Saturday, May 29, 2010

Americans Call for Urgent Reform in Department of Interior's Wild Horse and Burro Program

The Gulf and Western Public Lands suffer under Salazar and Baca's Leadership

Washington, D.C. (May 28, 2010)-

Currently being questioned by the House Committee on Natural Resources regarding the Deepwater Horizon disaster, Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Ken Salazar has come under fire for his lack of oversight on offshore drilling. Wild horse advocates contend that the mismanagement extends not just to an unparalled ecological disaster at sea, but a humane, environmental and fiscal disaster on our public lands. Wild horses and burros are being rounded up off their legally designated homes on Western ranges while extractive industries are allowed to monopolize public lands at enormous expense to the American taxpayer and the environment.

The impact of extractive uses on public lands is perhaps best described by project coordinator, Lars Ecklund, of the proposed Ruby natural gas pipeline which would impact wild horses and wild public lands in its 600-mile path. As quoted by the Klamath Falls Herald and News on April 16, 2010, Ecklund said "Once we get that [FERC approval], all hell will break loose... don't think we're going to put this pipe in without making a mess ... It's going to look like Hiroshima. It's going to look nasty." Salazar, who signed an agreement with the FERC Chairman on March 17, 2009 to facilitate offshore drilling, has been unresponsive to public calls to stop the Ruby project.

Secretary Salazar is no friend of wild horses. He stated that "they don't belong on public lands" while running for the U.S. Senate in Colorado in 2004. Under his leadership at DOI, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has retained the same entrenched bureaucrats who continue to run the Wild Horse and Burro program into the ground. Salazar has continued the Bush-era policy of massive wild horse removals off public land leading to the demise of America's wild herds-burdening the taxpayer with a bill of $3.5 million per month for the 37,000 now incarcerated wild horses. Since Salazar's appointment, over one dozen herds have been zeroed out with at least another five on the chopping block for fiscal year 2011.

"Destruction and death of the animals the American public cherishes have been Salazar's hallmark/brand as Interior Secretary," states Katie Fite, biodiversity specialist for Western Watersheds. "He failed to protect wolves and sage grouse, and oversaw the brutal Calico wild horse roundup and many others. He's hell-bent on selling out the public lands to ranchers and big energy scoundrels-in whose corporate interest it is that there are no wolves, no grouse, and no wild horses left."

In June of 2009, Salazar hired Sylvia Baca away from BP America to become his Deputy Assistant Secretary of Lands and Minerals Management. This is not Baca's first stint at Interior. From 1995 to 2001 she was the Assistant Secretary for Lands and Mineral management and also served as the Acting Director of the BLM. During her tenure as Acting Director allegations of wild horses being sent to slaughter were revealed in a series of shocking articles by AP reporter, Martha Mendoza. Her meticulously researched articles revealed BLM contractors and employees working together to traffic wild horses to slaughterhouses. In a PEER (Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility) White Paper released in 1997 on this topic, PEER reported that "On February 19, 1997, the BLM issued a press release announcing the results of an internal investigation 'which contradicts recent press allegations that wild horses are routinely sent to slaughter.' Despite this self-proclaimed clean bill of health the BLM simultaneously announced a series of 20 reforms in the Wild Horse and Burro Program and promised more reforms to come." Despite the promised 'reforms', some of the same employees implicated in this investigation are working at the BLM today, at least one in a position of authority.

In 2001, Baca left the Interior Department to take a job as a senior manager at BP America-the same BP of the Gulf disaster. Ironically, while at BP, one of her responsibilities was to develop health, safety, and emergency response programs. Then in June 2009 the offer came from Salazar for her to return to DOI, this time with a promotion.

Six months after beginning her second stint at DOI, Baca attended the December 2009 BLM Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board Meeting in Reno, representing the "Salazar Plan" to the Board. The Plan would move 26,000 wild horses from the West to preserves in the East and Midwest, on private land purchased with taxpayer dollars. "The Plan requires hundreds of millions of dollars for land acquisitions. It's being sold as an eco-tourism opportunity. People are thrilled of the sight of mustangs running free, by battling stallions and long-legged foals," states Terri Farley who attended the meeting. "But this Plan takes our wild horses off public lands, castrates all stallions and sends segregated, non-reproducing animals to pastures back East. It's expensive, unnecessary and cruel. And for what? Most tax-payers would choose the once-in-a-lifetime experience of seeing mustangs in the wild, over funding more grazing cows and more oil and gas installations pounding away."

