken as a result of public comments will be limited to responding to criticism, referral to staff, or placing a matter on a future Agenda. Comments are restricted to items not on the Regular Agenda with the exception of the Consent Agenda, and must relate to matters within the jurisdiction of the Board.”

MOHAVE COUNTY SUPERVISOR BOARD:
700 West Beale Street
Kingman, AZ 86402-7000

Clerk of the Board Ginny Anderson
Telephone (928) 753-0731
FAX(928) 753-0732 TDD– (928) 753-0726

District 1 Gary Watson (928) 753-0722
District 2 Hildy Angius (928) 758-0713
District 3 Buster D. Johnson (928) 453-0724
District 4 Jean Bishop (928) 753-8618
District 5 Steven Moss (928) 758-0739
Kingman, Arizona 86402-7000
Website –www.mohavecounty.us

Mohave County AZ Supervisor Proposes Wild Burro Hunting

Haley Walters Today’s News-Herald

“The article, below, is unedited but please read with your eyes wide open as the numbers are skewed, again, and the bulk of the content is pure, unadulterated anti-burro propaganda. We need people at the meeting on the 19th!” ~ R.T.

Supervisor Steve Moss says he wants to force BLM into action to control burro herd numbers

Highway along Colorado river has NO wildlife underpass or crossing

Mohave County District Supervisor Steve Moss is proposing hunting licenses to offset the over-abundant burro population in the area.

The Bureau of Land Management estimates there are between 1,400 and 1,800 burros in Mohave County, and supervisors said they want to see that number reduced to 817. This is still well above BLM’s recommendation of 478 burros for the region.

The proposal is on the agenda for Tuesday’s county supervisor meeting, but Moss said it was placed as a way to spark a reaction from the BLM.

“No one truly wants to hunt Burros, including the board of supervisors. And even if we did, neither the local nor state government has the power to issue permits,” Moss’s office said in a statement. “What we want is the BLM to come up with a solution, regardless of what it might be. We are hoping that the ‘shock’ value of the agenda item will motivate the BLM to direct the funding required towards adoption, sterilization, removal and relocation, fencing, etc. programs.”

Moss said if the BLM does not take long-term action to control the burro population, the county will pursue legal action against the Bureau for not carrying out its statutory duties outlined in The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971.

“With that law, the federal government tied our hands as far as what we could do to control the burro population and gave the authority over to the BLM,” Moss said. “The legislation says it’s the BLM’s responsibility to control the burro herds but they’ve broken that promise and they’re not taking care of it.”

BLM Public Affairs Specialist Jayson Barangan said efforts to manage burro numbers have already been enacted, but it takes time to find the right solution.

“The situation [in Mohave County] has had our attention for a while and I think that with our toolkit and with our partnerships we’re trying to find a balanced approach to manage these animals,” Barangan said.

The BLM routinely rounds up wild burros for its Adopt a Wild Horse or Burro Program, and is currently conducting an environmental analysis to study the feasibility of antifertility inoculations.

“We’re working with some partners on a trial run on some fertility treatments of animals, but that hasn’t been set in stone yet,” Barangan said.

Still, Moss remains unimpressed with the BLM’s “token efforts” to control the burro population in the wake of numerous motorcycle and vehicle accidents involving burros.

“It’s only a matter of time until a burro goes through someone’s windshield and kills a family,” Moss said.

The BLM has placed fencing along Mohave County highways to dissuade burros from wandering into traffic, but the county still has the largest burro herd in the U.S., which is running out of space to roam.

“There is plenty of BLM land they can relocate the burros to,” Moss said. “I hope the BLM does that, or anything else, to get the local numbers under control as the current population is out of whack from what the habitat can support and is threatening public safety as the numbers are forcing the Burros to expand their range into Bullhead City and occupied subdivisions.”

The meeting will be held at the County Administration Building in Kingman on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.

