The news leaking out about the condition of the mustangs rounded up from Nevada's Calico Mountains just keeps getting worse and worse. And as it does, the BLM seems to be building an invisible shield to deflect the growing outrage at its failure to protect the health and safety of the horses in its custody.
Only after civilian observers such as Laura Leigh reported the outbreak of the highly contagious and debilitating pigeon fever among the captive wild horse population being held at a feedlot near Fallon, Nevada did the BLM finally admit that the horses were infected. And even then, the tone of attending veterinarian Richard Sanford has been dismissive, almost contemptuous, implying that because this painful, disfiguring disease may have been brought into the facility rather than contracted there, the BLM has no affirmative duty to treat it. "The incidence of Pigeon Fever at the Indian Lake Facility is at the same percentages that exist on the Calico Complex," he rationalized, seemingly seeking to absolve the BLM for any culpability in the bateria's spread among horses kept in close contact against their wills.
Dr. Sanford admits that "no treatments have been administered to date," and no efforts have been made to assuage the pain and further contagion of the crater-like abscesses that seem to explode on an infected horse's body. He seems to imply that the failure of the disease to claim any lives among the horses held at Fallon means that his failure to take precautions or administer even palliative care to ease the affected horses' suffering is acceptable procedure. This is not only a moral outrage, it is tragic, according to Humane Observer Elyse Gardner, who writes:
"Here we take these pure, beautiful, healthy horses from their homes and coop them up and expose them to a disease that, like human herpes, they will carry the rest of their lives, having possible outbreaks. How tragic to do this to these otherwise content individuals that so beautify and enliven the stark Nevada mountains."
Apparently, this inhumane approach to the "management" of pigeon fever at BLM facilities has been going on for years. According to Ray Field, Executive Director of the Wild Horse Foundation:
"It doesn't matter how you look at it, the BLM has been sending strangles across the United States via (the) Palomino Valley holding facility for years. We have gotten pigeon fever-sick horses from the government many times, and they claim they don't send sick horses out to anyone.
Strangles in any form. . .explodes in the pulmonary area and drowns the horse and pigeon fever. . .agitates the skin so bad that the horse literally pulls the skin off of itself. . .The Palomino Valley facility still has never been cleared by any official agency of its strangles and is still doing business as usual. Where's the law?"
If you want to see how pigeon fever can ravage a horse's body, the Wild Horse Foundation has graphic photographs that depict the disfigurement and the torment. And Terri Farley's blog has a heart-wrenching image of one of the Calico horses who is clearly plagued by this infection, taken by photographer Cat Kindsfather.
There is no excuse for the government to allow our wild horses to suffer in this way.
Comments
There is so much misleading information in this article there's not really any good place to start. First of all, a horse can get over strangles on their own. My it's very nature it's similar to chicken pox. once a horse gets it, they rarely get it again.
As for pigeon fever it can be cleared up too. Mother nature is a bitch, and sometimes these things happen. Penned up or not.
It's easy to say and then speak. Chicken Pox can kill a "Nation". Yes, once a horse has had strangles in can get it again, just a different strain. If the horse makes it’s all things can be treated not cured. Point of the story is that the BLM shouldn't mess with Mother Nature because she is a Bitch. Let her natural things take care of themselves. If the BLM takes the responsibility of removing Mother Nature then they are accepting FULL RESPONSIBILITY of her and everything that’s comes with her. Nothing less nothing more. We wouldn't have sick horses or even be reading this story if it weren't for the BLM messing with Mother Nature. It's called "RESPONSIBILITY and ACCOUNTABILITY". And for the record strangles can not be cured. Cleared up is not cured. The BLM hold hundreds of wild horses in the same place so if they get sick how would they ever get well, Palomino Valley is a breeding ground for hundreds of new strains of strangles. Close it down. Nature is fierce.
WHEN IS THE BLM GOING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ACTIONS? YOU CAN'T TAKE THOUSANDS OF HORSES, PUT THEM IN HOLDING PENS AND NOT EXPECT PROBLEMS OF SOME KIND. THEIR ATTITUDE AND ACTIONS ARE CRUDE AND TOTALLY INHUMANE. IT'S TIME THEY DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THE HORSES AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE WHAT RIGHTFULLY BELONGS TO ALL OF US.