During a break in the meeting in Reno, Cloud Foundation Director Ginger Kathrens, used the opportunity to say hello to Secretary Baca and show her pictures of the Calico horses of northwestern Nevada. The horses were slated for a dead of winter removal because, BLM contended, they might starve if left on their half-million acre home range. "Craig Downer had taken wonderful pictures of the wild horses and then enlarged them for the Board to see," said Kathrens. "When I showed her the pictures and called her attention to the health and beauty of the horses, she stated it didn't look like they had anything to eat and walked away."

Then in April 2010, the Cloud Foundation scheduled a meeting with BLM Director Bob Abbey in an attempt to find solutions to the management difficulties within the Wild Horse and Burro Program and to work collaboratively with the BLM. Deputy Secretary Baca attended that meeting "and we were met with open hostility from her," states Kathrens. "At one point she indicated we should thank them (the BLM) for not euthanizing the wild horses held in holding corrals, intimating that they had the legal authority to do so."

"Sylvia Baca is just doing Secretary Salazar's bidding as far as I'm concerned and they are both bad for the wild horses and the environment," states American Herds blog writer Cindy MacDonald. " Look what's happening in the Gulf. Interior is dangerously unresponsive and ineffective under Salazar's leadership. He was picked to clean up the reported corruption within the agency and instead, it is the same old faces making the same bad decisions."

Some media pundits have concluded that Salazar has only months to go before being replaced as Secretary of the Interior. "It can't come too soon for our wild lands, the horses or the environment," MacDonald concludes.

The Cloud Foundation continues to ask for DOI's assurance that the elimination of wild horse and burro herds across the West is not motivated by extractive industries. This is difficult to believe because tens of thousands of privately-owned livestock are grazing on herd management areas across the West and oil and gas exploration is rampant in some herd areas.

The Cloud Foundation asks the public to contact President Obama and call for the immediate resignation of both Salazar and Baca. Both need to be replaced with a true stewards of our public lands like the recently deceased Stuart Udall, who established the first public wild horse and burro range in Cloud's Pryor Mountains and understood the value of protecting and preserving public lands for multiple-use rather than greed-based destruction.

A conservation organization, WildEarth Guardians, is currently circulating a letter demanding that Secretary Salazar resign for his poor decision-making and mismanagement of wildlife and watersheds, air, land and water, to which the Cloud Foundation is one of the signatories. "The country needs an Interior Secretary that will do more than wear a cowboy hat and talk tough in front of cameras," said Dr. Nicole Rosmarino, wildlife program director for WildEarth Guardians, "Salazar promised to be the new sheriff in town but his form of policing seems to be to look the other way."

BLM Land management chief to take over drilling agency

By MATTHEW DALY (AP)

WASHINGTON - The head of the Interior Department's Bureau of Land Management is stepping in to run the much-criticized agency that oversees offshore oil drilling.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said Friday that Bob Abbey will begin to restructure the drilling agency, which has come under fire for lax oversight in the wake of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Abbey also will continue as chief of the land bureau.

Elizabeth Birnbaum resigned under pressure Thursday as director of the Minerals Management Service. She had been criticized by lawmakers and others for failing to move quickly to reverse a culture in which regulators favored the oil and natural gas industry. Some agency inspectors have accepted trips, gifts and other favors from the industry.

(And the DOI dont think Bob Abby and the BLM are not guilty of same? Pleeeeaassse!)

Monday, May 24, 2010

Calico Wild Horse Lawsuit Dismissed on Technicality, not Merits

By thecloudfoundation

Press Release from In Defense of Animals:

Calico Wild Horse Lawsuit Dismissed on Technicality, not Merits;

Government Evades Ruling on Illegality of Warehousing Wild Horses in the Midwest

Plaintiffs Promise To Continue Fight to Halt BLM Illegal Practices

Washington, D.C. (May 24, 2010) — Today, the Honorable Judge Paul L. Friedman of the U.S. District Court in Washington DC, dismissed on standing and mootness the lawsuit brought against U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) by animal protection organization In Defense of Animals (IDA), wildlife ecologist Craig Downer and children’s author Terri Farley. The Calico wild horse lawsuit has drawn intense public scrutiny to the government’s wild horse program and its routine policy of removing wild horses from their native western range on public lands and stockpiling them in long-term holding facilities in the Midwest, costing taxpayers of tens of millions of dollars annually.

The Calico lawsuit, filed pro bono by the law firm Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney (BIR), sought to stop the roundup of a proposed 2,500 wild horses from the half-million (500,000) acre herd management area complex, which is comprised primarily of publicly-owned lands. In a preliminary ruling, the Court agreed that the the government’s practice of sending wild horses to the Midwest and warehousing them in long-term holding facilities as likely illegal.

