Good News! Update American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign Team had wonderful news on the major development in the fight to protect Arizona's Salt River Wild Horses. The rescue of more than 21 Virginia Wild Mustangs saved from slaughter. Thank you to everyone signing all the petitions and sharing. Thank you to all that helped financially with legal fees and more. I have attached another petition to sign, please share, petitions work!!! Mahalo to everyone

Photograph of Wyoming Wild Horse Herd by Kimerlee Curyl

December 2015

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Fight for Wyoming Wild Horses Moves Forward

Our fight to hold the Bureau of Land Management accountable for its illegal rounding up of 1,263 wild horses from the Wyoming Checkerboard in the fall of 2014 continues. We recently filed our opening brief with the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. We are challenging the lower court's decision to allow the BLM to subvert the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act by using a request from a landowner to remove horses from private lands as an excuse to permanently remove them from over two million acres of public lands as well. If allowed to stand, this ruling could place wild horses and burros across the West at the mercy of a few local property owners who want them gone. The legal issues at stake are so important that a group of distinguished environmental law professors has filed an Amicus brief in support of our position. 

Meanwhile, the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) is still accepting public comments on an Environmental Assessment (EA) the agency produced to correct previous legal violations related to the Checkerboard roundup. If you have not yet done so, please submit your comments today. Let's take this opportunity to weigh in against the agency's audacious trouncing of federal law and in favor of an alternative that would return some of the captured Checkerboard horses to their rightful homes back on the range. 

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Forest Service Cancels Plan to Round Up Salt River Wild Horses

Last Friday, the U.S. Forest Service officially withdrew its notice to impound the beloved Salt River wild horses from the Tonto National Forest in Mesa, Arizona. The Forest Service now says it will work with private stakeholders to develop a management plan for these horses who have lived on the lower Salt River for more than a century. AWHPC is pleased to have played a role in this victory by providing political and grassroots support to our coalition partner, the wonderful Salt River Wild Horse Management Group, which is leading the charge to save these amazing horses. The Forest Service notice came just a week after the agency received a letter from Arizona's U.S. House delegation, spearheaded by Congressman Matt Salmon, acting on behalf of their constituents who want the Salt River horses protected. As AWHPC's Deniz Bolbol told a local newspaper, "This is a huge win for democracy. Arizona's political leaders, from the Governor to the Senators and the House delegation, all responded to their constituents' cry for help."

    

 

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21 Virginia Range Horses: Saved From Slaughter!

It's going to be a very happy holiday for 21 Virginia Range mustangs who were captured by the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) and rescued under a cooperative agreement negotiated by AWHPC that allows us to purchase the horses before the NDA sends them to a slaughter auction! Very special thanks and gratitude goes to Madeleine Pickens and her Saving America's Mustangs/Mustang Monument in Nevada, and to Wayne Guest and his Bright Starts Rescue and Horse Sanctuary in Georgia for stepping up to provide a permanent home to these beautiful horses. Best of all, the family groups get to stay together! Thank you to all the American Wild Horse Preservation Team donors who provided the resources necessary to purchase these horses from the state and transport them to their new homes. 

American Wild Horse Preservation

Lions updated: Our Voices were heard! Petitions work! Please sign this one as UPS still refuses to stop shipping trophy body parts of our Wildlife. Some are Endangered, other species are very frail. We can stop the Ivory Trade, lets stop this NOW!!!

Breaking News! IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare)

Over the past three decades, the African lion population has declined by nearly 60 percent, with possibly less than 20,000 lions remaining in the wild.

The U.S. alone is responsible for importing over half of the hundreds of lion trophies brought home by trophy hunters globally each year.

Since March of 2011 IFAW, along with the Humane Society International and Born Free, has led a campaign to list lions, the only big cat not protected, under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

The hundreds of thousands of comments to the U.S. Administration from caring supporters, were critical to this landmark decision for lions.

PETITIONS WORK ARE VOICES WERE HEARD.  NOW LETS MAKE OUR VOICE HEARD, TO UPS AND STOP THE SHIPPING OF WILD ANIMAL TROPHIES!

MAHALO

Update: Lions in central and western Africa will now be listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, while lions in southern and eastern Africa will be classified as threatened—meaning that the importation of the heads, tails, and skins of lions like Cecil will be prohibited, except under limited circumstances! But UPS refuses to ban the shipment of parts from other wild animals. Since the international outrage sparked by the cold-hearted killing of Cecil, Zimbabwe's most beloved lion, more than 40 airlines have banned the transport of wildlife trophies. However, UPS refuses to join the ban and continues to perpetuate the hunting of exotic animals—even in the wake the recent slaughter of Zimbabwe's largest elephant. Join us in telling UPS that supporting trophy hunts is unacceptable! Elephants are extremely intelligent, self-aware animals with long memories. They suffer and grieve when their families are torn apart, just as humans do. Similarly, when Cecil was killed, beheaded, and skinned, his family of cubs was left fatherless and vulnerable. Trophy hunter and Minnesota dentist Walter Palmer smiles over the corpse of an animal, who, like Cecil, only wanted to be left in peace. Earlier this year, UPS banned the transport of shark fins, and it has also banned the shipment of live animals as well as ivory and ivory products, so we know that the company can and will act when it feels it is important. PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION  AND TELL UPS TO STOP SHIPPING ANIMAL PARTS FOR TROPHY HUNTERS!!!!!!!   If you haven't already, please tell UPS to ban the shipment of all hunting trophies! Thank you for speaking up for animals.  PETA

