Take Action for Arizona’s Wild Horses
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
We have both encouraging and concerning updates from Arizona to share with you.
First, the positive news: The recent lawsuit threatening the humane management of the Salt River wild horses was dismissed by the US District Court for the District of Arizona. The lawsuit was filed by the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) and trophy hunting groups. The United States Forest Service (USFS), responsible for the Tonto National Forest where the horses reside, successfully moved to dismiss the lawsuit, exposing factual inaccuracies in the CBD’s complaint. The American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) and the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group (SRWHMG) also filed a motion to intervene, highlighting misinformation in the CBD complaint.
In October of this year, the judge granted the USFS’s motion to dismiss, but gave CDB 30 days to amend its complaint. On November 30, the 30-day window closed without action from CBD, resulting in the lawsuit being officially dismissed in the lower court. This victory ensures the continued protection of the Salt River wild horses and safeguards the successful humane management program.
Now, the unfortunate news: In the Apache Sitgreaves Forest, just 150 miles from the Tonto National Forest, the USFS shipped 45 captured Alpine wild horses to a notorious slaughter auction in Texas. Fortunately, the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group and other organizations rallied together to find placement for all 45 horses. However, the USFS is continuing to roundup wild horses in an attempt to eradicate them from the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest, meaning more of these magnificent animals are at risk of being shipped to kill pens unless the agency changes its deadly policy.
Your voice can play a crucial role in safeguarding these beloved and historic animals. Join us in urging the USFS to adopt humane management practices that prioritize the protection and humane treatment of wild horses on our public lands.
The American Wild Horse Campaign