Today’s decision did not address the merits of that argument, only the lack of standing by plaintiffs to bring it. The Judge also ruled that the arguments challenging the roundup methods were moot because the roundup had already occurred.

“We remain confident in the merits of our case and look forward to pursuing this legal issue in the near future,” said William J. Spriggs, lead counsel for BIR in this case. “The BLM’s practice of removing horses from the western range and warehousing them in Midwestern holding facilities is flat out illegal, and the judge’s preliminary ruling in this regard was correct.”

The Calico Mountain Complex roundup of 1,922 wild horses is one of the largest roundups in recent years. The BLM removed at least 80-90 percent of the Calico wild horse population, leaving behind an “estimated” 600 horses on the 550,000 acre (or 859 square mile) Complex in northwest Nevada. The roundup ended on February 4, 2010, 500 horses short of its target for removal. The roundup proceeded despite a ruling by Judge Friedman suggesting that the BLM postpone the Calico roundup. To date, 97 horses have died during or after the roundup and more than 50 heavily pregnant mares have spontaneously aborted fetuses due to the stress of the roundup and holding.

Wild horses comprise a small fraction of grazing animals on public lands, where they are outnumbered by livestock nearly 50 to 1. The BLM has recently increased cattle grazing allotments in areas where wild horses are being removed. Currently the BLM manages more than 256 million acres of public lands of which cattle grazing is allowed on 160 million acres; wild horses are only allowed on 26.6 million acres this land, which must be shared with cattle. The Obama Administration plans to remove nearly 12,000 wild horses and burros from public lands by October 2010. There are currently more than 36,000 wild horses warehoused in government holding facilities and only 33,000 wild horses free on the range.

http://thecloudfoundation.wordpress.com/2010/05/24/calico-wild-horse-lawsuit-dismissed-on-technicality-not-merits/#comment-11435

Passionately Committed Anti Horse-Slaughter Advocate Disgusted with Anti-Horse-Slaughter Camp

Particularly the "Mother Orgs."-


Click below to read why;

http://unnecessaryevils.blogspot.com/2010/05/ewa-tootin-their-own-horn-on-all-that.html

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Advocates, Hunters Upset at Nevada Wildlife Board

Posted on May 23, 2010 by Tom Darby

Wildlife advocates and hunters are up in arms over a state board’s decision to step up the killing of mountain lions and coyotes to help increase the deer population. Critics say the Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners is placing too much emphasis on predator control and ignoring the recommendations of staff biologists and county advisory boards.

(Actually, I think the BLM is doing itself a favor as every dead mt lion or coyote is one that will not kill a ranchers cow that the BLM will have to re-imburse him for. Everyone knows or should know, its all about the ranchers and protecting their cows....and the BLM "minimizing" its losses in paying off the ranchers "predator claims."

See: Predator Killing: $8 Million; The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife "Services" agency spent $8 million in FY 1999 to kill native wildlife that were considered a threat to livestock. (The cost has only gone up since then)

Read More about the Costs of Public Land Ranching; http://www.publiclandsranching.org/htmlres/fs_fiscal_costs.htm

Original Post; http://tomdarby.wordpress.com/2010/05/23/advocates-hunters-upset-at-nevada-wildlife-board/

Saturday, May 22, 2010

ACTION ALERT: From the Wild Horse Preservation Campaign

They ask wild horse (and burro) advocates to take action (write letters and/or make comments) concerning the BLMs plan to remove another 1,000 wild horses off of their traditional rangelands somewhere in Nevada.




Action Alert: http://www.wildhorsepreservation.com/blog/?p=664

I encourage all to support this action though I believe the BLM ignores the publics opinion and always follows through with their plans, regardless of what the people want. We should all know by now that the BLM only allows public comments cause the NEPA law requires them to allow it. They hate the fact that the public has a say but they do not have to consider it and dont (have they ever?) Still, to have our opposition "officially" on record is a good thing to have, I guess. Kinda makes 'em look bad, at least in the public eye, for all the good it does. When are we gonna wize up and sue 'em on the right grounds?

http://wildhorsewarriors.blogspot.com/2010/01/things-way-i-see-it.html

Attorneys for Animals . Org

http://attorneysforanimals.org/

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/

--------

Member of: www.equinewelfarealliance.org

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

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Madeleine's Mustangs to March on Washington (DC)




To Protest Against Native American Indians who Support Horse Slaughter and who are "Praying" to Congress to Let them Do It; http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/south-dakota-sioux-to-slaughter-horses

and also to

Celebrate the Culture of Our Native American Brothers & Sisters Who Are OPPOSED to the horse-killing plans, and to tell Our U.S. Congress DONT LET THEM .
(We can only HOPE that Madeleine Makes Mention of these things while she is down there hob-knobbing with the politicios....will she do it? Bet she wont.)

