Ziggy, one of our Sheldon horses in sanctuary. UPDATE from the July 12th House Appropriations Interior Committee Meeting: The language that would have allowed BLM to destroy any and all wild horses and burros in holding and on the range was NOT included in the House Appropriations Bill. However, there is still language in the bill that allows the transfer of wild horses and burros to any government agency upon request, and upon transfer they lose their status (protections) under the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act (see text below).
“SEC. 114. 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: Provided further, That any Federal, State, or local government agency receiving excess wild horses or burros as authorized in this section shall not: destroy the horses or burros in a way that results in their destruction into commercial products; sell or otherwise transfer the horses or burros in a way that results in their destruction for processing into commercial products; or euthanize the horses or burros except upon the recommendation of a licensed veterinarian, in cases of severe injury, illness, or advanced age.”
Unfortunately we know that this is a way for agencies that are anti-wild horse and burro to back-door them to slaughter. Because the reality is, if they lose their status as a wild free-roaming horse or burro, there are no protections, however minimal, for them. And we also know that there is no accountability for what happens once the horses and burros leave BLM.
This bill will go before the full House Appropriations Committee TUESDAY, JULY 18th. It’s quite possible that an amendment to this bill will be presented to reintroduce the language allowing BLM to destroy all horses and burros “. . . for which an adoption demand by qualified individuals does not exist to be destroyed in the most humane and cost efficient manner possible”. That would mean that every single one of America’s wild horses and burros are in danger of being shot, or sold for the purpose of slaughter! We cannot underestimate the determination of those who would like to see the destruction of all wild horses and burros in holding and on the range.
PLEASE contact your Congressman NOW.
Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to your representative.
To find out if your representative is a member of the Appropriations Committee, click here. https://appropriations.house.gov/about/members/
If your representative is a member of the Appropriations Committee, it’s especially important that you contact them. Tell them to oppose any amendments to the Interior Appropriations Bill on TUESDAY, JULY 18th that would allow for the destruction of wild horses and burros in holding or on the range, and to maintain wild free-roaming horse or burro status for animals transferred to other agencies.
If your congressman is not on the Appropriations Committee, it’s still important to contact them. Tell them that you, along with 80% of Americans do not support horse slaughter, or the destruction of healthy wild horses and burros in government facilities or on the range. Tell them to oppose any 2018 Budget language that would allow this to happen.
Let them know that you support alternative management strategies for our wild horses and burros, and these strategies must be pursued to resolve the crisis created by decades of mismanagement of the Wild Horse and Burro program.
“SEC. 114. 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: Provided further, That any Federal, State, or local government agency receiving excess wild horses or burros as authorized in this section shall not: destroy the horses or burros in a way that results in their destruction into commercial products; sell or otherwise transfer the horses or burros in a way that results in their destruction for processing into commercial products; or euthanize the horses or burros except upon the recommendation of a licensed veterinarian, in cases of severe injury, illness, or advanced age.”
Unfortunately we know that this is a way for agencies that are anti-wild horse and burro to back-door them to slaughter. Because the reality is, if they lose their status as a wild free-roaming horse or burro, there are no protections, however minimal, for them. And we also know that there is no accountability for what happens once the horses and burros leave BLM.
This bill will go before the full House Appropriations Committee TUESDAY, JULY 18th. It’s quite possible that an amendment to this bill will be presented to reintroduce the language allowing BLM to destroy all horses and burros “. . . for which an adoption demand by qualified individuals does not exist to be destroyed in the most humane and cost efficient manner possible”. That would mean that every single one of America’s wild horses and burros are in danger of being shot, or sold for the purpose of slaughter! We cannot underestimate the determination of those who would like to see the destruction of all wild horses and burros in holding and on the range.
PLEASE contact your Congressman NOW.
Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to your representative.
To find out if your representative is a member of the Appropriations Committee, click here. https://appropriations.house.gov/about/members/
If your representative is a member of the Appropriations Committee, it’s especially important that you contact them. Tell them to oppose any amendments to the Interior Appropriations Bill on TUESDAY, JULY 18th that would allow for the destruction of wild horses and burros in holding or on the range, and to maintain wild free-roaming horse or burro status for animals transferred to other agencies.
If your congressman is not on the Appropriations Committee, it’s still important to contact them. Tell them that you, along with 80% of Americans do not support horse slaughter, or the destruction of healthy wild horses and burros in government facilities or on the range. Tell them to oppose any 2018 Budget language that would allow this to happen.
Let them know that you support alternative management strategies for our wild horses and burros, and these strategies must be pursued to resolve the crisis created by decades of mismanagement of the Wild Horse and Burro program.
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