It’s not just Wild Horses and Burros the Feds are Illegally Kicking off our Public Lands

noreply@blogger.com (Barb AZ) — Sat, 9 Jan 2016 09:32:00 -0700

Straight from the Horse's Heart

“A longtime reader and friend sent me the email I am posting below, with permission. I am not condoning the actions of a few out in Oregon but the corruption of the BLM knows no bonds and the information below is rather startling, to say the very least. Take a few moments and watch the enlightening video, it is truly eyeopening and probably seriously frighting. How did we stray so far from the path?!?!?” ` R.T.

photo by Terry Fitch of Wild Horse Freedom Federation

If we want to know why wild horses are being booted off the land designated to them by federal legislation in 1971, we first need to understand that, according to the U.S. Constitution, this land nevershould have belonged to, or been set aside by, the federal government in the first place.

In a new nine-minute video,constitutional attorney and educatorKrisanne Hall explains exactly which article, section, and clause in the Constitution confines the federal government’s legal property to (1) 100 square miles in Washington, D.C., and (2) the amount of land necessary for “forts and ports”—with “necessary” being determined by the states.

In other words, the federal government, formed by the states to be the servant ofthe states, for the sole purpose of conducting foreign affairs—war, peace, negotiations, commerce—with other countries, has no constitutional right to own, take over, or trespass upon any other acreage in the entire United States of America. (Or elsewhere around the world, for that matter!)

With that fact in mind, please watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T424sWq1SkE (below) and forward to whomever you think is ready to hear this non-partisan warning—whomever you think may be prepared to reclaim their constitutional rights.

When I think about it, it’s no wonder we feel helpless in the face of the wild horse and burro round-ups. For, having lost sight of how to defend our own rights, how can we possibly protect the rights of the creatures entrusted to our care?

By the way, you’ll find all of Krisanne’s current and archived podcasts and videos about the U.S. Constitution—and the federal government’s constant encroachment on and subversion of it—at her website, www.KrisanneHall.com.

In the spirit of freedom for humans and horses alike,

P.S. So long as we see this issue through partisan or ideological lens, we won’t be able to take back the property rights of states and individuals. We’re being required to rise above the Republican-vs.-Democrat, right-wing-vs.-left-wing divide (a “fight” that’s fomented by corrupt elements buried within the federal government and by their hidden “controllers”), so that we can unite against whomever and whatever would steal our God-given liberty.

BLM to use Infrared to Count Wild Burros ahead of Stampede & Roundup

noreply@blogger.com (Barb AZ) — Mon, 21 Dec 2015 09:36:00 -0700

Straight from the Horse's Heart

Source: Multiple

“They blend into the background and they don’t run. They’ll just stand there and look at you…”

“I am sorry; maybe it is too early in the morning or perhaps I have not finished off enough coffee but the article, below, confuses the living daylights out of me. It appears at first glance that the U.S. Geological Survey‘s science center in Colorado wants to do a five year study on the wild ~~donkeys~~ burros of the Sinbad herd inUtah. And before the study is fully underway the BLM is going to swoop in, stampede the poor little guys and roundup and remove over 50% of the estimated Sinbad herd population. Isn’t that ass-backwards or is it just me? We all have known for years that the BLM cannot count nor cipher correctly so it is probably just more smoke and mirrors to further decimate the last, few wild burros that exist on this continent. The BLM most assuredly speaks with a forked tongue…and I am not buying the hype!!!” ~ R.T.

BLM’s method of “humanely” rounding up wild burros

Federal wildlife officials are planning to use infrared equipment to count the number of wild burros in an elusive eastern Utah herd ahead of a round-up next spring that’s part of a new in-depth study of the animals.

The Bureau of Land Management is using the equipment to sense the animals’ body heat because they tend to scatter and blend into the landscape, making them tough to count, the Deseret News reported.

“It’s cutting edge. We will be able to identify burros based off their heat signature,” said Gus Warr, wild horse and burro specialist for the BLM in Utah. “Burros are tough to identify and count because the jacks go off by themselves and the jennies and foals stick together. They blend into the background and they don’t run. They’ll just stand there and look at you.”

After the wild donkeys in the Sinbad herd are counted in January, the BLM plans to round them up and remove some because the herd has grown too large for the drought-parched land near Green River to support.

They’re looking to round up about 200 wild burros and remove about 130 of them from the range in March to get the herd closer to a sustainable 60 animals.