The point really is why is the BLM using wild horses to spread a simple but yet infectious disease across the country infecting other livestock/horses?
The real issue is the BLM is waiting in the shadows for a horse to test positive coggins/EIA on one of its holding areas and they will faster than you can say stupid kill every horse on the property. By making each strain of strangle stronger and different makes the horses weaker by immune and will make them sicker and weaker and they will test positive. It's only a short time now before it happens, the BLM and APHIS knows it.
The BLM is stack, racking and packing to many wild horses to close and it will happen. People can't live that close, shut down the sewer and water and see what happens when people have to step in it, sleep in it and drink any water they can find. Welcome to the wild horse world. Land and freedom is where the cure is.
Anybody ready for a class action lawsuit against BLM?
I just read "J's" comment.
"J" you use chicken pox for your analogy so I will stay with it.
Chicken pox can be mild or severe. Severe cases can lead to complications that may lead to death. It is painful and can leave scars.
That is why when a child has chicken pox he is not allowed in school.
IF it is true that these horses showed symptoms they should have been isolated by region gathered. They should NOT have been processed through the same equipment as the general population.
Not only was it careless management of the horses but any horse or cow that finds itself at that facility... anywhere in that facility... is now at risk, perhaps for years to come.
It was/is inappropriate equine management.
Laura I just visited your site and we see so many lay people come into the foundation to visit, I have this sense to just use plain non-tech language with them so not to speak over there head. Its true that BLM, John Neill, Alan Shepherd or Don Glenn are all left over from the Clinton administration not Bush era so they keep doing what they do best, lying, cheating and telling the public we're to stupid to know a deadly disease when it pops up.
While we know we can’t save the planet from itself we can save the planet from idiots who think they control the planet.
With this outright irresponsible act or inhumane treatment to animal’s mainly wild horses I think a federal class action lawsuit is in order. Not one of these suits where we’re asking relief, but a flat out criminal action case against the BLM. Congressional law does allow anyone to use official oppression or break the law to use or enforce the law. The BLM openly admits to denying medical treatment. Where’s the Law
In domesticated horses it may only infect 1 within a group of horses..You donot want to administer antibiotics, the running of them back through the chutes has more potential danger for the horse than the relief he would gete from bute, once the abcess breaks the pain is gone...What no one knows is how many horses will get it confined in large numbers, not being able to sanitise-if there is one good thing it will be awhile before fly season arrives..The main worry would be that it becomes internalised instead of abcessing outwards.then it is fatal without antibiotics-and about 40% survive with antibiotics..It really boils down to having these large amounts of horses in holding..It is not acceptable and leads to many kinds of outbreaks..This is what we need a solution for.
wild horse foundation..the amazing thing is that we who are trying to save the wild horses are from the right left and inbetween..congress could learn something from us..I really dissuade any political talk when we discuss the horses..This particular massive roundup of horses started in 2002 and I remember who was president-enough said
Well see there you go, Political talk, how do you get around the wild horse problem without mentioning politics. Those in office don't care, those that want in office would make a deal with the devil to get in office. It only takes 1 term and they can retire with full benefits so that leaves the wild horses out and everything else in. Internal is "Bastard Strangles" if implodes and causes the horse to die of fluids in the lungs. We to can tell you who the players are, the coaches are and the cheerleaders are in this wild horse game. Problem is too many cheerleaders and the new players aren't listening to the coaches to avoid the BLM same old same old play book. This is why we place more wild horses in homes than anyone, 2nd only to the BLM cause without us placing the BLM would certainly send more horses to death. Then congress would see there are no viable non-profits that can handle the wild horses and placements. BLM would have congress think this already. Who's the law?
You might to remember that John Fend, past BLM Director was approached by a rancher in west Texas on deleivering 25,000 wild horses to this ranch and instead the FWS sent many out of Sheldon Hart. Past Director Clarke skipped out early moved old BLM WH Manager Jeff Rawson to assistant state director in Utah for his good work with the wild horses and the Untah State director was Clarke's old right hand woman. They run and cover. The worse job you do for the wild horses the better your job.
