Take Action… and an update

Take Action… and an update
September 12, 2009 by thecloudfoundation

We have returned from home from Lovell, Wyoming and the Pryors. But 57 horses, three of them mares with foals at their sides, remain incarcarated at the Britton Springs corrals. We have been unable to view the horses as the corrals were closed to the public until today. We did get word that the independent humane observer who had permission to act in that role through Sept. 12, and had to fly back to California in the afternoon, was denied access to see the horses in the corrals the morning of September 11. This is unfortunate as we cannot report to you how the horses are doing, the condition of Rain, Cloud’s daughter who colicked the day she was rounded up, and of special concern to many of you who watched our recent youtube video, the lame colt of Baja’s who is so footsore.

The BLM Billings Field Office’s decision to deny the humane observer viewing access only increases the perception of the public that they are hiding something. This is the most watched roundup in the country; at most there is no one to watch what is going on. What is the BLM trying to hide? Viewing of the horses is allowed starting today and details were released here. This roundup has been a disaster for so many horses, those who are in the corrals, those who are sore and back up on the mountain missing their family members.

Please take time to call and write your local media as well as national media— we have made an incredible impact but we cannot let up now. Tell them that this is an issue that matters to YOU, ask them to involve you or another local advocate in the story.

Phone calls to make:

ask for the release of the older horses and reform of the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program, fax your comments as well:

* White House Switchboard – 202-456-1414 (fax: 202-456-2461) E-mail here. Ask for Senior Advisors: Valerie Jarrett and David Axelrod. Ask for Michelle Obama too, her office is recieving a tremendous number of calls and they need to continue.
* Call your Senators – switchboard 202-224-3121 and ask that they support S1579, The Restore our American Mustang (ROAM) Act
* Call the Senate Committee of Natural Resources – 202-224-4971 (fax 202-224-6163) Email here. ask that they push the ROAM Act through immediately– it must go up for a vote soon in the Senate.

Demand reform for our wild horses, it is too late for thousands but it is not yet too late for Cloud’s herd and many others. The roundup crews are headed next to the Steens Mountains of Oregon. We have been told that there will be no observers or photographers allowed. This is illegal- these are the public’s wild horses.

Right now 12 herds are being zeroed out in Nevada, 650 horses off 1.4 million acres because the land is not suitable… but the horses have been living there for over a hundred years.

Please take time to call now, we are losing our wild horses in the West and the world is watching: Read a recent London Times article here.

Please join us and many others at the National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board Meeting in Arlington, VA on September 28th. Make your voice heard – and then join us on the hill for meetings the following day. Their hoofbeats need to be heard in Washington DC.