Save the Wild Horses

Save the Wild Horse!

Two recent victories!!!!

On June 8, 2005, The Sweeney Amendment 236 (not to be confused with H.R. 503), passed in the House. This prohibits the use of funds to pay salaries and expenses of personnel to inspect horses under the Federal Meat Inspection Act for fiscal year 2006 only. On May 19, 2005, The Rahall/Whitfield Amendment 184 (not to be confused with H.R. 297), passed in the House. This prevents funding for the sale or slaughter of wild horses for fiscal year 2006 only.

This is just the beginning, but Congress has heard our message loud and clear: Americans want their wild horses protected. Now we must take this momentum and use it to push H.R. 297, H.R. 503, and S. 576 through, so that the Burns Amendment is reversed for good.

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Horses are our trusted companions and have never been raised for human consumption in America. However, American horses are being killed for foreign markets in Italy, France, Belgium, and Japan. Representatives John Sweeney (R-NY), John Spratt (D-SC) and Ed Whitfield (R-KY) have introduced the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (H.R. 503) to ban the transport, possession, purchase or sale of horses to be slaughtered for human consumption. Wild horses are facing a serious threat from an amendment sponsored by Conrad Burns (R-MT) to last Congress's omnibus appropriations bill that gutted more than three decades of protections for America's wild horses against sale for slaughter. As a result, it is legal for the government to sell wild horses and burros and allow them to go to slaughter. More than 40 wild horses have been sent to slaughter since Burns' amendments was enacted. Responding to public outcry, the Bureau of Land Management has temporarily halted the sale of wild horses, but officials could resume the sales at any time.

Thankfully, Representatives Nick Rahall (D-WV) and Ed Whitfield (R-KY) have introduced H.R. 297 and Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) has introduced S. 576-the Wild Horse Act -to reverse the damage done and outlaw commercial sale of our wild horses and burros.

What You Can Do:

1. First, check to see if your U.S. Representative or Senators are already a sponsor or co-sponsor of H.R. 503, H.R. 297, or S. 576. If they are, please thank them. 2. If your Representative or Senators are not already a sponsor or co-sponsor, please make a short, polite phone call or send them a letter to urge them to co-sponsor H.R. 503, and H.R. 297/S. 576. Click here to look up your senator's and congressperson's office phone number, mailing address, and email address. The Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121.

3. Sign an online petition to Save our Horses!

4. Purchase Ford Vehicles!!! Ford Motor Co. has created a fund in collaboration with the United States Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Department of the Interior - Take Pride in America. The fund allows us all to help ensure the future sustainability of these wild horses.