On Thursday, October 7, in an effort to protect a herd of wild horses slated to be rounded up by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the ASPCA filed a federal lawsuit against Ken Salazar, Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, and two top BLM officials. The ASPCA and our partners in the complaint—equine protection groups Habitat for Horses and The Cloud Foundation—challenge the federal government’s ongoing illegal treatment of wild horses, specifically its intention to remove horses from the North Piceance (Colorado) Herd Area.
“The BLM is systematically driving America’s wild horses to extinction,” says Matt Bershadker, ASPCA Senior Vice President of Anti-Cruelty. “Despite intense public outcry, it has continued to increase its efforts to remove these horses from public lands legally designated for their use. The ASPCA decided to take legal action against the BLM’s inhumane and fiscally irresponsible policies before a national treasure is completely eradicated.”
Although the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) has been authorized by the BLM to determine accurate population sizes and appropriate herd management levels, the BLM refuses to wait for the results of that study and continues to engage in cruel roundups of wild herds—often using low-flying helicopters to chase terrified horses—in clear violation the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, which was passed to protect wild horses and burros from capture and preserve the land used by them. The ASPCA is seeking a complete moratorium on all future roundups until the NAS publishes its findings.
Meanwhile, the Colorado roundup in question began as scheduled on Monday, October 11—until an injunction or restraining order is granted by a federal judge, the BLM is under no obligation to alter its plans. The agency expects to complete rounding up approximately 140 horses by October 22. As we go to press, a hearing has been set for Wednesday, October 20, at the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Please join the ASPCA in protesting the barbaric and illegal treatment of these American icons: visit the ASPCA Advocacy Center to take action now.
“Wag’N” Donates pet masks
Carol Monaco, with Marketwise Insights, Inc., recently nominated Greater Brighton Fire to receive pet oxygen masks through a company called Wag’N. Brighton Fire was selected and Wag’N has donated pet O2 masks through a program called “O2 Fur Life” that provides the necessary equipment for pet rescue breathing. Greater Brighton Fire is one of only 14 fire departments in the State who have received pet O2 masks through this program. Five kits were donated through the program, which provides for one set of three masks for each of our five fire stations. Each kit contains three masks of different sizes for various size pets. The kits have been placed on the fire engines and crews have been trained in using the masks. Thank you to Carol and Wag’N for the generous donation.
