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Archive for December 11th, 2009Assault Planned on Last Stronghold of Wild Horse Herds – Demand a Stop to the Calico Removals Snowy Dawn - photo Living Images by Carol Walker 2,700 Wild Horses to be Rounded Up in Dead of Winter Despite a significant public outcry, BLM plans a helicopter round up to remove thousands of wild horses in northwestern Nevada, an area called the Calico Complex in a remote and starkly beautiful landscape of volcanic outcrops, steep canyons and wide valleys. It is home to the last stronghold of the once large herds of American mustangs that roamed the west by the millions. The attack on Calico is scheduled to begin on December 28th following a delay after In Defense of Animals filed a lawsuit in late November. This case will be heard in mid-December but in the meantime BLM plans to continue through the dead of winter. Calico is a challenging environment in winter when bitter winds howl and blizzards are common. If BLM were truly interested in preserving wild horses they would not run them over treacherous terrain in winter when all wildlife are simply trying to survive by expending the least amount of energy possible. Regardless, BLM intends to round up from 2486 to 2747 mustangs, taking away from them what they value most. . .their freedom and the families. They plan to release only 264 horses (80 mares, all treated with infertility drugs, and 184 stallions) back onto .5 million acres of our public lands, and incarcerate the rest in holding facilities already bursting at the seams. Taxpayers pay over $100,000 a day to feed these captives who were removed to make room for more welfare cattle on public lands. Because only 264 wild horses will be turned back into four herd areas, each herd will be genetically non-viable and left vulnerable to inbreeding. A spokesman for BLM denies that the agency is managing our wild herds to extinction, but actions speak louder than this hollow promise. Only token, remnant herds will remain in this, the last stronghold of the wild horses. The onslaught is scheduled to begin December 1 and continue through the end of February 2010. The Cloud Foundation is asking you to stand up for these horse and demand that the round up be halted. It is nothing more than government sponsored cruelty. Call (202) 456-1111 and email President Obama And share this story with the media Thank you photo Living Images by Carol Walker Related articles by Zemanta
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=70659970-52f5-44b6-b222-a9d51f29df57) Influential New York Race Group Adopts Zero Tolerance Policy on Horse Slaughter Panimetro in a Race before he broke his fetlock in 4 places and was rescued by VICCTRE, then adopted by me CHICAGO, (EWA) December 6, 2009 – The Equine Welfare Alliance (EWA), an organization representing more than 70 member organizations, strongly applauds the recent announcement from the New York Racing Association (NYRA) establishing a zero tolerance policy toward horse slaughter at its race tracks. Chris Hayward, NYRA president and chief executive officer, stated, “We are fully committed to protecting our sport’s equine athletes.” Hayward continued, “This policy sends the message that horse slaughter will not be tolerated and that those participating in this practice, either knowingly, or for lack of due diligence, will not be welcome at Aqueduct, Belmont Park, or Saratoga.” The three tracks represent a triple crown of respected venues serving the sport of kings. The NYRA statement comes on the heels of the announcement from Old Friends Kentucky Thoroughbred Retirement Facility of the opening of their auxiliary farm, Old Friends at Cabin Creek: The Bobby Frankel Division, just outside Saratoga Race Course in Greenfield Center, NY. The 40 acre farm leased by Old Friends owner, Michael Blowen, has already retired three former racehorses, Moonshadow, Gigli and Thunder Rumble since its opening last month. “Blowen and Hayward both refer to American race horses as athletes – an appropriate term deserving of the horse’s contributions to the sport,” said EWA’s John Holland. “Racing enthusiasts come to see the horses and it is the horses that bring revenues. They deserve a dignified retirement, not ending up on an elite diner’s plate in Europe,” added EWA’s, Vicki Tobin. The NYRA zero tolerance policy states, “Any owner or trainer stabled at a New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) track found to have directly or indirectly sold a horse for slaughter will have his or her stalls permanently revoked from all NYRA tracks. NYRA requires its horsemen to conduct due diligence on those buying horses and encourages them to support rescue and adoption efforts and to find humane ways of dealing with horses unable to continue racing.” The horse slaughter industry contributes less than 3 cents of every $100 of revenue for the horse industry. EWA is encouraged by the NYRA announcement as an indication that the industry, like the overwhelming majority of horse owners, believes that the slaughter of American horses is neither necessary nor acceptable. Contacts: John Holland Related articles by Zemanta
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