Hitchcock, Texas Nearly 1,000 horses labeled as domestic strays by the BLM are no longer slated to be auctioned off to slaughterhouse brokers. At the last minute, the Nevada Department of Agriculture, the BLM, and parties claiming ownership of the horses worked out a deal to send the rounded up herd to a Wild Horse Sanctuary in California owned by Slick Gardner, a noted wild horse advocate.
This is an excerpt from the
Habitat for Horses Newsletter
February 8, 2003
On January 6, 2003, the State of Nevada contacted Habitat for Horses, a Texas based non-profit equine rescue and requested their help in placing the "estray" horses into adoptive homes and sanctuaries rather than sending them to be killed. Jerry Finch, director of Habitat for Horses, got on the Internet and asked fellow equine rescues for help.
He received more help than he ever expected and became one of the "point men" for an unprecedented network of rescues, foundations, and individual volunteers across the United States. Because of the response from equine rescues, the State of Nevada was able to grant a two-week extension to their original deadline for rounding up the wild horses. That time was instrumental in creating the opportunity for the current compromise.
"It's great news," said Finch. "The safety of the horses has always been our number one priority our only priority. The rescues will continue their efforts on behalf of estray horses, assisting Nevada and other states in providing homes for horses young and healthy enough to be safely adopted and finding sanctuary for those too old to make the adjustment."
"The network of rescues have been instrumental in giving all parties concerned enough time to work out a solution in the best interest of the horses," the Nevada Department of Agriculture's Jim Connelley confirmed. "We had no idea they could help as much as they have. We're hoping that we can continue to work with them when we have to gather other estray herds."
"There are many, many other horses in danger of being sold for meat," Jamie Dale, President of the United Equine Foundation confirmed. A member of the Nevada 980 Rescue Network Project umbrella group of rescues, UEF has been working to save endangered horses in Nevada horses. "The Elko horses are just the tip of the iceberg, and are lucky enough to have owners who are willing to fight for their survival."
"The job has just begun," pointed out Jill Starr of Lifesavers, a wild mustang group who has worked in partnership with the Nevada 980 Rescue Network. "There are thousands of horses who have lived for generations on the public range lands of Nevada. They are wild horses, essentially mustangs, and they deserve to live."
"We've said from the beginning that we will be here for estray horses in danger of being slaughtered," Finch said. "As long as estray horses are in danger of being sold as meat, we are going to be there to offer an alternative. The 12 rescues in our network have decided to continue working together, along with other organizations like Lifesavers, Doris Day Animal League, and United Animal Nation. Together, we can save the lives of a true American treasure our wild horses."
Go to the "News & Rescues" page and look for the 980 Nevada Project