Wild burro captured by BLM ~ photo by Terry Fitch of Wild Horse Freedom Federation

The removal is also part of a larger effort to study the Sinbad herd, which is one of just two wild burro populations in the state. Relatively little is known about the animals that roam a nearly 100,000-acre range of tough terrain in the San Rafael Swell area about 200 miles southeast of Salt Lake City. Federal officials have done roundups of the Sinbad herd three times in the last two decades: in 1996, 2001 and 2008.

“There’s surprisingly been very little research done over the years,” Warr said. “This is a huge opportunity for us because there is not much data out there. This will provide us with better management tools.”

Researchers with the U.S. Geological Survey’s science center in Colorado are doing a five-year study looking at the dynamics of the herd, including factors like habitat, mortality, movements and survival rate by age.

“This is ground zero because you have to know how many of them are out there if you are going to manage them,” Warr said.

The research is an outgrowth of a 2013 report from the National Academy of Sciences criticizing the BLM for not using a more scientific approach to managing wild horses and burros on public lands.

How the Federal Budget Package Protects Animals

noreply@blogger.com (Barb AZ) — Sat, 19 Dec 2015 08:54:00 -0700

Straight from the Horse's Heart

by Matthew Bershadker ~ASPCA President and CEO, as published on Huffington Post Blog

Horse Slaughter: To be clear, this is still a short-term and incomplete solution…

“Harley” (Ginerous Legacy) Saved from slaughter by Habitat for Horses and adopted by author R.T. Fitch and his wife Terry. Photo by Terry Fitch

The massive, 2,000-page federal spending omnibus package President Obama signed today represents months of negotiations by the House and Senate. And while some of the loudest and largest passengers on that omnibus include defense spending, tax reform, and homeland security, a number of critical animal causes fortunately found seats as well.

Their inclusion wasn’t a sure thing, but in a process known for deep political compromises, it’s gratifying to see legislators not compromising animal welfare – particularly the protection of American horses and farm animals used in federal research for political gain.

First, the law will continue preventing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from using taxpayer dollars to inspect horse slaughter facilities, effectively prohibiting such facilities on U.S. soil in the coming fiscal year.

To be clear, this is still a short-term and incomplete solution. It requires annual approval, and does not address the problem of horses being shipped to other countries for slaughter, a cruel process that can also endanger human health. This is why we encourage passage of the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act of 2015, which would protect American horses from slaughter anywhere, permanently.

The federal spending measure also requires the USDA to improve animal welfare policies at federally-run agricultural facilities including the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) – a Nebraska facility where animals were subjected to horrible abuse and torture to help meat producers discover more effective ways to make money.

Combined with improved policies at the USDA, this spending measure will hold USMARC and other federal animal research facilities to the basic standards, inspections, and reporting requirements of the Animal Welfare Act.

Other included measures will help protect wild horses from slaughter and ensure proper oversight and enforcement of laws cracking down on puppy mills and ending horse soring.

Considering how these humane proposals were in doubt as recently as this week, it’s tempting to think that we – and these victimized animals – dodged a bullet, but it should never have come to that. Ensuring animals are not tortured for industry profit is not simply a good idea; it’s an imperative that represents some of our most basic values and obligations as Americans and as human beings.

Today, our leaders stepped up for those values. Making sure they do the same moving forward may depend on how loudly we – the people they represent – stand up and speak out. Please consider the many ways you can be a voice for stronger legal protections for animals.

To comment directly on the “Huff”: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matt-bershadker/how-the-federal-budget-pa_b_8842084.html

Why is the BLM killing wild horses?

noreply@blogger.com (Barb AZ) — Wed, 2 Dec 2015 12:33:00 -0700

Straight from the Horse's Heart

By Jack Ferm as published on The Independent ~ A Voice for Utah

Horses are not part of America’s food chain!

The Bureau of Land Management is a federal agency tasked with protecting our heritage, including wild horses known colloquially as “mustangs.” These majestic animals have freely roamed North America since the Spanish reintroduced them to our continent in the early 1500s. But things have changed, and now a question has been raised: Is the BLM killing wild horses?

photo by Terry Fitch of Wild Horse Freedom Federation

There is no thrill like watching a herd of these imposing animals run free as I myself have witnessed. They are intelligent and resourceful animals that have a matriarchal society, and they look to their leader like she was somehow elected by the herd themselves to lead them.

