Sunday, October 31, 2010

EWA President Rebuts Newsweek “Slaughterhouse” Sue Wallis Promo Story


Straight from the Horse's Heart


Newsweek Steps Into Pile of Wild Horse Pooh


John Holland ~ President of the Equine Welfare Alliance
Only days before Wyoming Representative “Slaughterhouse” Sue Wallis makes a bid for a third term in her contested state seat Newsweek ran a two paragraph article that appears to have been penned by the renegade Recluse resident herself. Classic evidence of Wallis’ authorship includes misrepresentation of facts, poor grammar, lack of a grasp for mathematics and self-serving quotations.
Enraged equestrians, from around the world, broadcast their disbelief and outrage on social networks while John Holland, President of the Equine Welfare Alliance, put the global response into perspective.
Inserted, below, is said Newsweek article with Holland’s response immediately following. SFTHH recommends that you click HERE to publicly respond to Newsweek’s poor journalistic standards and protest the bloody and predatory business of horse slaughter that the rogue representative from Wyoming endorses.
Newsweek:
“The wild horse is a symbol of the frontier way of life. But in recent years it’s been recast in a less noble role—as a public nuisance. The Bureau of Land Management has tried culling herds through roundups, auctions, and federal corrals. But the feral ranks have nearly tripled, to 69,000 since 1971, and more than half of those horses are roaming free in 10 Western states. Factor in the thousands of horses turned loose during the recession, and the result, the government contends, is a population that’s overwhelmed its habitat.
Wyoming thinks it has a solution. In 2007 Congress blocked the inspection of horse meat, which effectively ended interstate sales and closed the last U.S. abattoir. But selling horse meat intrastate remains legal, and state Rep. Sue Wallis wants to use that fact to license Wyoming’s first slaughterhouse to help owners who can’t afford to care for their animals. While horse advocates call slaughter inhumane, Wallis anticipates enough local demand—from, among others, pet-food makers—to sustain a factory as soon as next year. Besides, she says, for a horse on overgrazed land, slaughter beats starvation.”
John Holland:
You have been duped by Slaughter House Sue Wallis. She is a shameless opportunist who plays the horse slaughter issue to get donations.
Sue has been claiming to be starting a slaughter house under the corporate name Unified Equine LLC since last Winter. But when she announced it and opened a web page talking about what a great investment it would be back last spring, we found there was no such corporation. In fact, it still did not exist when we rechecked months later.
Hyping an investment outside of an offering memorandum is a serious securities violation in most states to say nothing of hyping investment in a non-existent corporation.
The plant you describe is impossible. Do the math!
And the idea that such a slaughter house could be a going concern based on selling horse meat inside Wyoming is absurd. First, Americans don’t eat horse meat, and secondly the entire population of Wyoming is 544,270. That is 3% the size of New York City!
The smallest of the now defunct US slaughter plants (Dallas Crown) killed about 20,000 horses a year. An average horse produces about 500 pounds of meat. That means the plant would produce about 10 million pounds of meat a year to be viable. Sue would have to sell 18 pounds of horse meat to every man woman and child in Wyoming every year to keep a plant profitable. That is of course absolutely impossible in a country where the meat is shunned.
So what investor would put money into that sort of a proposition? Next time, do a little tiny bit of research before you repeat propaganda and soil the News Week brand by being duped.
Nobody could make a living killing horses to sell their meat within Wyoming! There is absolutely no market for horse meat in the US.”

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Arizona State Ag Dept launches Equine Rescue Registry

Tuesday's Horse

Cross-posted from Arizona Capitol Times
Written by DAVID ROOKHUYZEN, Cronkite News Service
Brandy needed urgent medical care, Rim Rock was abandoned and Priya had been abused. These three, now at Arizona Equine Rescue Organization Inc., represent the fate of many horses in Arizona these days.
“As the budgets get cut, as the economy goes down, horses suffer,” said Soleil Dolce, the group’s vice president. MORE...

Newsweek gives one-sided view of wild horses and slaughter

Tuesday's Horse


Sue Wallis Guest Spots in Weekly News Magazine
Written by JADED MARE
An online Newsweek article entitled “Wyoming Ponders Slaughtering Horses” written by McKay Coppins gives a one-sided view of wild horses and slaughter that should have been ascribed, not to Coppins, but to Sue Wallis (unless, of course, McKay Coppins is Wallis’s nom de plume), or at the very least, appeared as an Op-Ed piece instead of a factual, news report.
This is yet another example of how American media outlets do absolutely no research, but simply copies and pastes propaganda spewed from anyone and everyone without any verification whatsoever of the facts. Shame on Coppins. Shame on Newsweek. Shame on the American media.
The opening paragraph reads:
The wild horse is a symbol of the frontier way of life. But in recent years it’s been recast in a less noble role—as a public nuisance. The Bureau of Land Management has tried culling herds through roundups, auctions, and federal corrals.
No so bad so far, but read the remainder of it:
But the feral ranks have nearly tripled, to 69,000 since 1971, and more than half of those horses are roaming free in 10 Western states. Factor in the thousands of horses turned loose during the recession, and the result, the government contends, is a population that’s overwhelmed its habitat.
With America’s wild horses and burros on the brink of extinction because of needless, cruel and herd-destroying roundups, the last thing they need is this kind of journalistic slop.
Sue Wallis, naturally, has the answer for all of these alleged “nuisance” wild and domestic horses, namely slaughter.
Wyoming thinks it has a solution. In 2007 Congress blocked the inspection of horse meat, which effectively ended interstate sales and closed the last U.S. abattoir. But selling horse meat intrastate remains legal, and state Rep. Sue Wallis wants to use that fact to license Wyoming’s first slaughterhouse to help owners who can’t afford to care for their animals.
Getting back to our wild horses, Wallis says:
” . . . for a horse on overgrazed land, slaughter beats starvation.”
The BLM must love her.
It seems clear that they do not teach the difference between what constitutes a news article and what constitutes an editorial in U.S. Journalism classes. Editors and publishers appear to have forgotten, if they ever knew. Then there is the obvious absence of fact checking. This type of reporting, in our opinion, is more appropriate to Communism 101 than Journalism 101.
There are no comments to “Wyoming Ponders Horse Slaughter” as of this posting. If you wish to give the horses’ side of the story, please go to http://www.newsweek.com/2010/10/30/wyoming-ponders-slaughtering-horses.html

Wyoming Rep “Slaughterhouse” Sue Wallis May Lose Seat

http://rtfitch.wordpress.com/2010/10/30/wyoming-rep-slaughterhouse-sue-wallis-may-lose-seat/

(The News as We See It) by R.T. Fitch ~ author of “Straight from the Horse’s Heart

Where Weight Watchers Failed an Election May Prevail

Sue Wallis's reign of destruction upon the American Horse may soon end

WY Rep. Sue Wallis, the “Grand Dame” of bloody horse slaughter, may soon learn that the good people of Wyoming have had enough of her self-serving ways and negative regional publicity as they head to the polls on Tuesday to choose between the horse eater, an Independent or a Libertarian.

