Shocking avoidance of simple question re: Strangles, deaths at national adoption and “processing” center

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Protect Mustangs

——– Original Message ——–
Subject: Shocking avoidance of simple question by BLM employee
interfacing with the public re: Wild Horses & Burros
From: <anne@protectmustangs.org>
Date: Fri, April 12, 2013 4:09 pm
To: “Beck, James” <j1beck@blm.gov>

Dear Jeb,

Is your new policy to refuse answering a simple question and direct us to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) office? Is this an appropriate use of tax dollars? Is this how you, the acting facility manager, show transparency to the public?

I’m shocked at your response and your facility’s lack of transparency. I would like you to please respond to my simple question:

“How many horses have died at the facility since Jan 1, 2013?”

Thank you for your assistance.

Sincerely,

Anne Novak

Enclosed below is the previous email stream regarding the health of the native wild horses held in captivity at Palomino Valley Center, the nations largest processing and adoption center near Reno, which lead up to Mr. Beck’s evasive response.

Anne Novak

Executive Director

Protect Mustangs

San Francisco Bay Area

Tel./Text: 415.531.8454

Read about native wild horses: http://protectmustangs.org/?page_id=562

Protect Mustangs on Facebook

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Protect Mustangs in the News

Donate to help Protect Mustangs

www.ProtectMustangs.org

Protect Mustangs is devoted to protecting native wild horses. Our mission is to educate the public about the native wild horse, protect and research American wild horses on the range and help those who have lost their freedom.

——– Original Message ——–
Subject: RE: PVC reply
From: <anne@protectmustangs.org>
Date: Fri, April 12, 2013 11:20 am
To: “Beck, James” <j1beck@blm.gov>

Dear Jeb,

How many horses have died at the facility since Jan 1 2013?

Best,

Anne Novak

Anne Novak

Executive Director

Protect Mustangs

San Francisco Bay Area

Tel./Text: 415.531.8454

Read about native wild horses: http://protectmustangs.org/?page_id=562

Protect Mustangs on Facebook

Protect Mustangs on Twitter

Protect Mustangs on YouTube

Protect Mustangs in the News

Donate to help Protect Mustangs

www.ProtectMustangs.org

Protect Mustangs is devoted to protecting native wild horses. Our mission is to educate the public about the native wild horse, protect and research American wild horses on the range and help those who have lost their freedom.

——– Original Message ——–
Subject: PVC reply
From: “Beck, James” <j1beck@blm.gov>
Date: Fri, April 12, 2013 10:58 am
To: <anne@protectmustangs.org>

Anne, nothing has changed at Palomino Valley since our talk last Friday. We currently have some upper respiratory illness and cases of strangles at the facility. The PVC staff along with the contract veterinarian have been closely monitoring the situation and the horses have responded to treatment and are improving.

Shipment for adoption purposes or to other facilities is 3 to 4 weeks depending on pen location and negative culture results. At this time there are no plans to ship to long term pastures from PVC. Broken Arrow does not have any respiratory illness or strangles events at this time.

Thanks Jeb

–

James (Jeb) Beck

Acting Facility Manager

Palomino Valley Wild Horse and Burro Center

775-475-2222

J1beck@blm.gov

——– Original Message ——–
Subject: Info request re: Outbreak at PVC
From: <anne@protectmustangs.org>
Date: Fri, April 05, 2013 3:05 pm
To: J1Beck@BLM.gov

Dear Jeb,

Kindly inform me on the outbreak at PVC. I have been hearing rumors and would like the official statement.

Sincerely,

Anne Novak

Anne Novak

Executive Director

Protect Mustangs

San Francisco Bay Area

Tel./Text: 415.531.8454

Protect Mustangs on Facebook

Protect Mustangs on Twitter

Protect Mustangs on YouTube

Protect Mustangs in the News

Donate to help Protect Mustangs

www.ProtectMustangs.org

Protect Mustangs is devoted to protecting native wild horses. Our mission is to educate the public about the native wild horse, protect and research American wild horses on the range and help those who have lost their freedom.