-----------------------------------------
Message frum Madeleine below:

Madeleine Pickens is proud to invite you to
a celebration of Native American culture on the National Mall in Washington, DC.

We will be presenting “Horse Nation” in partnership with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. By joining with the Museum, we will focus especially on Native American Veterans who have participated in our country’s armed services. We will also honor the significant role of the American Mustang, a horse native to America and instrumental to its development. Seven spectacular mustang horses representing the Horse Nation will bow toward the Capitol building in honor of their unique role in developing America’s heritage.
(Bow!? I would SPIT on them like a camel if I were a horse!)



Join Madeleine Pickens & Meet America’s Mustangs, by all means if you like, but if you go,.. be sure and tell Our Native American Brothers and Sisters Just Say NO to Horse-Slaughter! Tell them their Brother the Horse Told You To Tell Them So.

Date:
Thursday, May 20th
Time:
2pm – 4pm
Location:
On the National Mall
outside the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian
Fourth Street & Independence Ave., S.W.
Washington, DC 20560

Event Website for More Information:
www.mustangsarecoming.com


Wouldnt it be nice if the "Salazar Blimp" could do another fly-over for this event!
hint hint

Behold a Pale Horse

Riding in on Barry McGuires "Eve of Destruction;"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Akoukq5DvAE

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Baby Horse Dies of Starvation while under BLMs Care




Visitors went to the BLMs Broken Arrow facility as they do every Sunday. Observers have been traveling to the remote privately contracted facility to document the conditions our wild horses are held in after being rounded-up by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) this past winter.

Dean Bolstad of the BLM led the tour. Bolstad informed the visitors that there had been over 300 births at the facility and the daily number of births had slowed.

As the tour was ending observers came across a severely emaciated foal. The mare was present and protective but appeared to have no bag. They notified Bolstad who said he would contact the vet immediately after the tour.

When questioned as to how often the horses were observed by the on staff veterinarian Bolstad responded that the vet was out to the facility daily.

"I'm assured repeatedly that these horses are cared for," said Elyse Gardner "so why does it seem that it is the public observers that continually need to bring so many overlooked injuries, illness or orphaned foals to the attention of the BLM?"

The foal was euthanized Sunday after observers vacated the facility.

Births and deaths of foals are not counted in inventory until they are freezemarked at 4-5 months of age. So the death of this foal is not expected to appear on the BLM update page.

http://www.examiner.com/x-45566-Horse-Examiner~y2010m5d18-Wild-Horse-foal-dies-at-the-Broken-Arrow

Sunday, May 16, 2010

"Hearts-Up" Ride-Across-America Riders Reach Nevada

Christian Riders Journey Cross-country for a good cause; Healing Broken Hearts

"..........Yesterday I met a couple that is riding across the US. They left from Point Reyes on March 4, and rode past my house yesterday. Their names are Jeanette
and Richard McGrath. They have a website at
http://www.heartsupranch.com/
and a
facebook page *Ride Across America*.

The purpose of this email is that Jeanette asked if I knew anyone in the
area -- preferably around Genoa that could keep her 4 horses (actually 3
horses and a mule) for a week while she flies out of Reno to her brothers
wedding. The dates are May 18th through May 24th. I could keep the horses
at my place in Woodfords, but I do not have a trailer to bring them here or
return them.

They will probably reach Genoa by tonight, since they passed into Nevada yesterday --
a major milestone for them."

Friday, May 14, 2010

Say What!? Public Lands Council Ain't Give No $$$ to The Meat-Lobby in a While!?

Maybe they dont need no lobbying to push their agenda. Maybe they have plans of their own to market meat, ...meat from the animals they are helping our gov't to exterminate off of our public lands;

http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?lname=Public+Lands+Council&year=2009

Sunday, May 9, 2010

EQUINE VIRAL ARTERITIS - ARGENTINA ex HOLLAND

EQUINE VIRAL ARTERITIS - ARGENTINA ex HOLLAND
*********************************************
A ProMED-mail post

ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases


Date: 8 May 2010
Source: En Mercopress.com [edited]




SENASA, Argentina's National Animal and Agriculture Health Board, has
issued a statement suspending all transportation of horses in the Buenos
Aires province for 2 weeks due to an outbreak of viral equine arteritis.