Wallis is up for a third term representing District 52 in Wyoming’s house of representatives. In a recent interview, Independant candidate Travis Hackert, a rancher and tire store owner, says that he does not think that Wallis has done a good job representing her constiuants while she jaunts around the country promoting the killing of horses, both domestic and wild, for human consumption,

“I think the current representative is in a self-serving position,” he said. “She’s not voting like we would want her to vote.”

Hakert said he’s running because Wallis’ refusal to oppose anti-gay marriage and pro-life bills are out of line with what her constituents want.

Hakert, the chairman of the Campbell County Conservation District, is pro-life and against allowing marriage or civil unions for same-sex couples.

He also thinks laws against illegal immigrants in the state aren’t aggressive enough, though he said he hasn’t yet penciled out exactly how such laws should be strengthened.

“I’m hoping that we can lock up enough of them that the federal government will have to do something with them,” he said.

Hakert said eminent domain should never be used by private companies and should be employed by the government only as a last resort. Property rights, he said, “should be protected above all others.”

Twenty nine year old Navy Veteran and Libertarian candidate Nick De Laat was interviewed earlier in the year by SFTHH and commented on “Slaughterhouse” using her political seat to promote the unlawful practice of slaughtering horses for food,

“Every dog that this family has cared for has been one that we adopted from the local pound.” Said De Laat. “I am shocked at my opponent’s stance on horse slaughter as the act of killing horses to eat goes against the grain of what I support.”

De Laat, the vice-chairman of the Wyoming Libertarian Party, said he’s running because he doesn’t see enough statesmen in Wyoming government any more.

And he’s not the only one in his household to try and change that: his wife Candice is the Libertarian nominee for Wyoming secretary of state.

If elected, De Laat said he’d push for Wyoming to use its eminent domain powers to condemn and take over all Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service land in the state.

Because all the mineral revenue from those lands then start flowing into the state’s coffers, De Laat said Wyoming could then look to abolish the state sales tax, vehicle property tax and fuel tax.

“I know it’s aggressive, but aggressive is what we need,” he said.

De Laat also said Wyoming should stop any federal education funding from coming into the state, as the money brings with it too many restrictions and requirements for matching state funding.

De Laat admitted it’s “almost impossible” for a Libertarian to win a legislative race. But he said that unlike Republicans and Democrats — who are often difficult to tell apart, he said — voters know that candidates who run as Libertarians value principle over simply getting elected.

“I am not aligned with Rep. Wallis’ arguments on the issue of “unwanted” horses and would tend to believe that responsible breeding and shelters would be the proper way to manage any issue of horses in need.” stated De Laat.

“It’s time that we get this country back on track and I am thankful for the opportunity to be able to run for office and, hopefully, to make a difference.”

Equine welfare advocates from around the world will have their eyes focused upon the election results of Wyoming’s District 52 with hopes that the woman who has centered her life around killing horses and her faithful sidekick David Duquette will no longer be able to inappropriately utilize her elected public office to promote her personal and predatory agenda.

Wallis Puts Wild Horses on her Menu



Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Carol Walker chronicles Wyoming wild horses’ loss of freedom - National Equine Advocacy | Examiner.com

Carol Walker chronicles Wyoming wild horses’ loss of freedom - National Equine Advocacy | Examiner.com

Animal Advocate Television Airs Official Trailer “Saving America ’s Horses A Nation Betrayed”

 On CBS Affiliate WMLW, Sunday Oct. 31st at 10AM
Animal Fairy Charities, Inc.
Franklin, WI
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct 27, 2010

Animal Fairy Charities, (producers of Animal Advocate Television) is excited to announce that Animal Advocate Television (AATV) will be airing the Official Trailer for “Saving America’s Horses A Nation Betrayed” during season IV of the show.
AATV is covering the Official Trailer for Saving America's Horses as part of their ongoing campaign to spread awareness about HR503 and S727. The OFFICIAL TRAILER for “Saving America’s Horses A Nation Betrayed” will be shown during the Advocacy segment of the show. As a lifelong friend to horses, Executive Director of Animal Fairy Charities and Co Founder of Americans Against Horse Slaughter, Debra Lopez has vowed to cover the horse slaughter bill on her show until this legislation passes.
Watch Wisconsin 's premier animal welfare television show this Sunday, Oct. 31st at 10am on CBS affiliate WMLW.  Please see the following list of channels where you can view the show.  Best of all, if you are not in the Wisconsin viewing area, the show will be posted on their website at animaladvocatetv.com and can be viewed 24/7.
This season AATV will feature special segments on animal shelters, horse rescues, animal advocacy, teaching kids compassion with positive interaction with animals and much more!  A featured segment will take our viewers on a tour of a nonprofit therapeutic horse riding center for children with disabilities.
"WFLF Humanion Films salutes Animal Advocate Television for their support of this important CAUSE” said Katia Louise, Executive Director for WFLF and Executive Producer/Director of Saving America’s Horses A Nation Betrayed. “The horse slaughter issue is heating up and the proponents have been very aggressive in their campaign to reopen horse slaughter plants in the US ”, Louise added.
WFLF Humanion Films has been working around the clock in the trenches and on the front lines investigating and documenting this issue.
SAVING AMERICA ’S HORSES - A NATION BETRAYED is a compelling compilation of expert testimony, undercover footage and true life stories shot against the dramatic backdrops of America ’s beautiful countryside. The film depicts a country divided and inspires great hope for the protection of all horses and burros from cruelty.  Now see the powerful OFFICIAL TRAILER for SAVING AMERICA’S HORSES A NATION BETRAYED on AATV!  
SAVING AMERICA’S HORSES A NATION BETRAYED, a feature documentary film is nearing completion and targeted to release early in 2011.  You can help bring this important film to the public eye with a meaningful donation.
Animal Fairy Charities, Inc. is a 501(c) 3 non profit animal welfare organization based in Franklin , Wisconsin . The organization raises and distributes funds in support of the missions of other animal non-profit organizations using a federated method. In addition, Animal Fairy Charities educates and engages young children in compassion through the positive interaction with animals.
Contact: Debra Lopez President and Executive Director Animal Fairy Charities, Inc. info@animalfairycharities.org

