Straight from the Horse's Heart
For Immediate Release: September 9, 2011
Contact:
R.T. Fitch, President WHFF, 281-766-7566
Laura Leigh, Vice President WHFF, 800-974-3684
Amended Complaint adds wood to BLM “Inhumane Conduct” Fire
Sun J Chopper in question at Triple B Stampede ~ photo by Laura Leigh
HOUSTON, (WHFF) – An amended complaint was filed yesterday, September 8th 2011, in Federal District Court Reno, Nevada. The action was filed by attorney Gordon Cowan on behalf of Plaintiff Laura Leigh, Founder of Wild Horse Education (WHE) and Vice President of Wild Horse Freedom Federation (WHFF), against the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Department of Interior (DOI) asserting allegations of inhumane treatment of wild horses at roundups.
The amended Complaint comes after a Temporary Restraining Order was issued to inhumane helicopter pilot conduct at the Triple B roundup in Eastern Nevada. That decision was rendered more than a week ago by Federal Judge H. McKibben. The BLM has yet to directly address the ruling. Instead the BLM simply released a report completed by the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) which claims that conduct is acceptable, but cautions helicopters to keep their distance, on the same day the Court ruled.
“This is the exact conduct that the Court found distressing,” said Leigh “Instead of saying ‘there is something wrong and this is how we have fixed it’ they continue to deny that there are any issues by simply ignoring the obvious consequences of their operations.”
On September 10th, tomorrow, the same agency, the same contractor and perhaps the same pilot will begin another roundup at Barren Valley in Oregon.
“Another roundup and still no clear parameters for conduct” stated R.T. Fitch President and co-founder of WHFF “once again it’s full steam ahead for the BLM’s Wild Horse Harvesting Machine regardless of an Order given by a Federal Court. I am neither surprised nor am I amused”
Viewing opportunities at the Barren Valley Roundup will be limited to ten observers that must obtain BLM approval to be added to the attendance roster. It has been reported that the agency has not returned calls made by concerned individuals attempting to be included on the listing.
In addition the BLM is a defendant in a First Amendment suit also brought by Leigh that is now in the Ninth Circuit. The suit alleges that discriminatory access, and limited access, to avoid public review of their actions is commonplace within the management of Wild Horses on public lands.
Wild Horse Freedom Federation (WHFF) is a registered, Texas non-profit corporation with 501c3 status pending. WHFF puts people between America’s wild equids and extinction through targeted litigation against governmental agencies whose documented agendas include the eradication of wild horses and burros from public, federal and state lands. WHFF is funded exclusively through the generosity of the American public.
Links of Interest:
Wild Horse Education ~ http://wildhorseeducation.org
Wild Horse Freedom Federation ~ http://www.wildhorsefreedom.org
Video of horse being hit ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObXB0Wq3nRE
Straight from the Horse’s Heart Blog ~ http://rtfitch.wordpress.com
Laura Leigh’s Blog ~ http://artandhorseslauraleigh.wordpress.com/
Equine Welfare Alliance ~ http://www.equinewelfarealliance.org
Related articles
* Alleged Inhumane Treatment Prompts Wild Horse Lawsuit (rtfitch.wordpress.com)
* BLM Pilot Conduct Ruled “Inhumane” at Triple B Wild Horse Hearing (rtfitch.wordpress.com)
* BLM Responds to Allegations of Inhumane Wild Horse Treatment (rtfitch.wordpress.com)
* WHFF Press Release: First Amendment case moves forward (artandhorseslauraleigh.wordpress.com)
* Wild Horse Advocates Combine Legal Might to Protect National Icons (rtfitch.wordpress.com)
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