During World War I, more then a million of these animals had been conscripted for military combat with many more hunted and killed for sport or for dog food.

Finally, after years of abuse The Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act was passed by President Nixon on Dec. 15, 1971, but even this law is not making a difference for these animals.

Now we have to ask why is the BLM not doing its job. Why is the BLM killing wild horses?

In the dichotomy of federal law, the BLM can use motorized vehicles to capture wild horses, but by law the BLM is not allowed to kill them (either directly or indirectly); whereas Fish and Wildlife Service can kill horses but can’t use motorized vehicles to capture them.

Yet the government wants these animals gone and has turned a blind eye to their knowingly being sold to slaughterhouses where their meat is often sold in Europe or Asia. For instance, these nine countries—Mexico, Switzerland, Kazakhstan, Belgium, Japan, Germany, Indonesia, Poland and China—actually consider horse meat a delicacy. Yuck, to me it’s like eating a friend!

Animals that are slaughtered in these slaughterhouses are conscious and shakingwhile they suffer excruciating pain as they lay dying.

Our wild horses are now going to slaughterhouses where their throats are cut like the way chickens are slaughtered. And the BLM is fully aware of their slaughter: In fact, they knowingly aid and abet this unlawful treatment of these very intelligent animals.

BLM chasing protected mustangs from the air ~ photo by Terry Fitch

Recent evidence has established the BLM’s complicity in the illegal sale of these free-roaming animals after capturing them by helicopter herding. The BLM appears to knowingly have sold 1,794, if not more, federally-protected wild horses between 2009 and 2012 to a Colorado rancher, Tom Davis, who then sold them for slaughter. The BLM is tasked with following the horses sold to insure they are sold to good homes and are not slaughtered. Yet 1,794 wild mustangs managed to slip through the cracks? Indeed, these majestic animals were deliberately sold into painful deaths.

However, as the agents of this rogue agency broke federal law, like most agencies during this regime, no charges will be filed against anyone … as usual.

Why is our government allowing these wild horses to be rounded up and sold to slaughterhouses? The answer isn’t a pretty one: oil and gas leases, and who controls them as well as livestock grazing. There are 63,000 federal onshore oil and gas wells under BLM management. Those and cattle and sheep ranchers take preference over wild horses. In this case, it isn’t just the money but also the power and control of BLM resources; horses don’t have a lobby or money, so they come up short!

My experience with mustangs has been limited, but I can tell readers that I have witnessed their intellect watching me repair a gate. One actually came over to me and watched everything I was doing like he was studying for a college exam. He was probably “reverse engineering” it so he could go out on an adventure after I left.

These horses even have an understanding of human suffering, acting aspsychotherapy assistants for returning military personnel. Studies have shown that they are a good resource in helping returning military personnel deal with post traumatic stress disorder. They are very relaxing animals to be around, and they elevate your mood.

photo by Terry Fitch of Wild Horse Freedom Federation.

The Wild Horse Act in 1971 placed these horses and burros under federal protection. The BLM was mandated to protect the remaining herds. Instead, it has been an ongoing obstacle to their survival. The BLM from the very beginning lied about the number of wild horses roaming free, which allowed the BLM to remove thousands from the ranges. They have been chased and scared half to death by helicopters, sprayed with buckshot, run down with motorized vehicles, run off cliffs, gunned down at full gallop, shot in corralled bloodbaths, and buried in mass graves to eliminate them.

All of this happened under the “watchful” eye of the BLM staff, headed by Ken Salazar, a cattle rancher. Salazar was appointed to head the Department of the Interior in 2009 by Barack Obama.

Horses are not part of America’s food chain!

During Ken Salazar’s reign as head of the Department of Interior, more than 35,000wild horses have been rounded up and placed in pens. We now actually have more wild mustangs in pens then roaming free as they were meant to be.

The current Secretary of the Interior in Barack Obama’s administration is former REI CEO and former Mobil Oil executive Sally Jewell of Washington. She was confirmed by the Senate on April 10, 2013.

Hmm … first a cattle rancher, then an oil executive … does any of this make you go “hmm?”