Wild Horses: The Destruction of the Largest Herd in Wyoming

American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign




For the last two weeks, the BLM has been rounding up the horses in the Adobe Town Herd in southwestern Wyoming using helicopters. The vast majority of the horses in this half million acre herd area have been removed from their homes, their families and their freedom. 851 wild horses were shipped to the BLM holding facility in Canon City, Colorado – but more important than the sheer numbers of horses is the stories of these horses I witnessed as they were losing their freedom. These horses are individuals, and deserve to be remembered.  MORE...

Stop the BLM and Feel the Noize

http://rtfitch.wordpress.com/2010/10/27/stop-the-blm-and-feel-the-noize/

by Guest Columnist Nell Walton ~ founder/editor of AllHorsesPost

Comment Period on Augusta Mtn Stampede closes 11/6

The BLM’s comment period for the Augusta Mountains HMA Preliminary EA for a Wild Horse Gather closes on 11/6. Please take the time to email your comments to Jerome Fox at AugustaMts_HMA_PrelimEA@blm.gov (mailing address and fax are in the letter). This plan is to capture 344 horses, including 50 outside the HMA. Mares captured within the HMA are to be treated with the contraceptive PZP-22 and released, the 50 horses outside the HMA are to be removed to adoption facilities.

The Preliminary Environmental Assessment Augusta Mountains HMA Wild Horse Gather Plan and letter can be viewed at:

http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/wfo/blm_information/nepa0/wild_horse_and_burro/Augusta.html

I spent several hours reviewing this plan and here are my comments. If you want to use these as a template for your own comments feel free, but please limit the use of copy and paste as the BLM seems to ignore “form” letters.

Dear Mr. Fox:

I would like to take this opportunity as an American taxpayer to comment on the Preliminary Environmental Assessment Augusta Mountains HMA Wild Horse Gather Plan, DOI-BLM-NV-WO10-2010-0013-EA, due 11/6/2010. I understand that this gather would be conducted primarily for PZP-22 contraception purposes.

After thorough review of the document I found many problems with methodology that I would like to see addressed prior to any gather of wild horses and/or burros that reside in the Augusta Mountains HMA.

First, I would like to voice my frustration in that obtaining access to the original documents used to determine Wild Horse and Burro AMLs is extremely difficult, if not impossible at times – the document you refer to has a date of 1982, and I can find no scanned version anywhere on your website for review. Every EA and EIS I have reviewed constantly refers to these AMLs – but these statements are ALWAYS accompanied by a caveat of “these were determined in a prior decision making process and will not be addressed in this Environmental Assessment,” or something similar. These references are circuitous and put the complete burden on the interested party (again an American taxpayer) to conduct an often fruitless and time consuming search to try to find the hows and whys and whens in regards to these original AML decisions.

Additionally, the compartmentalizing of wild horse gather plans, apart from the other “multi-use” activities that also are occurring in the HMAs fails to provide an interested party with a holistic picture of what IS going on in the areas designated for wild horse and burro use. For example, it would be of great help to be able to compare livestock populations utilizing the same area, mining permits (both those that are current, non-current, reapplied and applied), and other minerals activities that are going on in the HMA etc. I am assuming that every BLM office has a summary of all current and future multi-use activities and projects in their management area – short summaries that could be added to an EA, or a link provided to a document on the BLM’s website – on that has a brief list of ALL activities.

And, it is also extremely frustrating to try to negotiate through this maze of decision making and documentation, when every BLM HMA seems to apply different methodology and reporting on how they reach their decisions to remove wild horses – as was confirmed by the General Accounting Office (GAO) in 2008 as being a problem; a problem that was SUPPOSED to have been remediated according to the Secretary of the Interior.

These above issues are my overall problems in general with every BLM EA I have read. I will address my more specific issues with this preliminary EA in regards to the Augusta Mountains HMA gather plan as follows:

  1. While the models and graphs in regards to population growth are far more detailed than the other wild horse gather EAs I have reviewed, it is troubling to see that yet again, the default number of approximate 20% increase in population for wild horse herds is repeated over and over again. When I see that number, it raises suspicions that no real field work has been done, and the individuals who wrote this preliminary EA are just depending on a number from a study/population model whose accuracy has been called into question many times.
  2. On page 8, under the “Alternatives considered but dismissed from detailed analysis” 2.4.1, “Water and Bait Trapping,”, I find it puzzling that this has been taking “out of the equation” so to speak, when I see that this area “contains few wetland and riparian resources” (Page 12) and on page 20 that: “Currently Home Station Wash shows heavy horse use during summer and fall months. ….”Clearly, water traps seem to be a very viable option in this HMA, since there are apparently so few places for wild horses to obtain water. It would also stand to reason that any fertility interventions (PZP etc.) could be employed at this time with proper planning. It certainly would be less stressful for the horses than the current methods employed during the “gathers.” And, with the growing interest of the American public as far as what IS happening with our wild horses, the BLM could probably have humane associations provide volunteers to help with efforts such as this. I think this is a path that needs to be pursued more aggressively with input and help from the public, and not “eliminated from detailed analysis.”
  3. On page 8, again under the “Alternatives considered but dismissed from detailed analysis” 2.4.2, “Remove and Reduce Livestock from the HMA.” In the first place, the statement in regards to FLPMA i.e. “which directs the Secretary to immediately remove excess wild horses once it is determined excess wild horses exist,” does not apply in this case, as there no excess of wild horses. This gather is to PREVENT an excess occurring, which is apparently not covered in FLPMA. But, I do agree that prevention is better than the alternative, but FLPMA does not apply here, and the statements following that sentence do not really make much sense. In addition, I have the same problem in this preliminary EA that I have in every other gather plan EA (and EISs) I have read. In this EA, I saw no statistics or figures that indicate that population counts of cattle and sheep are verified via FLYOVERS i.e. the same statistical methods used for counting populations of the wild horse herds. So, this reveals that there is no real verifiable science to indicate HOW MANY DOMESTIC LIVESTOCK ARE ACTUALLY UTILIZING THESE AREAS. Of course, there are indications as to how many AUMS are open allowable open grazing times etc., but I am unconvinced that this provides a fair determination of range use. Currently, it seems that the BLM provides allotments for ranches, but (according the BLM’s own website describing its issuance and monitoring of grazing permits) does not independently verify the number of livestock that are running in a particular allotment. Apparently the BLM relies on the individual/corporation that holds the grazing permit to tell them how many head they are running in an allowable area. (I won’t even begin to get into how unreliable that counting method is, especially in light of the fact that grazing permits are basically paid for by the head. If this is not the case, I would appreciate more information on this from BLM staff.) Clearly, in order to determine the impact large grazers are having on an area, ALL large grazer species populations (whether wild or domestic) must be evaluated using the same methodology. This evaluation would include damage to riparian areas, creation of trails and hoof action damage to soils etc, as it appears that this damage is currently 100% attributed to wild horses in this EA. It seems that given current technology, riparian and other areas that are at risk could be monitored via relatively inexpensive wildlife cameras, instead of relying on “sitings, hoofprints and manure” to make the determination that wild horse herds are causing the majority of the environmental damage in a particular location that other large grazers also utilize. I also believe that having camera evidence would go a long way to convince wild horse advocates that the BLM is doing a thorough and balanced job in the field of comparing environmental damage done by domestic livestock as compared to wild horses and burros.
  4. I see that 50 horses that have strayed outside the HMA are to be removed to either short or long term holding. If this proposal is approved, I would like to see language specifically stating that these horses are covered under the WFRHBA, and are not classified as “estrays.”
  5. On Page 33, the report describes in details how changes in the environment can impact the health of wild horse and burro herds, leading to catastrophic illness, suffering and death. In nature, it is the environment that always determines species survival. But, even in light of this, one must take into consideration that for humans, seeing animals, especially animals as beloved as wild horses, suffering and dying can be unbearable for many people, including many BLM field personnel I’m sure. So, in environmental emergencies, it seems that a pre-emptive use of the passive trap method would be highly effective (especially in the case of water – as this seems to be the resource that is the most in contention), and remove animals at either for adoption, or relocation to another more suitable area to PRIOR to the situation deteriorating in suffering, illness and death of the horses.
  6. I would like to see field research on the effects IN THE FIELD of PZP-22 contraception, including any significant changes in behavior, impact on herd dynamics etc.
  7. I also feel that any gathers or interference with wild horse and burro herds from any area prior to doing a thorough study of the environmental impact of domestic livestock grazing is not what the American taxpaying public wants or will continue to tolerate.

Thank you for allowing me to comment on this preliminary EA.

Sincerely,

Nell Walton

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Truth Squad Radio Show this Sunday with Author R.T. Fitch

http://rtfitch.wordpress.com/2010/10/24/truth-squad-radio-show-this-sunday-with-author-r-t-fitch/

by Barbara Peterson of the PPJ Gazette
Join us Sunday evening at 8 CST on The Truth Squad Radio Show
The Truth Squad Radio Show with Marti Oakley and Barb Peterson
Date / Time: 10/24/2010
6:00 pm PST
8:00 pm CST
9:00 pm EST
Call-in Number: (917) 388-4520





One Little Foal Step at a Time

http://rtfitch.wordpress.com/2010/10/24/one-little-foal-step-at-a-time/

Fight to Save our Wild Horses Progresses

It’s been a tough month for Wild Horse Advocates, even tougher for the horses. Months of legal planning had been mapped out by the HfH Advisory Council in an effort to stop four, specifically targeted BLM roundups from occurring. Two of those were postponed by a year, one directly due to our efforts. But the other two went forward, one struggle even made it to court. Did we make any progress? Were the horses helped in anyway? To put it mildly; “You bet ya!”

The year delay of the West Douglas stampede happened with very little fanfare and in what appeared to be a blink of an eye, mostly due to the fact that we held off on public notification until the TRO was filed. The intent was to give you the full story and the culmination of our efforts but by the time we issued our press release it was only hours later that the BLM backed away and said that they would reconsider the attack on the horses the following year. We filed our contempt of court paperwork one day, our preliminary injunction order the next day following up with the TRO the next and within hours the BLM stepped back. Was that a win? Once again, “You bet ya!” Even though not ordered by the court the horses of West Douglas certainly gave it a big “hooves up” as they get to live like God intended them to live for at least another year and we have additional time granted to us to better prepare to defend them.

This past Thursday a New York Judge failed to find in our favor for our effort to stop the North Piceance roundup in Colorado. With all of the time, money, blood, sweat and tears spent was it a success for the horses? Once again a resounding; “You bet ya!”

I’ll put it into the whispered terms of a loving women who I held, crying, in my arms upon hearing the news of the court’s denial.

“The horses of North Piceance made a sacrifice that other herds well benefit from,” whispered my wife Terry as we both struggled with tears upon hearing the news, “it’s like a new born foal taking its first steps, one at a time. We took several little legal foal steps that the BLM will never be able to erase.”

And she is right.

Although the horses of the North Piceance herd will now slip away into the BLM’s cloud of mysterious equine disappearances and obscurity their ultimate sacrifice allowed us to win several combative, legal skirmishes against the BLM.

Although it might seem like a very small victory it will prove to be huge in the future and that little foal step was the issue of “venue” or where the suit was filed. We landed this case far from the ranges of the west and right in the middle of Central Park in New York City. Why? We did so in hopes of finding a judge that was fresh, new and untainted by the influence of Ken Salazar’s special interest driven BLM. The BLM wanted out of NYC, badly. They wanted to be either back out west or in a D.C. court where their cronies had more influence but due to the New York based ASPCA being one of our volunteer plaintiffs, the judge let us stay thus setting a precedence for seeking out favorable venues for additional cases in the future. Thank you ASPCA for the win and do you think we will use this in the future, “You bet ya!”