——– Original Message ——–
Subject: latest question
From: “Beck, James” <j1beck@blm.gov>
Date: Fri, April 12, 2013 2:20 pm
To: <anne@protectmustangs.org>

Anne,

Please forward your latest request for information to the Nevada state office, Freedom of Information Act coordinator. The main number is 775-861-6400.

Thanks Jeb

anne@protectmustangs.org

11:20 AM (2 hours ago)

to me

Dear Jeb,

How many horses have died at the facility since Jan 1 2013?

Best,

Anne Novak

Anne Novak

Executive Director

Protect Mustangs

San Francisco Bay Area

Tel./Text: 415.531.8454

Read about native wild horses: http://protectmustangs.org/?page_id=562

Protect Mustangs on Facebook

Protect Mustangs on Twitter

Protect Mustangs on YouTube

Protect Mustangs in the News

Donate to help Protect Mustangs

www.ProtectMustangs.org

Protect Mustangs is devoted to protecting native wild horses. Our mission is to educate the public about the native wild horse, protect and research American wild horses on the range and help those who have lost their freedom

–

James (Jeb) Beck

Acting Facility Manager

Palomino Valley Wild Horse and Burro Center

775-475-2222

J1beck@blm.gov

Donate to haul Tibet, the wild mustang, to his safe place

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Protect Mustangs

Tibet earned 2 Strikes from not getting picked at adoptions. (Photo by BLM adoptions)

As of tonight, January 29th we raised $400 from wild horse angels towards the total needed ($920) to bring Tibet out from Wheatland, Wyoming to us in the Bay Area. We need to raise $536 more (includes PayPal fees) by February 2, 2013. Please help and donate what you can to get Tibet to his safe place. Thank you for helping Tibet!

Please donate via PayPal to Contact@ProtectMustangs.org or mail your donations to:

Protect Mustangs, PO Box 5661, Berkeley, Ca. 94705. Make checks payable to Protect Mustangs.

It takes a village ~ Please donate any amount so Tibet can afford to be hauled to his safe place.

Tibetan prayer flag depicting Windhorse

Ten tips for hauling adopted wild horses

Posted on December 26, 2012 by Protect Mustangs

You can make the hauling easier on your new friends.

Tips for Happy Hauling

1.     Send the BLM pickup facility a photo of your trailer before you leave, so they sign off that it’s suitable. They don’t want ramps or dividers, etc.
2.   Make sure your truck and trailer are in the best working condition and your bearings are greased.
3.   Let the BLM know you want to be there while they load so you aren’t distracted with paperwork. Then you can oversee the BLM employees loading your adopted wild horses. If something feels wrong express yourself politely and advocate for your wild horses. You will be responsible if the horses in your care are injured once you drive off.
4.   Having the BLM wranglers take their tags off when they are in the chute has worked for us.
5.   We don’t let the BLM wranglers halter them because we want the first haltering to be out of love and trust–not force, fear and domination. We don’t halter the wild ones in the trailer as it causes A LOT of stress before loading. They cannot be tied as they are not trained to tie. They are wild.
6.   We don’t feed during short trailering as hay nets could be something that could cause trouble.
7.   We did not bed the last trailer we used for a 6 hour ride. It had a rubber floor and they traveled well.
8.    Upon arrival at our destination, we back the trailer up to the gate and open the gate to create a barrier between the paddock and the trailer. Then we carefully open the trailer door and stand aside.
9.   Whips aren’t necessary but patience is. We have witnessed the BLM employees use a whip to get a young wild horse out of a trailer. This terrified the horse and caused him to bash around in the metal trailer and fall down. Using horse psychology and taking your time makes the experience safe and easy.
10.   If the wild horses are hesitant to come out of the trailer then we give them some hay just outside the trailer and wait patiently. They are extremely sensitive to pressure so we give them their space. We give them time and they always unload. We never stand in front of their exit path as that puts pressure on them and makes it scary to come out. They have been known to bolt out so watch out!

Have someone there to film the unloading because it’s a moment you will never forget. Here is a short clip of Sol and Val, our Discover Mustangs project horses, unloading after getting out of the BLM’s facility.