To get a full understanding of the beauty and intelligence of mustangs, watch the movie “Hidalgo.” It is a biographical Western based on the legend of American distance rider Frank Hopkins and his mustang, Hidalgo. In the last few minutes are viewed hundreds of mustangs running free, as they should.

Consider that our heritage is under a current state of flux: we are always mindful of changing times and attitudes toward our world. In the end, the old remains, and the new is but an extension of the past, and we are part of only a sliver of a moment in time.

Comment directly at: http://suindependent.com/blm-killing-wild-horses/

Despite Slaughter of Wild Horses, No Prosecution of BLM or Rancher Involved

noreply@blogger.com (Barb AZ) — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 10:57:00 -0700

Straight from the Horse's Heart

H. Sterling Burnett as published on The Heartlander

“…he became the largest buyer of wild horses in the United States…”

BLM Captives; Freedom Lost ~ by Terry Fitch of Wild Horse Freedom Federation

Just two weeks after Ken Salazar was selected byPresident Barack Obama to become the 50th Secretary of the Interior in 2009, the Bureau of Land Managment (BLM), an agency within the Department of Interior (DOI) sold and began shipping horses to rancher, and reported Salazar associate, Tom Davis, who in turn, in violation of the law resold them to slaughter houses in Mexico for horse meat.

A report released by the DOI’s Office of the Inspector General in late October, concluded the BLM did not follow the law in selling 1,794 horses to rancher Tom Davis. The sales were conducted through the agency’s Wild Horse and Burro Program – the program established to protect, manage and control the wild horse population.

The BLM sold horses to Davis between 2008 and 2012 for roughly $10 a horse. The agency lost money on the transactions since they spent tens of thousands of dollars on transport. By contrast, according to Davis he resold “loads” of 35 horses for as much as $4,000, making $2,500-$3,000 profit on each sale, despite signing a contract with the BLM agreeing not to send the horses to slaughter. With the volume of horses Davis purchases he became the largest buyer of wild horses in the United States.

The Inspector General’s report states, “During our investigation, Davis admitted that most of the horses that he purchased through WH&B ultimately went to slaughter. We determined that BLM did not follow current law while managing WH&B. According to the report, the BLM did not follow its own policy of limiting horse sales and ensuring horses sold were not slaughtered.

The slaughter of horses for meat violated a congressional ban on the practice as well as BLM policy.

Despite the Davis’s reported ties to Secretary Salazar, the IG’s office “determined that this matter did not warrant further investigation.” The IG did refer Davis’ conduct to both the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado as well as the State of Colorado Conejos County District Attorney’s Office. Neither office chose to bring either civil or criminal charges.

According to the report, WH&B marketing specialist who approved the sales to Davis received “exceptional or superior” reviews, complete with bonuses between 2008 and 2012…(continued)

Prologue by R.T. Fitch ~ president/co-founder of Wild Horse Freedom Federation

“Sorry, not to sound jaded, but the above information is nothing new and we volunteers at Wild Horse Freedom Federation are making a sincere effort in not slipping into “We Told You So” mode.

Back in 2013 our own Vice President and Director of Wild Horse Affairs, Debbie Coffey, uncovered rock solid evidence, in the way of paperwork, receipts, etc.. of the BLM selling wild horses to known kill buyers (Click HERE to read report) and the entire story was just swept under the carpet by the Feds.

Terry and I, along with many other equine advocates, made a point to be present at the very next BLM Wild Horse & Burro Advisory Board meeting to speak on and to present said evidence to the board and the BLM, see video below, and again…nada.

What does it take to get the members of Congress to wake up and smell the BLM’s BS, collusion and criminal activity? The time for a Congressional Investigation is long past due.

If you are not emailing and writing your Congressional representative on this topic, please begin to do so.

If you are writing and politely prodding, continue with your efforts.

We are not just cheerleaders, here at SFTHH or at WHFF, but instead we are the gatherers of information and the voice of those who cannot speak for themselves.

If ever there was a time to ‘KEEP THE FAITH” and continue to plow forward, this is it…don’t give up; you are not alone and every little effort matters .

Feel free to utilize the reports and documentation supplied on this site, we are a storehouse of information on this topic.

Keep after it, my friends, we need to make this happen.” ~ R.T.

