Fellow animal lovers, horses need your voice so please read this blog and take action! Over to The American Wild Horse Campaign:
America’s historic wild horses and burros are under attack.
These iconic animals are protected under federal law as “living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West.”
But every year, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) uses helicopters to round up and remove thousands of wild horses and burros from their homes on our public lands to make room for taxpayer-subsidized livestock grazing. These highly intelligent and social animals are separated from their families and stockpiled in government feedlots, or worse, end up in the slaughter pipeline.
Photo by Kimerlee Curyl
And under the current Administration, things have gone from bad to worse. The Interior Department, under Secretary Ryan Zinke has asked Congress for permission to kill tens of thousands of these cherished animals in holding facilities and on the range.
Congress is split on what to do. In July, the U.S. House passed 2018 Interior spending legislation that included an amendment to strip long-standing protections for wild horses and burros and allow for their mass killing and sale for slaughter. The Senate however, maintained protections, and called on the BLM to come up with humane and politically viable solutions to manage mustangs and burros.
The fate of America’s wild horses and burros now hangs in the balance as the differences between these two bills are ironed out in conference committee. Whatever spending legislation Congress finally passes for Fiscal Year 2018 will decide whether more than 90,000 wild horses and burros live or die.
Photo by Kimerlee Curyl
The stakes could not be higher. The livestock industry wants to rid our public lands of wild horses in order to cheaply graze more cattle, and they’re not giving up. Neither are we. And we have something they don’t: the overwhelming support of the American people on our side.
Only the power of the people can save America’s mustangs, so please join the effort to save them! By signing up for our E-Action Team, you will stay updated on breaking news, new ways to get involved and critical actions to make your voice heard.
About The American Wild Horse Campaign
The American Wild Horse Campaign is dedicated to preserving American wild horses and burros in viable, free-roaming herds for generations to come, as part of our national heritage. Its grassroots mission is endorsed by a coalition of more than 60 horse advocacy, humane and public interest organizations.
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