Disclaimer: Horses, wild or domesticated, are inherently dangerous and can be unpredictable. Use the information and advice in this article at your own risk.

(Photos © Carolyn Orndof)

Happy Ending ~ Sweet Baby Red #2484 finds a home

Posted on November 12, 2012 by Protect Mustangs

Pilgrim

“I just wanted to give you guys an update on Baby Red now known as Pilgrim. I have had him for 1 week now and he has settled in beautifully. I have worked with him for the last 3 days and he is responding so well. He will move his forequarters and hindquarters away and come to me at liberty. I can halter him and he is coming to pressure on the halter already! I would have never known about this 3 strike program that the BLM has in place before seeing your site. I thank you so much for making people aware of these wonderful horses. This is such an awesome experience and I can’t wait to continue building this bond with this horse for years to come! Thank you!”

~April from South Carolina

Pilgrim, formerly known as Sweet Baby Red (#2484) is a Twin Peaks wild horse yearling from California. He was born at the Litchfield holding facility. He was passed over during the internet adoption and became an at-risk mustang with another strike against him. 3-Strikes and federally protected wild horses loose their protected status and can be sold to pro-slaughter buyers by the truckloads.

Protect Mustangs wants to make sure the Litchfield 11 who were passed over during the BLM’s national adoption find forever homes.

“We are keeping track of the eleven yearlings from the Litchfield Corrals, near Susanville,” explains Anne Novak, executive director of Protect Mustangs. “Some of these at-risk youngsters are still in California and some have been sent back East. A few have been adopted and several have accrued another dangerous strike against them.”

If anyone wants to adopt one of the Litchfield 11 please send an email to Contact@ProtectMustangs.org. The preservation group is happy to assist perspective adopters to navigate the BLM’s maze of red tape to adopt a mustang.

Pilgrim (Sweet Baby Red #2484) at the BLM Litchfield Corrals, California Sept 2012 (Photo courtesy BLM)

First four Virginia Range wild horses move to Colorado

Posted on October 11, 2012 by Protect Mustangs

Nevada’s historic wild horses arrive safe and sound

Virginia Range wild horses Brittany and Spencer arrive in Colorado 2012 Photo curtesy HVWHPF

Virginia Range wild horses Jesse & JJ arrive in Colorado Photo curtesy HVWHPF

Thanks to everyone’s participation to save 53 Virginia Range wild horses from being sold to possible slaughter!

23 wild horses have been adopted, they are waiting to have their Coggins tests and be shipped out.

30 wild horses need their forever homes. Please help if you can.

Adoption applications are on Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection Fund’s page.

Breaking News: Horse lovers from around the world unite to save Nevada’s wild horses from kill-buyers

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Protect Mustangs

Advocates were bidding against auction house staff who kept raising the bids

For immediate release:

RENO, Nevada (September 20, 2012) –Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection Fund spearheaded and saved 23 historic Virginia Range wild horses from going to the kill-buyers last night. The herculean effort lead by Shannon Windle, president of Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection Fund. Country singer Lacy Dalton’s non-profit, Let ‘Em Run Foundation, also raised funds for the rescue.

“We are very grateful everyone joined together to save the horses from Wild Horse Annie’s herd,” says Shannon Windle, president of Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection Fund.

Last night many wild horse advocates and groups from the greater Reno area joined forces to help with transportation and foster care to make this rescue effort a success. The list includes the Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection Fund, Let ‘Em Run Foundation, Least Resistance Training Concepts (LRTC) Horse Power and The Starlight Sanctuary with support from many other groups in the West. The efforts were coordinated through the Alliance of Wild Horse Advocates.

California-based Protect Mustangs joined in to help with outreach, raise awareness about the issue and contact Nevada’s Governor Brian Sandoval to stop the sale.

Donors contributed from across the USA and abroad to save Nevada’s indigenous wild horses from being sold to kill-buyers who sell the horses to slaughter plants for human consumption in foreign countries.