Then this report I found is true:PRESS RELEASE
June 11, 2009 – for immediate release
Documents Reveal BLM Secret Plan to Destroy Wild Horses
Documents obtained from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) via the Freedom of Information Act by a Phoenix-based non-profit, The Conquistador Program, reveal shocking and detailed plans to destroy healthy wild horses in government holding facilities as well as those still remaining in the wild on public lands.
BLM employees as well as a USDA veterinarian held weekly “Implementation Team” meetings beginning in July of 2008 in which they discussed and developed strategies aimed at ridding BLM of thousands of mustangs. In October they completed a 68 page document entitled “Alternative Management Options”. Tactics included in this document are reminiscent of those used to wipe out Native American tribes in the 1800s.
The BLM team created scenarios for killing mustangs using barbiturates, gun shots, or captive bolts. Bodies would be disposed of
Where is our laws? When are we the people of this United States going to insist that Ken Salazar and his BLM cronies be brought up on charges? What are all the people that have the know how and are in a position to do this waiting for? For that bunch of maingy vaermin to kill everone of those horses off so the stinken cattle ranchers can have that land cheap and that way they can make a bigger profit. Come on people whats it going to take before you all wake up and see what is going on. I can not believe this is intolerable that they did that to those innocent animals just because they were in the way. OMG. I pray evry day that GOD has had enough and sends his Angels down and makes short work of the whole disgraceful mess.
Why hasn't an injuction been filed by somebody to stop these lunitics? And Why haven't they been taken to court on charges to numerous to state here? What are people waiting for, a hand written invitation? These animals are suffering! They need to be RESCUED! There are groups out there that do these things for a LIVING! What in Gods name are you all waiting for? If I knew how and could I would not even have flinched one ioata I would take this vermin on in a heart beat. If we don't stand up to these varmints and help these torured things then what the hell good are we anyway. Where are the fighters? The red blooded Americans that would have never let this monsterous brutality go on?If we don't stop the BLM and Salazar I can guarentee that there are going to be some serious conscionses turning everyones hair gray with the shame that is to follow.They aren't even doing anything to help these horses, just letting them stand there and suffer while they slowly die.
They say they are infected so naturally they are going to have to kill them off. They aren't even giving these poor things care. What are these loosers and sell outs going to have to do before someone does their job and ARREST their sorry A**es, WHAT?Well I am trying to find out if there is a way for me to do it. This is appauling and uncalled for, not to mention mean and brutal. Come on somebody out there that has some pull do something. I am ashamed of America for what they are sitting on their back sides and allowing to happen. And those da**ed so called vets that are supposed to be working with these herds need to have their license( if they even have one)pulled. I am sitting here in complete and total disbelief that such ruthlesness and mean viscous inhumane people are running our BLM. Who can just stand by when something is in pain and suffering and do absolutely nothing? I'll tell you who, A Monster of the worst calibur, and in the name of God I pray those animals gets them.
Remember the words, Its time for change? Well when is this change going to come about? When are the buisness as usual looser bunch going to get kicked to the curb where they should have been along long time ago?I used to have great pride of land and country and now its beginning to be nothing more than a fading memory.I guess that is one of the things that is on the indangered list. Honor, Integrety, Pride, Loyalty, A sense of right from wrong. Oh there are some that still have these qualities but how can those lights keep burning when you have a nation of inaction, exceptance, and indifference?If this nation doesn't want to loose its soul forever then the citizens must stand up and be counted. We have got to stand shoulder to shoulder and back these abominations out of their power grip. It has to be done. Just because someone has some big fancy title doesn't mean they are going to be straight with you. Thanks to all of you that are trying, God Bless and Keep You.
"So Lets Stop Them"
Sure mother nature is a bitch and if you leave them out there then they starve, die of thirst or die of disease on their own in exchange for freedom. When you take them away then its now your responsibility to treat them with every resource you can. Strangles is not always benign and people need to control or take care of these disease when present. I purchased a horse that ended up carrying the Strangles germ last year, because he had had it once before it took almost 60 days to show it self(past my 30 day quarantine). Now I have a another horse that's dead because of it, learn the facts. Chicken pox as a kid then its called shingles as a adult. same damn thing. These horses at least need to be separated out from the healthy ones asap not just let it run rampant.
