Fallon Foal Fatality (a Crime)

This little guy, run off of his traditional lands, (even though the law says wild horses are supposed to be "principal users" of those lands,)...stolen away from his momma, and left to starve. "Put Down" by the BLM when advocates voiced concern. This little guy didnt have to die. Starving animals is against the law and the BLM should be prosecuted for animal cruelty, same as anyboby else would be; http://attorneysforanimals.org/

How many more will die while in BLMs "care, custody and control?"


Note below is from a another NY wild horse advocate;
Thanks Sue.








Hi all,

Thank you for hanging in there for the horses. The passion in this group is amazing!

Last week, a wild horse foal in the Fallon NV feedlot died. The BLM had separated him from his mother, he lost weight.

The foal was down to about a 1 on the Henneke Index (out of 10) when humane observers saw him. Ernie Paragallo is in jail today for horses ranked 1 on the Henneke body scoring index; http://horseracingshame.blogspot.com/2010/05/paragallo-gets-2-years-hsus-applauds.html

Humane observers called the BLM out on it. The BLM put the foal down. Official cause: emaciation and dehydration.



I spoke to vet students at Tufts Veterinary School last weekend about how they refeed emaciated horses. It can be done. It's not without risk, but it's not rocket science either.

This little guy didn't get a basic level of care from the US Government. BLM has 1 vet for 3000 horses but they can afford 2 helicopters to round them up. What does that tell you?

You and I are the hope for these babies future. Not Obama, not BLM, not our legislators, unless we keep the pressure on. You and I. There's still hope for the Fallon horses - the Federal lawsuit pending, AND the county sheriff is investigating animal cruelty complaints at BLM's Fallon feedlot.

It's not easy knowing a foal starved to death .. while higher than usual spring rains are nourishing the Calico, plenty of grass to sustain the herd.
In the words of labor pioneer Joe Hill, "Don't Mourn, Organize!" (emphsis added by CJ aka "Mulekist")

I hope you have a moment to honor this brave little guy in your heart & the horses we have left grazing on the spring growth, and pick up the phone next week.
Thank you, Susan

News Release from The Cloud Foundation
Media Contacts:
Makendra Silverman
Makendra@TheCloudFoundation.org
Tel: 719-351-8187

Anne Novak
Anne@TheCloudFoundation.org
Tel: 415-531-8454
For Immediate Release

Emaciated Wild Horse Colt Latest Victim Under BLM Care



Humane Observers Need Daily Access to Monitor Horses’ Well-Being



Fallon, NV (May 21, 2010)—On Sunday, May 16th, visitors and humane observers to the government holding pens in Fallon, Nevada found injured wild horses and photographed a starving, emaciated colt among the 2,100 mustangs. The young colt had clearly been struggling for multiple days and was not placed in a hospital pen with his mother. Advocates alerted Bureau of Land Management (BLM) staff to the colt’s poor condition. After the facility closed the only veterinarian, responsible for the care of over 3,000 horses at two BLM facilities, was called in and euthanized the colt. The Washoe County Sheriff is currently investigating multiple incidences of animal abuse at the Fallon Facility.

“We have been saying for months that one veterinarian is not adequate to monitor thousands of wild horses and now more than 300 foals,” states Ginger Kathrens, Director of the Cloud Foundation. “If volunteers were allowed on a regular basis to view these horses the death of this little colt might have been prevented.”



Foals are not counted in BLM records and the deaths are not listed in the BLM daily reports. The emaciated colt’s death is in addition to at least 90 fatalities to date as a result of wintertime Calico roundup in Northwestern Nevada.

The BLM allows only ten people to visit Fallon one time per week, on Sunday, for a couple of hours despite repeated requests for increased access. Tours are currently postponed and may be cancelled permanently despite a clear need to observe recently castrated males, pregnant mares and young foals.

“These horses were taken off the range because BLM claimed they were at risk of dehydration and starvation, the reasons given for destroying this captive foal.
These deaths are avoidable. Northern Nevada's precipitation is 128% of normal,” explains Terri Farley, author of the famed Phantom Stallion Series. “Born in the wild, instead of suffering in a fenced sand box, the foal might have lived.”



Read more on the humane observer's blog: http://humaneobserver.blogspot.com/

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Member of: www.equinewelfarealliance.org

For more info on the issue: Alex Brown Racing Wiki Page