A staff member of the auction house was bidding as well as a kill-buyer against the wild horse advocates. Is it legal for the house to drive up the bids?

“How much did the auction house make with the owner driving the price up? ” asks Windle “Is this illegal?”

During the auction, a thin Virginia Range wild horse mare sold for over $500. while a stocky domestic buckskin sold for $200. A wild mare and foal sold for $1000 which is grossly abnormal at a livestock auction frequented by kill-buyers.

Advocates paid more than $11K to save the 23 wild horses–more than three times above market value.

31 additional wild horses will arrive at the auction house next week. More than 60 wild horses have been rounded up and face a horrific end if more foster homes, adopters and donors are not found quickly.

Essential donations are also needed to feed the wild horses rescued last night who will live in foster care until they are adopted or accepted into a sanctuary.

Send donations to the Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection Fund here: http://hiddenvalleyhorses.com/main.php?c=donate

Governor Brian Sandoval ignored public outcry and took no action to save America’s iconic wild horses from going to an auction frequented by kill-buyers tonight.

“We hope Governor Sandoval realizes that outside of Nevada 80% of Americans are against horse slaughter,” explains Anne Novak, executive director of California-based Protect Mustangs. “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.”

# # #

Follow Protect Mustangs on Facebook for updates

Media Contacts:

Anne Novak, 415-531-8454, Anne@ProtectMustangs.org

Kerry Becklund, 510-502-1913, Kerry@ProtectMustangs.org

Links of interest:

News 4 reported on the story last night: http://www.mynews4.com/news/local/default.aspx

News 4 reporting continues: http://www.mynews4.com/news/local/story/Wild-Horse-Advocacy-groups-go-through-bidding-war/k57ef-ffOkq2QbDJKkhPEg.cspx

Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection Fund: http://hiddenvalleyhorses.com/main.php

Let ‘Em Run Foundation: http://www.letemrun.com/index.html

Lacy Dalton bio, president of Let ‘Em Run Foundation: http://www.letemrun.com/Lacy-Bio.htm

Least Resistance Training Concepts: http://www.whmentors.org/

Starlight Sanctuary http://thestarlightsanctuary.webs.com/

Governor Brian Sandoval: http://gov.nv.gov/

Plea to Governor Sandoval to stop Nevada from selling wild horses to killer-buyers at auctions: http://protectmustangs.org/?p=2459

Information on the Virginia Range wild horses: http://www.aowha.org/war/virginia_range0901.html

Protect Mustangs: http://www.ProtectMustangs.org

Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge in Nevada to remove all wild horses, burros within 5 years

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Protect Mustangs

Cross-posted from The Republic

MARTIN GRIFFITH Associated Press
September 02, 2012 – 8:04 pm EDT

RENO, Nev. — Federal officials have approved a final 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.

The move is being made because the refuge was created for pronghorn antelope and other native wildlife, and horses and burros have a negative effect on habitat, said Joan Jewett, spokeswoman for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Portland, Ore.

“They trample the habitat and overgraze and disturb the water sources,” she told The Associated Press. “We’re required by law to manage our refuges in accordance with the purposes for which they were established, and Sheldon was primarily for pronghorn antelope.”

Horse advocacy groups sharply criticized the refuge’s comprehensive conservation plan, which will guide its management over the next 15 years. It was publicly released late last month.

They say horses and burros lived in the area long before the refuge was created in 1931, and the animals actually heal the land and help prevent wildfires through grazing.

“We are extremely disappointed that the federal government has chosen to eradicate wild horses and burros from the lands where their ancestors have lived for more than a century and a half,” Suzanne Roy, director of the American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign, said in a statement.

An aerial survey in July showed the 575,000-acre refuge along the Oregon border is home to at least 2,508 antelope, 973 mustangs and 182 wild burros, said Aaron Collins, a park ranger at Sheldon.

“We’re recording the highest numbers of pronghorn antelope since we began counting them in 1950,” he said.

Federal officials began the planning process on the refuge’s management plan in 2008, and received several thousand comments from individuals, organizations and government agencies during it, Collins said.