The ban, in force as of this week, may be extended up to 30 days and has
curtailed horse activities such as racing, show jumping, endurance, and
auctions. The origin of the outbreak was traced to semen imported recently
from Holland for jumpers.

The disease affects pregnant mares, which abort their embryos; however,
after being infected, they become immune. Stallions that have viral equine
arteritis must be gelded. The disease can be transmitted through the air or
during breeding.

According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, equine viral arteritis (EVA) is
an acute, contagious, viral disease of equids caused by equine arteritis
virus. It is characterized by fever, depression, dependent edema
(especially of the limbs, scrotum, and prepuce in the stallion),
conjunctivitis, nasal discharge, abortion and, infrequently, death in young
foals.

The virus which causes EVA was first isolated from horses in Ohio in 1953,
but the disease has afflicted equine animals worldwide for centuries. It
has been more common in some breeds of horses in the United States, but
there is no breed "immunity." There is no known human hazard.

--
communicated by:
ProMED-mail

[Equine viral arteritis is caused by equine arteritis virus (EAV), an RNA
virus in the genus _Arterivirus_, family Arteriviridae and order
Nidovirales. Isolates vary in their virulence and potential to induce
abortions. Only one serotype has been recognized. Limited genetic analysis
suggests that EAV strains found among donkeys in South Africa may differ
significantly from isolates in North America and Europe.

Equine arteritis virus is found in the equidae. Antibodies to this virus
have been reported in horses, ponies, donkeys, and zebras. Illness occurs
mainly among horses and ponies, but clinical signs have also been reported
in experimentally infected donkeys. EAV might also be able to cause disease
in South American camelids: polymerase chain reaction assay (PCR) detected
viral nucleic acids in an alpaca that had aborted.

Equine arteritis virus can be transmitted by the respiratory and the
venereal routes. Acutely affected horses excrete the virus in respiratory
secretions; aerosol transmission is common when horses are gathered at
racetracks, sales, shows, and other events. This virus has also been found
in urine and feces during the acute stage. It occurs in the reproductive
tract of acutely infected mares, and both acutely and chronically infected
stallions. In mares, EAV can be found in vaginal and uterine secretions as
well as in the ovary and oviduct for a short period after infection. Mares
infected late in pregnancy may give birth to infected foals. Stallions shed
EAV in semen, and can carry the virus for years. Transmission from
stallions can occur by natural service or artificial insemination. Some
carriers may eventually clear the infection. True carrier states have not
been reported in mares, geldings or sexually immature colts; however, EAV
can occasionally be found for up to 6 months in the reproductive tract of
older prepubertal colts.

Equine arteritis virus can be transmitted on fomites including equipment,
and may be spread mechanically by humans or animals. This virus is
inactivated in 20-30 minutes at 56-58 C (133-136 F), but can remain viable
for 2 to 3 days at 37-38 C (99-100 F) and for up to 75 days at 4-8 C (39-46
F). Semen remains infectious after freezing.

The incubation period varies from 2 days to 2 weeks. Infections transmitted
venereally tend to become apparent in about one week.

Most EAV infections, especially those that occur in mares bred to long-term
carriers, are asymptomatic. The clinical signs are generally more severe in
old or very young animals and in horses that are immunocompromised or in
poor condition. Fulminant infections with severe interstitial pneumonia
and/or enteritis can be seen in foals up to a few months of age. Systemic
illness also occurs in some adults. In adult horses, the clinical signs may
include fever, depression, anorexia, limb edema (particularly in the
hindlimbs), and dependent edema of the prepuce, scrotum, mammary gland
and/or ventral body wall. Conjunctivitis, photophobia, periorbital or
supraorbital edema and rhinitis can also be seen. Some horses develop
urticaria; the hives may be localized to the head or neck, but are
sometimes generalized. Abortions or stillbirths can occur in mares that are
pregnant when they are exposed. Abortions are not necessarily preceded by
systemic signs. Temporary decreases in fertility, including reduced quality
sperm and decreased libido, may be seen in stallions during the acute stage
of the disease. The decrease in sperm quality has been attributed to
increased scrotal temperature and edema, and can persist for up to 4
months. The quality of the semen is not decreased in carrier stallions.
Except in cases of severe disease in foals, deaths are rare.