For More Stories and Information on the BLM selling wild horses and burros to slaughter click (HERE)

Livestock Data Fills Gap in Ongoing Wild Horse Debate

noreply@blogger.com (Barb AZ) — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 13:02:00 -0700

Straight from the Horse's Heart

SOURCE: The Daily Pitchfork

Photography: Bryce Gray

BLM and USFS-reported grazing stats reveal the extent of private livestock production on millions of acres of overgrazed western public range and forest land, challenging rancher claims that wild horses and burros are to blame.

by Vickery Eckhoff

A side-by-side analysis of 2014 grazing data shows wild horses greatly outnumbered by millions of privately owned livestock across 251 million acres of western public grass and forest land.

The data includes 2014 year-end grazing receipts of $17.1 million published by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the US Forest Service (USFS), a figure that equates to a livestock total of 2.1 million cattle. This is 37 times greater than the 56,656 free-roaming wild horses and burros estimated by both agencies in 2014.

Other BLM and USFS reported data show private livestock allocated 97 percent of the forage across all 251 million acres of BLM and USFS-managed lands. Wild horse and burros inhabit 12 percent of that land and are allocated 3 percent of forage overall.

Read the rest of the article, and find the link to read the fully footnoted analysis by the Daily Pitchfork HERE.

Wild Horse Advocates Appeal to Halt BLM from moving West Douglas Herd

noreply@blogger.com (Barb AZ) — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 10:28:00 -0700

Straight from the Horse's Heart

By Tom McGhee
The Denver Post

“…you can’t manage them (wild horses) if they are not there on the land…”

photo by Terry Fitch of Wild Horse Freedom Federation

A group advocating for wild horse populations has filed an appeal to prevent the federal government from removing mustangs from the West Douglas herd area in northwest Colorado.

The Bureau of Land Management plans to move the herd, which numbers about 200 horses, to the Piceance-East Douglas herd management area, separated from West Douglas by state Highway 64 and fencing.

The BLM has no desire to eradicate horses from the West Douglas area in Rio Blanco County, said agency spokesman Steven Hall. “We want them near good forage, good water, and where we can manage them in balance with the other natural resources in the area,” he said.

The Piceance-East Douglas area has more abundant water on the federally protected land than is available in the West Douglas area, he said.

The appeal, announced Thursday by the nonprofit Front Range Equine Rescue, says the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 protects the horses from unwarranted elimination from the rangeland on which they live.

“The Act requires the preservation and management and protection, and you can’t manage them if they are not there on the land, some number of them at least,” said Bruce Wagman, a lawyer handling the appeal.

The appeal is the latest volley in an ongoing battle between the agency and advocates for the animals, who dispute the BLM’s assertions of overpopulation.

In its appeal, the equine rescue group requests that the Interior Board of Land Appeals “prohibit BLM from continuing its unlawful practice of eliminating all wild horses in the West Douglas Herd Area from protected public lands.”

Say GOODBYE to our Saylor Creek Wild Horses in Idaho

noreply@blogger.com (Barb AZ) — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 09:51:00 -0700

Straight from the Horse's Heart

by Grandma Gregg

9/15/15: The BLM Published a Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan for Jarbidge Field Office, which includes managing the Saylor Creek Wild Horses as a NON-REPRODUCING Herd … FOREVER

http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/prog/nepa_REGISTER/jarbidge-rmp-revision.html

Excerpts from their decision:
“Manage a non-reproducing herd with an appropriate management level range of 50 to 200 wild horses in the Saylor Creek Wild Horse Management Area.”

“In the Wild Horses section, two management actions … were not carried forward into the Approved RMP because they pertained to restrictions during foaling. Since the wild horse herd in the Approved RMP will be non-reproducing, there will be no foaling period.”
“In the Livestock Grazing section, allocation LG-A-1 was modified to say “The majority of the planning area will be available for livestock grazing (1,411,000 acres).”

Location: The Saylor Creek Herd Management Area (HMA) is located approximately 15 miles south of Glenns Ferry, ID in Owyhee County, ID and Elmore County, ID within the Jarbidge Field Office. The Saylor Creek HMA encompasses 94,992 acres of public land in the Jarbidge Field Office.