The final plan will be signed sometime after Sept. 24 by the regional director of the Fish and Wildlife Agency, he added.

Under federal law, only horses and burros removed from lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service are protected from slaughterhouses if they can’t be adopted.

“Rounding up indigenous wild horses is wrong — especially when they can be sold to the meat buyers at auctions,” said Anne Novak of California-based Protect Mustangs. “These horses are vulnerable to ending up going to slaughter … The Sheldon plan to wipe out wild horses is nuts and goes against the public’s wishes.”

Activists said the final management plan rejected a more humane alternative to phase out horses and burros over 15 years using fertility control, an option that would have allowed unadoptable animals to live out their lives at the refuge.

(Story distributed by The Associated Press)

Link to the original article: http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/9d2599146ac04731ae3b93a918db2c59/NV–Refuge-Wild-Horses

Wild mare and foal at risk ~ Please adopt or sponsor

Posted on July 7, 2012 by Protect Mustangs

Found in a filthy pen run by the United States Bureau of Land Management . . .

Jackson Mountain mare #3246 and her foal #8255 were chased by roundup helicopters and now have lost their freedom to roam the American West. They have been “processed” and will soon be separated unless you help them.

There are three options to get them to safety:

1.) Adopt the two and take them to your ranch / barn.

2.) Adopt the pair and get them in to a sanctuary.

3.) Sponsor the mare and foal’s adoption and care with someone else.

If you can think of other options let us know.

We will look into what exactly the branding all over this mare means and report back to you.

If you have any questions about adoption please send us an email to Contact@ProtectMustangs.org

or call the BLM office at Palomino Valley, near Sparks Nevada: 775. 475. 2222

Adopt a wild horse or two ~ Save a living legend

Posted on July 4, 2012 by Protect Mustangs

Mustangs make great partners

Protect Mustangs . org & Photo © Taylor James

Sadly these wild horses have lost their homes and their families. They need to find good people to adopt them. Mustangs are quick to learn and train.

We have adopted wild horses and would be happy to share our experience as well as some resources such as gentle trainers. We welcome you to email us at Contact@ProtectMustangs.org with your questions. Please include your phone number for us to call you back.

We encourage people to adopt a wild horse or two to keep them safe. It’s direct action you can take to save the mustangs.

If you know of someone who might adopt a mustang please forward this on to them.

Living legends at risk

Once wild horses are shipped out to long term holding their fate is unknown. The public and advocates can’t keep track of them . . . They can be purchased by the lots of 100 horses or more. Who buys 100 wild horses at a time? Where do they go?

These wild horses are located at the Palomino Valley Center near Reno, Nevada. They need homes quickly before they are shipped out to long-term holding.

Thank you for doing what you can do to save a wild mustang’s life.

Adopt a wild horse today in Santa Rosa

Posted on May 20, 2012 by Protect Mustangs

Adopt a mustang ~ find a friend.

47 wild horses were brought to the Santa Rosa adoption event at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. Only 9 were adopted Saturday so there are plenty of nice wild horses to choose from today.

The event goes until 5 p.m. Sunday so you can still make it out to find your wild horse. We suggest taking a pair if you can, because then they can buddy through training and their new life.

The mustangs are from California’s eastern Sierra and across the border in Nevada near Burning Man.

These wild horses make great riding horses for all disciplines. They bond with their people in a unique and deep way so you have a real friend for life.

Here’s the sad part of the story: Most of these horses probably came from Palomino Valley Center (Sparks, Nevada) or Litchfield Holding Facility (Susanville, California). After being at these adoption facilities they acquire one strike when they leave and go to an adoption event. If they are not adopted at the adoption event such as the Santa Rosa event then they will have two strikes against them. If they went to another adoption event before Santa Rosa then, when they leave this event, they would have three strikes and can legally be sold for $25–even the young horses. Kill buyers pick up cheap horses, fatten them up and sell them to slaughter for a big profit.

Adopt a living legend of the American West and save it from an unknown fate.

Protect Mustangs™

Education, outreach and action to protect America's native wild horses™

Tag Archives: adoption