Equine viral arteritis should be considered when the clinical signs include
fever, depression, edema, conjunctivitis, nasal discharges and abortions.
This disease is difficult to differentiate from other systemic and
respiratory illnesses of horses.

The differential diagnosis includes equine influenza, equine infectious
anemia, and African horse sickness, as well as infections with Getah virus,
Hendra virus, equine rhinitis A and B viruses, equine adenoviruses, and
equine herpesviruses 1 and 4. Equine viral arteritis also resembles purpura
hemorrhagica and other streptococcal infections, as well as poisoning from
the toxic plant _Berteroa incana_ (hoary alyssum).

Acutely infected horses should be isolated to prevent transmission in
secretions and excretions. Precautions should also be taken to avoid
spreading the virus on fomites. EAV is readily inactivated by detergents,
common disinfectants and lipid solvents. No specific treatment is
available; however, most healthy horses other than young foals recover on
their own. Good nursing and symptomatic treatment should be used in severe
cases. Vaccination can also help contain outbreaks.

Venereal transmission can be controlled by good management and vaccination.
To protect pregnant mares from abortion, they should be separated from
other horses and maintained in small groups according to their predicted
foaling dates. Newly acquired horses should be isolated for 3 to 4 weeks.

Vaccination appears to prevent uninfected stallions from becoming long term
carriers. Stallions that are not carriers should be vaccinated before the
start of the breeding season. Prepubertal colts are given the vaccine when
they are 6-12 months old. Carrier stallions are identified and bred only to
well vaccinated or naturally seropositive mares. Similarly, semen that
contains EAV should be used only in these mares. Because 1st time
vaccinates may shed field viruses for a short time after exposure, these
mares should be isolated from seronegative horses, particularly pregnant
mares, for 3 weeks after breeding. Naturally infected mares and those that
are not 1st time vaccinates are isolated for 24-48 hours to protect other
horses from the viruses present in semen.

Portions of this comment have been extracted from
.
- Mod.TG]

[see also:
2008
---
Equine viral arteritis - Israel (02): OIE 20081111.3547
Equine viral arteritis - Israel 20081108.3515
2007
---
Equine viral arteritis - France 20070714.2260
2006
---
Equine viral arteritis - USA (NM) (02) 20061121.3317
Equine viral arteritis - USA (NM) 20060711.1903
2005
---
Equine viral arteritis - UK: OIE 20050131.0335
2002
---
Equine viral arteritis 20020209.3523
1999
---
Equine viral arteritis - New Zealand (02) 19990805.1350
Equine viral arteritis - New Zealand 19990802.1319]

...................tg/msp/sh



*##########################################################*
************************************************************
ProMED-mail makes every effort to verify the reports that
are posted, but the accuracy and completeness of the
information, and of any statements or opinions based
thereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks in
using information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISID
and its associated service providers shall not be held
responsible for errors or omissions or held liable for any
damages incurred as a result of use or reliance upon posted
or archived material.
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Welfare Ranching Hurts Wildlife (& Wild Horses)

Whether "wild," "feral," or whatever, the "unclaimed" free-roaming horses on our public lands belong there as part of our National Western Heritage,...it is safe to say that free-roaming horses occupied those lands long before the cows came in "en mass,"....therefore, those horses as described above, many of them descended from the 1st Spanish explorers, ...are entitled to "free-living" on their historic American range lands.
While author of this vid (Mike Hudak) does not specifically refer to equines of any kind in this vid, he does refer to "wildlife AND other "Free-living animals" which would imply anything from a titmouse to a wild, feral, or free-ranging publicly -owned horse.


http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7420052868129156761#docid=-6594987658600969579

What I find most ironic about the whole situation is that while the ranchers consider the wild horses a nuisance to them and want them so badly off of our lands,...claiming that they ARE NOT wild but strays abandoned there by, well,....themselves and other ranchers!

Well if that is the case, this is a problem that the ranchers bought upon themselves. There is no doubt that throughout time they have been dumping their unwanted horses on our western ranges, left free to mix with the wild ones that are descendants of the old Spanish line. As we all know, abandoning animals is against the law, and they have been doing it and getting away with it for over a hundred years! So let the ranchers CONTRIBUTE to the cost of wild horse care instead of trying to eliminate them so their cows can have more room.

Wild, free ranging horses are a part of our western heritage that should be protected,...as belonging to all of U.S. There is absolutely no doubt about that,...even Congress agrees and set it out in the 1971 Free Roam Horses & Burros Act and said it again in 2004 in their Congressional Declaration that Dec. 13 should be celebrated as a "National Day of the Horse." So there you go: It is the privately owned cows declamating our public lands and it is the privately owned cows that should go!