The major win of the case comes from the quiet and sincere Colorado Veterinarian Dr. Don Moore. Dr. Moore was first taken to the North Piceance area to view the horses by his father over forty years ago. Dr. Moore has grown up with those horses and the court agreed that Dr. Moore has suffered irreparable harm by this herd being destroyed. The BLM’s argument was that Dr. Moore could just go somewhere else to see wild horses, what’s the difference? The difference is gigantic and the BLM’s indifference in court outlines their failed understanding of their primary job to protect these horses instead of destroying them. To tell Dr. Moore to go somewhere else to see other wild horses is like telling Ginger Kathrens that she does not need to see Cloud, the wild stallion of the Pryor Mountain herd that she has been following for over a decade and a half. The BLM can simply stampede Cloud and his family into the mystery concentration camps and Ginger can just go somewhere else to see a wild horse. How asinine is that for a defense in federal court? It’s your tax dollars hard at work trying to defend a failed and perverted policy of systematically exterminating all of the publicly owned wild horses on publicly owned land. The court agreed so that from this day forward, it is on the record that for future cases Americans are irreparably damaged and injured by the BLM’s insidious action of cruelly and inhumanely stripping our federally protected wild horses from public lands. Will we use that angle in future cases when attempting to save our wild horses from extinction? “You bet ya!”

Over the last several weeks we have accomplished what our good friend and fellow wild horse crusader Laura Leigh from Grass Roots Horse has said,

“We laid another brick, just one more legal brick in the foundation of the major case to forever stop the BLM from violating local, state and federal laws.”

One brick at a time, one little foal step at a time we move forward and forward we did move.

I am a man driven by a wet tear on the side of my face, a woman softly sobbing in my arms and the soft yet stinging words,

“We didn’t stop the killing of the horses, R.T. The mares, that little foal, we did not save them.”

And for that I bleed, and because of that we stand strong.

For all those who have perished; we will press on to stop the massacre of the mustangs, even if it is only one little foal step at a time.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Animal Welfare Groups Respond to Federal Ruling that Fails to Protect Colorado Wild Horse Herd

http://rtfitch.wordpress.com/2010/10/22/animal-welfare-groups-respond-to-federal-ruling-that-fails-to-protect-colorado-wild-horse-herd/

Joint Press Release from ASPCA, Habitat for Horses, the Cloud Foundation and the HfH Advisory Council

BLM Moves Forward to Zero Out Wild Horse Herd

NEW YORK—The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®), along with Habitat for Horses, the Cloud Foundation, and Dr. Don and Toni Moore, today responded to a federal judge’s ruling that declined to issue an injunction preventing the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from continuing its inhumane and illegal roundup of wild horses from Colorado’s North Piceance herd area. The case, brought against U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar in New York, charged that the BLM’s ongoing treatment of America’s federally protected wild horse herds violates the National Environmental Protection Act, as well as the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971.

The BLM had dropped its immediate attempt to relocate the case from New York to Colorado or Washington D.C., making this the first case against the BLM to be heard in New York. “While we are disappointed by yesterday’s ruling, we are encouraged by the court’s acknowledgment that the removal of these iconic horses impacts all Americans,” said Matt Bershadker, senior vice president of ASPCA Anti-Cruelty. “The ASPCA is committed to protecting our nation’s wild horses.”

U.S. District Judge William H. Pauley acknowledged that the plaintiffs would undoubtedly suffer irreparable harm from the roundup of the wild horse herd. The court further acknowledged the permanent injury caused to Dr. Don Moore, a Colorado veterinarian who has personally known the Piceance-North Douglas Herd for decades. “Although we did not get the win that we were aiming for,” stated Jerry Finch, founder and president of Habitat for Horses, “we stood fast in a contested venue and got the court to agree to the damage done to American citizens when the BLM pulls our wild mustangs from their rightful land. That in its own right is huge.”

“I would be lying if I said that I am not disappointed,” said R.T. Fitch, volunteer executive director of the funding HfH Advisory Council, “but it’s not about me, you or anything else other than the horses. That’s where my feelings reside. It’s time for the American wild horse to catch a break, and we intend to see that promise through.”

More than 19 million acres originally designated for wild horses have been slowly whittled away for cattle grazing, making the horses both the victims and targets for removal. The use of helicopters to run the terrified horses over miles of scorching desert has resulted in serious injuries and several horse deaths throughout the summer, as well as one-half or more of the wild horse population languishing in long-term holding pens.

“The fight to save the last of the mustangs is just beginning,” said Ginger Kathrens, director of the Cloud Foundation. “We will continue to take our message to Congress, the courts and to an increasingly concerned public.”

Wild Horse Facility under Quarantine from Strangles Outbreak

Top News
The Salt Lake Regional Wild horse and Burro Facility in Herriman has been put under quarantine as a result of an outbreak of equine distemper, or strangles, a bacterial infection that primarily affects younger animals with weakened or immature immune systems. More...

Video shows colt pushed by helicopter skids during Twin Peaks wild horse roundup - National Equine Advocacy | Examiner.com

Video shows colt pushed by helicopter skids during Twin Peaks wild horse roundup - National Equine Advocacy | Examiner.com

Scientific Integrity – So Ordered by the Court

http://rtfitch.wordpress.com/2010/10/22/scientific-integrity-so-ordered-by-the-court/

Scientific Integrity – So Ordered by the Court

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The Bureau of Land Management in the United St...
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Guest Column by Lisa LeBlanc ~ HfH Advisory Council Lead Research Specialist

