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Helicopter roundups of America's wild horses and burros by our government agencies create havoc. Terror-stricken animals are chased for miles under horrific conditions and driven rapidly into small traps. Many of these brutalized horses and burros are maimed and killed, including babies. Now, there's an opportunity to end this through federal legislation.

We now have a way to end these senseless and barbaric madcap chases of America's beloved wild horses and burros. This spring, Rep. Dina Titus introduced The Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act (HR 3656) into the U.S. House of Representatives. This bill would prohibit costly and inhumane helicopter roundups of wild horses and burros if passed. Rep. Titus has been a stalwart voice in Congress for America's wild horses and burros. Her state of Nevada has more wild equines than any other state.

In Defense of Animals has been alerting the public about deadly roundups for years and asking the public to contact decision-makers. It is time to renew and increase our efforts.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is mandated to protect America's wild equines. Instead, it uses this requirement to fabricate emergencies to "save" these wild animals from made-up situations. Using false "emergency" declarations, which are then proven wrong, the BLM can initiate roundups without taking public input.

The BLM's plans include decimating our nation's wild herds with ludicrous and disastrous "management plans." These plans must be stopped before they are begun — by ending the roundups.

The BLM is charged with following its own Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program (CAWP), which the agency describes as "the standards for humane handling and compassionate care (which) apply to all management activities undertaken by BLM staff, partners, contractors, and volunteers." It further defines animal welfare as "the physical and psychological well-being of animals and how they are coping with their environments."

It is obvious to all wild horse and burro advocates that what they observe during these extremely inhumane roundups is the opposite of CAWP. Most congressional legislators must be made aware of the egregious violations, and sadly there are currently only 11 cosponsors for the Titus bill. Yet, as the government entity that funds it, Congress is the only avenue that can effectively stop the BLM.

Letter to Decision Maker(s) for reference:

Subject: Please cosponsor and support the Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act.

As someone who is concerned with the welfare and treatment of America’s wild horses and burros, I’m writing to urge you to support and cosponsor the much-needed Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act, which would protect them from brutal helicopter roundups. 

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is out of control with no oversight. It flippantly disregards the will of the taxpaying public, and even its own edicts, regarding the Wild Horse and Burro Program. The BLM's own Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program (CAWP) directives are continually and egregiously violated within the agency’s Wild Horse and Burro Program. 

During the BLM's costly helicopter roundups of America's wild mustangs, inhumane practices that cause mayhem, injury, and death in direct violation of CAWP are routinely used. This year alone, there have been many recorded instances in photos and videos of atrocious acts perpetrated on our nation’s wild horses during roundups, including where the helicopters continue to chase horses and foals with broken legs for long periods of time.

There are better, more humane ways to steward these wild horses, and more than 80% of American citizens want our nation’s wild equines managed humanely on our public lands. This includes your constituents. I urge you to cosponsor, the Wild Horse Protection Act (HR 3656) "to prohibit costly and inhumane helicopter roundups of wild horses" and the companion bill when it is introduced in the Senate.

Thank you for your consideration of this important matter.

Sincerely,

Signed

This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.