23 Wild Horses Rescued After Nevada Sent Them to Slaughter (PETITION)
23 wild horses were rounded up last week by the state of Nevada after they were deemed nuisance animals. They were not on federal land so the roundup fell under the state's jurisdiction. In the past the state had offered wild horses to the public for $90 but this time was different due to a recent policy change. That change states that any horses removed from wild will automatically go to the Fallon Livestock yard. In other words they would go to slaughter for human consumption after kill buyers bid on them.
But this was not to be the fate of these horses because wild horse advocacy groups came together to save them. Advocates from the Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection Fund, Let ‘Em Run Foundation and Horse Power, among others, organized a huge rescue effort to save them. Unfortunately at the auction they were forced into a bidding war against kill-buyers. It was also believed that the owner of the auction, Jack Payne, was involved in this bidding war to try to discourage them.
When the bidding was over the horse advocates ended up paying over $11,000 to save them, far above what they should have had to pay. The average price per horse came out to be around $475, while other non-range horses there were sold for around $150. According to Shannon Windle, President of Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection Fund, who had spearheaded the fundraiser to pay for the horses, it was way over what they had anticipated and budgeted for.
Donations had been collected from across the country and even abroad. The effort was also joined by the Alliance of Wild Horse Advocates, the Starlight Sanctuary and Least Resistance Training Concepts (LRTC). California-based Protect Mustangs also stepped in to help. Anne Novak, Executive Director of Protect Mustangs afterwards stated that, “We hope Governor Sandoval realizes that outside of Nevada, 80% of Americans are against horse slaughter. This could be a pivotal point in his political career–the point where he tarnishes himself to the extent that he will never win the hearts of the 80%. He still has time to take action and become a hero and we hope he does.”
Wild Horses on the Virginia Range. Photo by Carrol Abel.
Please sign the petition below asking Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval to stop ignoring the public and take action to ensure that more horses are not sent to auction.
The wild horses have rights,too! Slaughtering them is inhumane and unnecessary! Your problem-solving techniques need revamping! You clearly haven't given any thought to right vs. wrong, your self-serving behavior is disgraceful and unacceptable!
These horses are not yours to send to slaughter. Americans resent your cold, greedy way you are handling our horses. They are part of our American heritage YOU SCUM!!!!!
Theses awesome animals have the right to live. There is no reason to slaughter them at all.
I have never heard such an example of self serving greed.With a vast area to live in surely there is plenty of room for these animals,wild or not.Wild life of all kinds should be left alone,they have a right to live.No one needs to eat a horse,especially in the USA.Appalled and disgusted..UK
I am beyond disgusted, slaughtering wild horses, why? They aren't hurting anyone, God put them here, God will take them back! Anyone who kills Gods creatures, has there soul, to account for, better believe it!
These horses have a right to run too. This is a disgrace and please sign this petition so that this kind of treatment will stop!They have a right to live and breathe!
These horses are the remaining living parts of the past, there must be a better way than to slaughter them. Don't get me wrong I (am Austrian), like others do like to eat horsemeat like I eat beef. Do I need buffalo NO, likewise I do not need one of the few remaining wild horses - sell them to people who would like to take care of them if there are too many for the land they still can live free and wild.
great work done by saving these innocents.
This is so cruel. We have to come together and put a stop to this. I would never vote for any offical that agreed with slaughtering these poor horses. Who ever ran the bidding up will have to stand before our creator and explain that one.