If you agree, sign the "No Cows in Wild Horse Country Please" Petition in the link below;

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/no-cows-in-wild-horse-country

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Pine Ridge Ponies Get Temporary Reprive

Just in from the Equine Welfare Alliance;

Statement by David Swallow, Jr., Wowitan Yuha Mani
Teton Lakota Spiritual Leader, Sun dance Chief of the Medicine Wheel Sun dance, and a Headman of the Lakota Nation Band of Wana Way Gu (Broken Bow)

*For Immediate Release

Statement Date; May 8th 2010
T
ranscribed To and edited by Keith Rabin
Hau, Mitakuyapi Na Mita Kola.
Mitakuyapi Sunka Wakan Oyate

Lakota Nation, Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota
The Lakota people of Pine Ridge South Dakota continue their struggle to protect their Sacred Horses from the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council and the Parks and Recreation Department.
Since June 2009, the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council and the Parks and Recreation (OSTPR) have been removing horses owned by the Lakota People of Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota without permission, without notice and without any warrant issued or receipt. Despite repeated efforts, continued obstacles have made it impossible for the Lakota People to get their horses back.

The horses were to be delivered to the St. Onge Livestock Company LTD by the OSTPR to be auctioned off on Sunday, 5/9/10 as loose horses.

In A statement from Elder and Spiritual leader David Swallow, on May 7, 2010, based on the grounds of trespassing on private property, a temporary injunction was granted by the Tribal Court to stop the "Oglala Sioux Tribe "Parks and Recreation Department" from auctioning off these horses on 5/9/10 [Mothers Day]. (Further details regarding the injunction to follow early next week).

The " Mitakuyapi Sunka Wakan Oyate " is working to establish a designated fund where supporters will be able to donate funds to help return these Sacred horses to the safety and care of The People. Supporters are encouraged not to send any money at this time.


Please watch for updates as to how to help.

Mitakuyapi Sunka Wakan Oyate (Relatives of the Sacred Horses)
Lakota Nation, Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota

Our Horses are sacred to us and they are our relatives.
We are family and we take care of each other and help each other in times of need.

That is the Lakota way.

##

Additional Information

We understand that Usha Rao has secured ownership of 16 horses and 2 donkeys. They are back on the reservation and Usha expects to have pictures tomorrow. Usha also expects the letter of ownership from Oglala Sioux Parks and Recreation Authority on Monday.

It appears as though they are looking for a new home with adopters or a rescue for this group of horses. We will have information on how to adopt these horses as soon as we have pictures and a contact for you to pass on to your groups.

We will provide information on the other horses as it becomes available.

How To STOP the Pro Horse-Slaughter Movement DEAD in Their Tracks & Get Our Federal Bill Passed

WARNING: I been thinkin' agin;

http://tinyurl.com/3xe8bwc

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Harmonizing w/ Yer Hosses / Amazing Friends

I was about to fall in love with this man, Jean Francis Pigon, until I learned that he was PRO Horse Slaugher - DO NOT Support His Shows!

Use Em Up - Toss When Done

URGENT: WNV Equine Vaccine Recall!!

WEST NILE VIRUS - USA: EQUINE VACCINE RECALL, REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
*********************************************************************
A ProMED-mail post

ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases


Date: Tue 4 May 2010
Source: ZooToo [edited]



A major pharmaceutical company has announced an "urgent recall" of all
serial numbers of its West Nile virus vaccine for horses, the American
Veterinary Medical Association [AVMA] announced on its website on Tuesday
[4 May 2010].

The recall, which was voluntary, was instigated by the drug company,
Intervet Schering-Plough, on Monday [3 May 2010], "due to an increased
number of adverse event reports associated with the use of these vaccines,"
the AVMA said.

The pharmaceutical giant has recalled all 1-dose and 5-dose vials of the
PreveNile West Nile virus vaccine for horses. "Schering Plough reported an
increased number of adverse reactions to the vaccine," said Dr Kimberly
May, assistant director of professional and public affairs at the AVMA,
"but unfortunately there were no statements as to severity, or what the
number of horses affected was."

"The word 'urgent' was in the actual letter Schering Plough had sent," Dr
May said, adding, "'Urgent' in the recall world means, 'Check your stock
right now.'"

As of late Tuesday morning [4 May 2010], Intervet Schering-Plough had not
posted a recall notice on its website, or returned a phone message from
ZooToo.com. Dr May noted that it is not unusual for companies not to post
recall information on their websites. But she said the company "has
contacted all the veterinarians affected by this, as well as the distributors."

