Feds to remove all Sheldon wild horses

Sheldon Wild Horses. Photo credit: Mike Lorden.

Cross-posted from KOLO Ch. 8 Reno

ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORT

Wildlife Refuge in Washoe County to Remove All Wild Horses

RENO, Nev. (AP) – Federal officials have approved a management plan for the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge in northwestern Nevada that calls for the removal of all wild horses and burros from it within five years.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials say the move is being made because the animals have a negative effect on habitat, and the refuge was created for pronghorn antelope and other native wildlife.

Horse advocates sharply criticize the refuge’s comprehensive conservation plan, which will guide its management over the next 15 years. Read more >>

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Low cost gelding clinic coming to Fallon, Nevada Nov 24, 25

NATIONAL EQUINE RESOURCE NETWORK PRESS RELEASE

NERN’s flagship program was created to help economically challenged horse owners castrate their colts and stallions at a minimum cost, and to decrease equine breeding at a time when there is an over abundance of horses in the United States.

A low cost gelding clinic will be held at Snow Livestock & Grain in Fallon, NV on Saturday, Nov 24th and Sunday, Nov 25th. Private horse owners in need of this service are invited to participate in this event that is co-hosted by National Equine Resource Network (NERN) and R-VETS.

The cost to horse owners who bring their horses to the clinic will be only $75, compared to an average veterinary fee of approximately $150-300. The clinic will also take a limited number of cryptorchids and hernias, for an additional fee.

Dr. Eric Davis, DVM of R-VETS, is volunteering his services to NERN and the community, stressing the importance of reducing the future equine population in the face of the nation’s ongoing economic woes.

In 2011, NERN ran a pilot program for low-cost clinics in California, gelding a total of 92 horses, in eight separate locations around the state. This year, they have already held a total of 16 clinics, and castrated an additional 204 stallions.

Shirley Puga, NERN’s Executive Director, said her organization’s goal for 2012 was to provide low cost castration for 250 or more colts/stallions in a series of gelding clinics. “At a time when many horse owners are struggling just to feed their animals, we felt that providing financial assistance in this area would be one of the most important contributions we could make, not only for existing horses, but for the future” she said.

NERN-sponsored gelding clinics have been held throughout California, and a two day clinic was recently held in Washington State. Soon Nevada will be added to the list. At the request of horse rescues, vets and/or horse owners that have learned of this service, other western states such as OR, AZ, and TX are under consideration.

To participate in the Fallon gelding clinic, area horse owners can contact NERN at nationalequine@gmail.com or (760) 419-2462. For more information on the gelding program, or to donate, please go to www.nationalequine.org.

Source: Press Release

116,000 sign girl’s petition on BLM sale of wild horses to slaughter

PHOTO CREDIT: CYNTHIA SMALLEY PHOTOGRAPHY.
Robin Warren has collected 116,000 signatures and counting on her petition regarding the BLM sale of wild horses to slaughter.

WRITTEN BY MARK ROBISON

Cross-posted from the Reno Gazette-Journal

Robin Warren, an 11-year-old from Las Vegas, and her mother launched a petition urging the Bureau of Land Management to protect wild horses and stop selling them to advocates of horse slaughter. At last count, about 116,000 people have signed the petition — you can sign it here.

A Change.org Press Release states in part:

“I love wild horses,” said Robin Warren, who just entered sixth grade. “When my mom and I read about them being taken from the range by the Bureau of Land Management and sold to people who support horse slaughter, I had to do something.”

Robin and her mother started the campaign after reading a recent article published on ProPublica.org about Tom Davis, a horse slaughter proponent who has purchased hundreds of horses from the Bureau of Land Management – some for as little as $10. According to the article, the Bureau of Land Management cannot account for those horses’ whereabouts.

Robin’s dedication to protecting wild horses has earned her the nickname “Wild Mustang Robin.” Earlier this year, she launched the Youths’ Equine Alliance (YEA) with two other children fighting to stop the round-up and slaughter of America’s equines.

Read full article >>

SIGN PETITION HERE