BLM'S WILD HORSE AND BURRO ADVISORY BOARD MEETS IN RENO

February 28, 2009

Wild Horse and Burro Folks:

You may already be aware that several crucial issues, concerning federal wild horses and burros, will be addressed, at the national level, early next week. I apologize for the late notice.
Firstly, on March 2 (Monday), BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board will be meeting at the Silver Legacy Hotel and Casino, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Nevada time) in Reno. This meeting may include discussions about the 30,000+ federal wild horses in holding, the status of Madeleine Pickens’ sanctuary plan, and potential euthanasia (or sale for slaughter) of specified classifications of wild horses in long-term holding facilities. Nevada Horse Power and Sierra Nevada Community Access Television will be providing live-streaming for this meeting, in real time. Click on http://www.nvhorsepower.org/wild_and_free.html to access the meeting, starting at 8 a.m. It may be possible to copy these proceedings onto a DVD or multiple DVD’s. However, I am not certain about this. I plan to try… in any event.
Secondly, on March 3 (Tuesday) at 10 a.m., East Coast time, a Congressional hearing in the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands will be held on the new Rahall/Grijalva bill, H.R. 1018, to amend the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burro Act (1971) by deleting sections that many of us find troubling, and adding new protections and provisions. This hearing will also be live-streamed at http://www.resourcescommittee.house.gov/, beginning at 10 a.m. Eastern time.
Thirdly, another important horse bill has recently been introduced in the U.S. House, titled the Horse Transportation Safety Act of 2009, H.R. 305, to ban the use of double-decker livestock trucks for horse transport. Please contact your representatives and ask them to support it. For more info, see http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h305/text.

And fourthly… Please note that the national horse-slaughter ban bill has been reintroduced in Congress. See:Animal Welfare Institute eAlert: Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act ReintroducedReintroduced Legislation: Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2009 (H.R. 503)
Currently, horse slaughter is still legal in the U.S. Several western states are submitting legislative resolutions to Congress, asking that H.R. 503 NOT be passed and proposing to construct horse slaughter plants within their borders. Wyoming is one state where this resolution has passed. Please read a White Paper published by Veterinarians for Equine Welfare (http://www.vetsforequinewelfare.org/): http://www.vetsforequinewelfare.org/white_paper.php.

Carpe diem… Let us “Seize the day,” and bring forth a new epoch for the humane treatment of wild horses, domesticated horses, wild burros, and ALL animals, large and small. Please contact your delegates to Congress and let your voice be heard, any which way you can: http://www.congress.org/congressorg/mailapp/.

A society is judged by how it treats its old, young, disabled, mentally and physically ill, its environment, and its animals. America is falling dreadfully short, in all categories. “Change” is needed. We can do it!

You may crosspost…

Pat

Patricia M. Fazio, Ph.D., Statewide Coordinator
WYOMING WILD HORSE COALITION