I'd said Brenda your right BUT the groups that can do the justice are tired of hearing all the other little groups and bloggers that state that us that they say do nothing aren't fighters. Facts are we have been here the whole time, you don't like the way we have to adopt out the wild horses then donate to us, not the bloggers and the new guys who want money to help them watch the BLM. Anybody with a camera can sit on a hill and watch all the wrong doings and thats make them and you and whoever just as guilty. How many wild horses have you adopted? Talking with your mouth full is like complaining to the farmer about the price of vegatables. You don't have any concept on what it takes to place or feed or care for a wild horse that takes special training and handling. Get off your soap box, hire a lawyer like the rest of can and you be the difference. I am to dam busy feeding and placing wild horses in homes. Want to hear my story? Shingles and Pox are not the same. Not close.
Hey Jeff, the BLM does separate them. They take them out of the wild and place them into pens; they’re idiots for causing the sickness. Some of those wild horse groups out in Nevada actually try and protect John Neill and Allan Shepherd and the other BLM guys claiming they are just doing there jobs. Well folks, if you know that what you’re doing are illegal and you do it then you deserve to go to jail. Federal employees are not immune from prosecution. If a postal worker opens your mail it’s a crime, if a BLM employee mis-treats a wild horse take pictures of the employee and the act and file charges. The Federal prosecutor is obligated to investigate and take the charges. On all cases. Waste, Fraud and abuse is what you tell the GAO office when you call in your complaint. They have to investigate, every claim.
We have posted a new story about PZP and HSUS using experimental drugs on wild horses on our web site. Follow the money train. Old news with a new twist.
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
between the Humane Society of the United States and the Bureau of Land Management After a workshop held in Santa Fe, NM, November 29 and 30, 2005 on wild horse fertility control, the Humane Society of the United States and the Bureau of Land Management have agreed to develop a Memorandum of Understanding to co-operate on: - 1) The further development and wider use of contraception in wild horse populations, 2) Resolve some of the uncertainties being faced in producing the vaccine and ensuring a continuing supply of a safe and effective vaccine, 3) Assist in public outreach on the issues, and 4) Maintain healthy and viable herds in the existing BLM wild horse Herd Management Areas. "The BLM sees this as a way to reduce horse removals, to place fewer horses in short- and long-term holding facilities, and to achieve budgetary savings," said Don Glenn, Acting Group Manager of the BLM Wild Horse
and Burro Program Source: Source: HSUS-BLM Press Release on Fertility Control, e-mail from Tom
Gorey WO/BLM/DOI, sent 11/30/2005 01:17 PM. Forwarded by Linda
Coates-Markle /MTSO/MT/BLM/DOI on 12/05/2005 10:55 AM.
Bet you didn't know these two idiots were in bed together from the start and removed the Pryor Moutnain Horses cause of the effects of the PZP drugs..... long term effects, anythings is possible.
SAVE OUR WILD HORSES FROM CORRUPT COWARDLY LYING BLM KILLERS URGENT-RESCUE WILD HORSES FROM THESE CORRUPT THUGS. SAVE OUR WILD HORSES & BURROS & all horses-We need to make sure the Senators hear loudly from Americans - BLM HAS KILLED OFF OVER 100 HERDS - THEY ARE MURDERERS-PROSECUTE THE CORRUPT- LYING -STEALING-MURDERERS-roundups must stop and no funding should be given for a "preserve" in the Midwest or East. GIVE BACK THE HORSES STOLEN LAND Protect our Horses ^ Burros from BLM & PROSECUTE BLM for lies , cruelty, corruption -Your voice is needed -RESCUE & PROTECT OUR HORSES & BURROS from BLM -OVER -100 dead horses in Fallon Nevada-RESCUE HORSES & PROTECT ALL WILD HORSES & BURROS from CORRUPT LYING BLM WILD HORSE & BURRO KILLERS !!!!!!!! BLM YOUR LYING -LAND STEALING - MONEY STEALING -HORSES MURDERING JIG IS UP !
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