It has become glaringly apparent, particularly to the interested public over the past year, that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), under the auspices of the Department of Interior (DOI), keeps and considers no one’s council but its own.
The Equine Advocacy possesses within it a scientific community, professionals with Letters of Degree, many of whom have authored volumes of citations and empirical data, rendered in articles and submitted in Public comment to rebut Environmental Assessments, data that illustrates the flaws or misinformation in the Bureau’s methods and published findings. With Director Abbey’s announcement earlier this year of employing the National Academy of Science to do a ‘study’ on the Wild Horse and Burro issue, those of us without a background in science shake our heads in disbelief – a costly and lengthy study, to be conducted concurrently as Wild Equine herds continue to be decimated, while the scientists among us are routinely ignored.
Perhaps if Advocate scientists were to receive monetary compensation from the Federal Government, their findings would have credibility. Not merit as it applies to Wild Horses and Burros, but at least some acknowledgment of the effort.
And it’s become an unfortunate pattern that the interested Public has had to choose legal action as it’s only method of redress. Private monies that could be better spent on charitable efforts – rescues, sanctuaries or, equally important, the futures of some Advocates – are instead being funneled into the courts to construct an obstacle course in front of the Wild Horse & Burro branch of a rogue agency.
But there are victories on some fronts. While they may not receive the national attention they deserve, they provide hope for those of us on the sidelines. One such victory, ‘Western Watersheds Project versus Kraayenbrink’ (9th Cir. Sep. 1, 2010, No. 08-35360__F3d.__.), the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decided against the BLM, citing the Bureau violated NEPA and the Endangered Species Act in adopting 2006 amendments to grazing regulations. The amendments -18 proposed by the Secretary of the Interior at that time - would have “decreased public involvement in public lands management, put new limitations on the BLM’s enforcement powers, and increased ranchers’ ownership rights to improvements and water on public lands”.
The petitioner, Western Watersheds Project (WWP) ”brought suit alleging violation of NEPA, ESA, and the Federal Land Management Policy Act (“FLPMA”).” The appeals court concluded that “BLM failed to take a “hard look” at the environmental consequences and combined effects of the proposed regulatory amendments”; the court explained that a final Environmental Impact Statement (“EIS”), a strict NEPA requirement, must offer a “reasoned explanation and analysis” (emphasis added) for an agency’s change of policy” and that “proposing the change(s) must examine the “relevant data and articulate a satisfactory explanation for it’s action” including a rational connection between facts found and the choice made.”
“For the same reasons that the court found BLM had violated NEPA, it held that BLM violated ESA. The court reasoned that because BLM failed to consider “relevant expert analysis and concerns” or articulate a rational connection between the facts found and the choice made, its actions were arbitrary and capricious in violation of the agency’s obligations under ESA.”
This decision reminds agencies of the following two principles:
1) agencies must consider relevant expert analysis and concerns and provide adequate responses if the agency decides to reject the expert’s conclusion;
2) when the agency is changing an existing policy or rule, the agency must articulate a rational connection between the facts found and the choice to adopt the amendments.” (emphasis added)
(This article, authored by Emilio Camacho and Cori Badgley, can be accessed here):
http://blog.aklandlaw.com/2010/10/articles/endangered-species-act/grazing-cattle-and-the-blms-violation-of-nepa-and-esa/index.html
With these findings, an assumption can be made - that this Court’s decision does not simply apply to the Bureau and it’s grazing responsibilities in this case, but to each and every theoretical scientific presentation made by the Bureau: Consider relevant expert analysis, and if not, explain why.
There are several among the brain trust within Wild Equine Advocacy and even their considered opinions and expertise have yet to affect the course of an EA. To name a few: Submissions made to field offices during Public Comment periods by Craig Downer, distinguished Wildlife Ecologist, lecturer and published author; Jesica Johnston, Environmental Scientist, who spent a year in on-the-ground research to author a study of the Twin Peaks HMA before the disastrous, destructive and near extinction-level roundup in August, 2010; Christine DeCarlo, PhD, with a background in equine reproductive immunology and wildlife conservation and expressed concerns about the long-term physical and behavioral effects of the PZP program.
A program which may not even be necessary, given the huge margin for error in population growth estimates within HMA’s. The recent EA for the Antelope Complex in Nevada states that the post-gather, 2004 population for both the Antelope and Antelope Valley HMAs (without incorporating the populations of Goshute and Spruce/Pequop, the two other HMAs in the ‘Complex’) was a combined 300 Wild Horses. There are now, within those two areas according to the EA, 1181 animals. With the application of pencil, paper and a standard-issue calculator, that population increase comes to approximately 295%, or 49.16% per year, in just 6 years – roundups, mortality and PZP inoculations notwithstanding - a virtual biological impossibility.
Secretary Salazar, Director Abbey, members of Appropriation committees and legislators who make the decisions on how Taxpayer money is allocated and spent need to recognize - there are errors in the information they receive, whether by design, habit or a desire to curry good standing with the upper echelon. If a layperson, with no background in hard science and rudimentary math skills can find these errors, what else has been missed or misrepresented?
A passage (possibly) from the Bible, from the much-beloved and now departed Uncle George:
” If one man calls thee an ass, pay him no mind. If two men call thee an ass, get thee a saddle.”

Update: NYC Court Denies Wild Horse Injunction

http://rtfitch.wordpress.com/2010/10/22/update-nyc-court-denies-wild-horse-injunction/

Informal update by R.T. Fitch

Detailed Press Release Coming Soon

This is not a formal release but we wanted to let the Equine Welfare community know that our request for a preliminary injunction to stop the Colorado North Piceance roundup has been denied.

We found out very late last night and really wanted to sleep on it before going public, hence the delay. There’s a certain amount of defeat felt by the team as we did not manage to do what we set out to do which was to keep the horses on their range, but there is a degree of satisfaction in the fact that we set a precedence that had not been set, before. That’s the fact that the court recognized that removing wild horses from their rightful homes causes irreparable damage as outlined in Dr. Don Moore’s excellent testimony. Americans are harmed when their iconic wild horses are stripped from the land and the court agreed, unfortunately it did not carry the weight to argue the legal point that the BLM uses bad data, old numbers and rubber stamps these roundups where horse herds are permanently and forever removed from their homes.

A valiant effort was made by our legal team and we are forever in their debt for all of the blood, sweat and tears that went into trying to save these horses.

We wish that we had better news but we wanted to get this update to you and thank you for all of the good wishes and support.

We are not going away.

Order can be viewed (HERE)

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Unwanted horse and slaughter propaganda travels to Canada