Intervet informed the USDA and the American Association of Equine
Practitioners on Monday [3 May 2010] of its recall decision.

[byline: Gabrielle Jonas]

--
communicated by:
ProMED-mail


[More information as well as copy of the letter from Intervet
Schering-Plough may be found at the AVMA website at
.

An adverse event may be anything from swelling at the injection site,
colic, fever, or a host of other negative issues. The letter by Intervet
Schering-Plough did not specify what the adverse reactions were or what
owners and veterinarians should be on the look out for, in the event they
have already administered this vaccine. The letter from the company was
issued on 28 Apr 2010. ProMED-mail would welcome further clarification of
the number and nature of adverse events.

Currently this recall seems to be USA centric but it may be more widespread
than that. - Mod.TG]

................tg/mj/jw/sh



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ProMED-mail makes every effort to verify the reports that
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thereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks in
using information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISID
and its associated service providers shall not be held
responsible for errors or omissions or held liable for any
damages incurred as a result of use or reliance upon posted
or archived material.
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Nye Co. DA Facing Criminal Charges

Frum Tom Darbys Blog;

A court date has been set for the Nye County district attorney who is facing felony embezzlement, fraud and public misconduct counts. The sheriff’s office accuses Bob Beckett of appropriating money from the bad-check unit he controlled for his own use. Beckett calls the charges politically motivated.

Watching to see how this shakes out…



http://tomdarby.wordpress.com/2010/05/05/nye-county-da-facing-criminal-charges/

At Last! DOI Acknowledges Receipt of Ely FOIA Appeal!

fromFOIA. APPEALS
to"cjubic@nycap.rr.com"

cc"Lane, LaRima"

dateWed, May 5, 2010 at 7:19 PM
subjectYour Freedom of Information Act Appeal (No. 2010-069)
Images from this sender are always displayed. Don't display from now on.
hide details 7:19 PM (11 hours ago)


Ms. Jubic:

Attached is a copy of the Department of the Interior’s letter acknowledging receipt of the November 23, 2009, Freedom of Information Act appeal that you filed concerning an October 22, 2009, FOIA request that you submitted to the Bureau of Land Management. You will receive a copy of the attached letter in the mail shortly.

If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact LaRima Lane in the FOIA Appeals Office at (202) 208-5339.

Darrell R. Strayhorn
FOIA & Privacy Act Appeals Officer
Department of the Interior

This e-mail (including attachments) is intended for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed. It may contain information that is privileged, confidential, or otherwise protected by applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient or the employee or agent responsible for delivery of this e-mail to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, copying, or use of this e-mail or its contents is strictly prohibited. If you received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately and destroy all copies.


2010-069 Ack Ltr.pdf
181K View Download
--------------------click on document two times to enlarge

An Old Report on Fallon Holding Facility

A report from the wonderful pro-active international group "Animal Angels"....who discovered that this feedlot in Fallon, Nevada is owned by Bouvry Exports, a Canadian Horse-slaughter operation!! Is this where we were keeping Americas Wild Horses (and Burros?)

10/27/09 Slaughter Horse Collecting Station, Fallon, NV

The Animals’ Angels investigators observe the slaughter horse feedlot in Fallon, NV. Property records indicate that it is owned by Bouvry Exports, a company that also owns a horse slaughter plant in Alberta. Apparently the Fallon lot serves as a collecting station for horses from the surrounding states, which are then shipped to Bouvry’s large feedlot in Shelby, MT. The premises in Fallon appeared very run down and there were only a few horses in the pens during the time of the investigators’ visit. Temperatures were below freezing that morning and all the water troughs were frozen. There was no access to shelter for most of the horses and no hay or straw in the barren pens. Animals’ Angels will continue to investigate this matter.


Visit Animal Angels here to see all the wonderful work they are doing : http://www.animals-angels.com/index.php?pageID=598

SlaughterHouse Sue & The Bloody Ranch-Hand Band

Sing songs to kill yer hosses by; Click link below to see their first album

http://unnecessaryevils.blogspot.com/2010/05/slaughterhouse-sue-bloody-ranch-hand.html

Monday, May 3, 2010

"Good Luck" Horse-Killer Will Hav No Good Luck





















Frum the archives of Sue Wallis, "Organization of the Horse"

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs066/1102207109251/archive/1102965370801.html

and appoligies to "Buckethead,"...slaughter house on the prairie, a music vid;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPVXjPXb598&feature=related