Tuesday's Horse


Written by JANE ALLIN
Chief Research Analyst
Just as in the U.S., the misleading and malicious notion of the “Unwanted Horse” has now transcended its origin to become Canadian terminology in response to the EU laws in effect for paperwork required in federal horse slaughter plants for horses destined to be sold for human consumption.
The new Equine identification Document or EID must document illnesses and medications for the 6 months previous to slaughter. So what does this denote in terms of the “Unwanted Horse” hypothesis?
A British Columbia news article entitled “New laws in effect for paperwork on horses” starts with this.
“The new documentation required for each horse called ‘The Equine Identification Document’, requires the name of the animal, land location or premise identification number, horse’s markings, colour, pedigree, picture of the animal and a history of drugs or vaccinations given to the animal within the last six months.
A 1200 lb horse that would normally sell for 40 cents per lb would bring $480; the same horse without paperwork would probably sell for $100 because the horse would then have to spend six months in a feedlot to be able to be eligible for the correct paperwork. An estimated 125,000 horses are slaughtered annually in Canada with the meat destined for the European market where for many it is considered a dietary staple.”
Well, no doubt this is true but it fails to address a number of issues and for the wrong reasons. Regardless of the paperwork, or lack thereof, there are many drugs that require a 6 month quarantine; there are substantial costs incurred in maintaining the good health of those horses ineligible for immediate slaughter and; last, but by no means least, effectively ALL horses should be disqualified as a result of the ubiquitous administration of Bute for pain relief. But I digress.
The writer of the British Columbia news article continues:
“The United States no longer has a horse slaughter industry, ironically the industry which closed in 2007 was based on horse welfare issues but the result has been abandonment, starvation, loss of quality horse markets and an overwhelming amount of horses in rescue facilities or simply turned loose. An estimated 170,000 horses per year are considered unwanted in the U.S. “
More deceptively is the author’s referral to the idea that prohibiting horse slaughter leads to “Unwanted Horses” – purely blatant propaganda to conceal the real issue of over-breeding and lack of owner accountability. Use of this carefully crafted definition arose with the formation of the “Unwanted Horse Coalition” (UHC) under the chairmanship of Dr. Tom Lenz, an acknowledged pro-horse slaughter advocate.
“The United States no longer has a horse slaughter industry, ironically the industry which closed in 2007 was based on horse welfare issues but the result has been abandonment, starvation, loss of quality horse markets and an overwhelming amount of horses in rescue facilities or simply turned loose. An estimated 170,000 horses per year are considered unwanted in the U.S. The ban on horse processing has cost the US roughly $26 million annually in lost meat exports.
One person who operated a non-profit refuge in Oregon for many years averaged 2 new horses per year. When the U.S. Slaughterhouses closed she ended up with 95 horses that year. Although originally opposed to horse slaughter herself, she has changed her mind since seeing starved and abandoned animals.
If the horse processing industry was lost the result would probably be 35 to 40 per cent of Canada’s horses would have a negative value and the same welfare issues the U.S. is faced with would be a reality here.”
There is not a shred of truth to these statements. The real issue at hand is not “Unwanted Horses” but rather “Surplus Horses”.
One needs to look no further than the dictionary for synonyms of unwanted: undesirable; unwelcome; of no value; unacceptable; objectionable. Need I continue? On the other hand take the word surplus.
Surplus = an amount or a quantity in excess of what is needed.

Clock Is Ticking--Wild Horses Need Your Help by Oct. 25!

ASPCA








ASPCA Urgent Alert
Dear Animal Advocates,

All year, we've been updating you about the Bureau of Land 

Management's(BLM) efforts to remove wild horses and burros 
from public lands. 
Now BLM is at it again, and we need your immediate help!

BLM is required by law to create a Resource Management Plan (RMP) 

for certain public lands and their use, and the federal agency is currently 

considering an RMP for the Winnemucca District in northwestern Nevada. 
Unfortunately, this proposal does not adequately protect and preserve 
wild horses and burros, or alter the BLM's 
reliance on inhumane and fiscally irresponsible wild horse 
roundups and removals.

BLM is accepting comments on its proposal for the Winnemucca 

District until Monday, October 25. It is critical that BLM hears from you 
before this date to ensure that wild horses in the Winnemucca District 
are not eradicated.

What You Can Do
Please take a few minutes to email BLM’s Winnemucca District Office 

and encourage the agency to adopt a responsible RMP for 
northwestern Nevada. Your support is an essential step in protecting 
and preserving wild horse and burro populations. Please visit the ASPCA Advocacy Center to send your letter.

Thank you for taking action for America’s wild horses. 




Equine distemper outbreak linked to deaths of wild horses

Deseret News

HERRIMAN — An outbreak of equine distemper has been linked to the deaths of 11 wild horses at the BLM's primary holding facility in Utah.
As a result of the deaths over the past two weeks, officials at the Salt Lake Regional Wild Horse & Burro Facility are limiting public access during periods when veterinary care is being administered to the horses.
Gus Warr, the state's wild horse and burro manager for the BLM, said six of the fatalities happened within the last 48 hours, with the bulk of the horses impacted being younger animals with weakened or immature immune systems.
Read More....

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

WHOA! HORSE SMUGGLERS NABBED BY BORDER PATROL



By Miriam Raftery
 
October 19, 2010 (Campo) -- A tip from the Campo Minutemen led to apprehension of two men charged with smuggling horses across the international border on Friday.

“Campo Minutemen have twice observed a new occurrence at the border this month—horses,” a blog entry posted by the group stated.

One the first occasion, a Minuteman member saw a man riding a horse and leading two other horses with saddles. The witness called Border Patrol. The next week, his dog alerted him to a group of four horses along the border fence, wikth no saddles. Soon after, a horse trailer pulled up and a man loaded the horses into it.

“The trailer was so heavy it got stuck in the dirt,” said the blog entry, which added that the Border Patrol asked the Minuteman’s lead to help the men proceed so that Border Patrol officers could follow and determine what was happening.

The Union-Tribune reports that on Friday, after observing two men cross the international border illegally with five horses in a canyon near Campo, Border Patrol agents next saw the men return with a trailer towed by a pickup truck and loaded up the horses. Soon after, Border Patrol stopped the pickup truck on Highway 94 and also stopped a second man riding a horse that he had offloaded from the trailer. The suspected smugglers were arrested and their vehicles seized. The six horses were taken to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for quarantine and future action.

Recently, wild horses were found running through streets of Otay Mesa. It is unclear whether that incident may be related to smuggling efforts.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Oppose Roundup of 1,659 Nevada Mustangs in Antelope Complex

American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign

The Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) plans to round up and permanently remove 1,659 wild horses from the Antelope Complex in northeast Nevada which emcompasses more than 1.3 million acres and four herd management areas (HMAs): Antelope, Antelope Valley, Goshute, and Spruce-Pequop. Another 50 horses living outside the borders of the Antelope Complex will also be removed. This helicopter roundup is scheduled for January and February 2011 – in the dead of winter. Of the 427 mustangs allowed to remain, 214 mares would be administered the two-year immuno-contraceptive drug PZP, and the herd’s gender ratio would be artificially skewed to favor males.

Eliminating 80 percent of the estimated wild horse population of 2,086 (a number that is artificially inflated by improper inclusion of this year’s foals) is a drastic reduction that will destroy family bands and herd social structure. Conducting the roundup in the middle of winter is inhumane and appears to be scheduled merely for the convenience of BLM and its contractor. This roundup perpetuates the BLM's unsustainable cycle of mass removal and stockpiling of wild horses in government holding facilities which currently house over 40,000 mustangs - which greatly exceeds the number free on the range. Further the roundup is completely unnecessary in light of Madeleine Pickens' plan to create a wild horse eco-sanctuary in this area.
Please submit comments opposing this latest effort to unnecessarily and inhumanely remove wild horses from the Antelope Complex. Both Congress and the President must fix this broken federal program. Take action below today.
>>Learn More

CLICK HERE.

Three wild horses killed by cars; Advocates say action is needed to protect horses and residents - My News 4 - KRNV, Reno, NV

Three wild horses killed by cars; Advocates say action is needed to protect horses and residents - My News 4 - KRNV, Reno, NV

Rein in BLM Spending

The Cloud Foundation

Your Phone Calls Can Halt the Round Up of America’s Last Wild Horses! Take Action today AdobeTown_CW_web_5
10CarolWalkerAdobeSalt0054

The 2011 BLM Budget has not been approved by Congress (BLM is requesting over $75 million!)-- BLM budget request online here.
Regardless BLM continues spending millions in taxpayer dollars on massive, unnecessary roundups -- even targeting more herds for total elimination! BLM is requesting $42.5 million dollars to implement stage 1 of purchasing private lands in the East for the outrageous "Salazar Plan" and an additional $12 million for the wild horse and burro program to reduce the size of 5 herds.

As of October 1 we are in fiscal year 2011 and as the Appropriations Committees in both the House and the Senate work on approving this year’s past due budget,  they need to hear from you with a focused message:
1. Tell Appropriations committtee members in the House and Senate not to appropriate any monies to BLM to continue the rounding up of America’s wild horses at taxpayer expense- over $120,000 a day and rising with each roundup. As taxpayers we do NOT want our money spent in this way.  Demand that no tax dollars are used for the planned removal of more than 11,000 free-roaming wild horses and burros in FY 2011. This is flagrant mismanagement of taxpayer funds for a program that is driving wild horses and wild burros to extinction.
2. Demand (once again) a moratorium on roundups. 54 members of Congress already called for a “timeout” on BLM roundups so that changes can be implemented and the Wild Horse and Burro program can be turned around before even more herds are decimated. Right now BLM is spending millions on rounding up wild horses in Wyoming and Colorado with dead-of-winter round ups planned in Utah and Nevada.
3. Urge all members of the Appropriations Committees to earmark BLM funds for the wild horses in holding, range improvement, censusing, education, release of wild horses back onto their ranges and monitoring of public lands, but NO money for roundups.
We’ve been told by BLM “if we’re not rounding up horses, what would we do?” Well, here’s your chance to cut off their spending on roundups. Maybe BLM can find a way to use their time constructively on behalf of our wild horses and our wild publically owned lands.
These horses were living peacefully with their families at little or no expense to taxpayers on publically-owned lands. Now they have lost their families and their freedom. Many have lost their lives. And it is costing us over $35 million/year to feed the captives in their concentration camps.
BLM’s mismanagement is not acceptable or tolerable to the American public- thank you for making your calls today. Please work with the Committee members in both the House and the Senate who are from your state and encourage friends and family to call as well.
Contact the House Appropriations Committee hereAdobeTown_CW_web_1
Contact the Senate Appropriations Committee here

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AdobeTown_CW_web_3 Photos Living Images by Carol Walker

Monday, October 18, 2010

Virginia Range horse in LOADER BUCKET

This is what is happening to our Virginia Range horses! 





















Virginia Range Horse Roundup and Protest Information
We have been informed that Governor Gibbons has issued a directive for the Nevada Dept. of Agriculture to go around and pick up Virginia Range horses.  Obviously he had no interest in cooperating with the local communities to solve the problems of horses being lured into neighborhoods, but he's going to protect his Deputy Chief of Staff's unfenced bogus hay field that is luring horses across US-50.  It looks like the lame duck Governor is going to try to pull off as many horses as he can in the waning days of his tenure in office.
There are laws that address how the state is supposed to remove and dispose of Virginia Range horses.  These are laws that the governor's buddy Tony Lesperance, Director of Agriculture, conveniently ignores.  Presently there are five Virginia Range horses up for sale at the Fallon Livestock Exchange for which the required legal notices of capture and sale were never published and which went to the auction yard without the required brands.
Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez-Masto, who is charged with the responsibility of enforcing legal conduct among state officials, unfortunately runs an agency that appears to have no interest in dealing with corrupt practices by state officials that have gone on for years. Therefore corruption in the NV Department of Agriculture continues.
A number of advocates will be "patrolling" areas where horses are likely to be trapped and will document trapping operations by taking photographs and submitting them, along with reports, to the local news media.
Area horse groups are planning a demonstration outside the Attorney General's Office, 100 N. Carson St., Carson City on Wednesday, October 20, between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM. The theme of the demonstration will be "No Blind Eye to Corruption."  It is hoped that the Attorney General, who is up for reelection, will take notice of public opinion and do her job and stop holding the public to one set of standards while she holds state officials to lesser standards.
All concerned advocates are encouraged to attend the demonstration.  Please remember that we conduct safe and sane demonstrations in Nevada's State Capitol and we respect other citizens with whom we share the sidewalk.  As a result we have good relations with local law enforcement that we wish to maintain.
Signs are permitted and some will be provided.  If you bring your own signs please remember that this is a Virginia Range horse issue, not BLM.  I mention this so motorists and the media viewing the demonstration won't get confused.
Additional details can be found at (web address) and this information will be updated as needed.
Carrol Abel has agreed to be a point of contact for advocates who wish to attend the demonstration and need more specific information.  She can be reached at mailto:hiddenvalleyhorse@yahoo.com or 775-461-2121.
IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND THE DEMONSTRATION but wish to help, you can register your
concerns with the following individuals whom we feel really need to hear from you.

Office of the Nevada Attorney General: 775-684-1100 email- mailto:aginfo@ag.state.nv.us
Governor Gibbons:  775-684-5670  http://gov.state.nv.us/Contact_Us_NORTHX.htm
Nevada Department of Agriculture:
    JoAnn Mothershead    775-738-8076
    Tony Lesperance        775-353-3613 email- mailto:tlesperance@agri.state.nv.us

Other Contacts:
    Fallon Livestock Exchange  775-867-2020  mailto:fla@phonewave.net

Please mark your calendars to make calls and send emails at least one day this week!
Thank you.