Our Wolf legislation update: Over the last months updates are continuously pouring in from all of our Wildlife Organizations. Endangered Earth, Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, Sierra Club are at the front lines. During the month of December Congress has been deliberating on whether or not to strip all protection, delist them from the Endangered Species, our Wolves. These are some of the states included Wyoming, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. If the worst happens, thousands of wolves could be gunned down, snared and hunted with trained dogs. This is the most brutal way to annihilate a complete species. The news is in and hopefully the reprieve for our Wolves will continue through 2016 and beyond. We are their Voice to Save and Protect for future generations.! Mahalo

The poisonous hatred that's driving these wolf-killing bills in Congress isn't isolated to Washington, D.C. That's why we're dedicated to taking the fight anywhere we have to: from local, state and federal politics to the streets or the courthouse. No species draws more hysteria than these intelligent, social animals -- wildlife-haters gloat over every wolf-kill on social media, swapping pictures of gruesome, painful wolf deaths.

Relief came Tuesday last, with news that provisions to strip federal protections from wolves in four states were NOT included in the final budget in Congress. Stripping protection would've been a disaster, ending Endangered Species Act protection in Wyoming, Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin -- pushing aside decades of work to recover wolves there.

The Center for Biological Diversity has been on the front lines in the fight against these anti-wildlife measures since the very beginning, and we never let up. Thanks to all their supporters who made phone calls, sent letters and otherwise raised their voices for wolves.
                             WE ARE THEIR VOICE, AND OUR VOICE WAS HEARD!!!

There is only one dangerous species... Humans

The fight for our wolves will continue into 2016. The same vicious attitudes that drove the potential budget riders to end wolf protections will be back at the local, state and federal levels -and the Center for Biological Diversity will there to fight back every hour and every day, along with Defenders of Wildlife and the Sierra Club, but they We'll need us. Please consider donating to our Endangered Species Defense Fund. Your gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar until
 Dec 31st

Bear Hunt update: After a long hard fought campaign, the Florida Wildlife Commission (FWC) approved a hunt that killed over 300 bears. Many of our wildlife organizations, including ALDF, (Animal League Defense Fund) have not backed down and new legislation is in the works to protect the species from future bloodshed. In those 3 short days of brutal killings, the Florida Wildlife Commission may have crippled the Black Bear recovery program. Please sign petitions available and if possible donate, because right now wildlife organizations are putting together legislation to allow continue protection of the Florida Black Bear and to stop trophy hunting, hunting with malice intent. and hopefully initiate humane alternatives to relocate and protect our Black Bear from further harm. Mahalo

SB 1096 would require Florida Wildlife Commission and other state agencies to create policy that would protect black bear habitats that have been destroyed by timber farming, develop strategies to maintain natural bear food sources (like palmetto trees) and assist residents with purchasing bear-proof containers. The bill's sponsor State Senator Soto summed it up best saying, "We need to apply a scientific-based approach founded upon sound research to protect our citizens and the Florida Black Bear."⁴ This is important because Florida Wildlife relied on outdated data to justify the need for a hunt. Even the Florida Judge who ruled against a lawsuit to stop the hunt agreed that they should have used better science before lifting the hunting ban.⁵

Getting this bill through the Florida Assembly will not be easy. It's very possible that Assembly Members and Florida Wildlife Commissioners, some of whom took part in the bear hunt, will do all they can to block a bill that could threaten future hunting seasons.  That's why we're going to have to do everything to promote SB 1096 on billboards, yard signs, flyers and even television and radio ads.

This bill represents a first step to help prevent this beautiful species from being placed back on the Endangered Species list. But if we're going to get it passed, we need everyone to lend a hand. Petitions need to be created and Please chip in $15, $35 or whatever you can to support our ongoing effort to save the Florida Black Bears.

Anthony Rogers-Wright, Environmental Action

Big Dog Ranch Rescue, Wellington Florida. Big Dog Ranch Rescue is the largest no-kill dog rescue facility in the Southeastern United States. Their mission to be a leader in the national animal welfare movement, through compassionate, innovative rescue practices and have many educational programs. They have helped change laws in Palm Beach County on euthanasia. I have enclosed an update on their progress in their new facility and how your donations are so well spent in caring, veterinarian services and foster programs. Mahalo Olivia and Kona, (Kona a Big Dog Ranch miracle)

Kona (aka Survivor BDRR)

A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM A SPECIAL PUPPY Dear life-saver, My name is Trigger (formerly Special) and I got all dressed up to say thank you. Your donations this year have made it possible for almost 2000 dogs to be saved, cared for and welcomed into loving homes. You are our heroes and have changed our lives furever. As many of you know, I lost my mother, sibling and my snout in a horrible train accident a couple of months ago. Because of you, I had three reconstruction surgeries and am now able to run and romp with my fur-siblings in a happy and safe home.   I hope you will consider making a year-end donation to Big Dog Ranch Rescue. Your donation will help more dogs next year, like me and my friends below, find the happiness that we've found this year.  We're all just looking for a second chance to live, love and be loved in return. Being able to count on each and every one of you to help give us the care, hope and love we need to get there means the world to us. From the grateful hearts and paws at Big Dog Ranch Rescue to yours, Happy Holidays!  Dog bless you, Trigger THANK YOU FROM TRIGGER'S FURRY FRIENDS PRINCE ABIGAIL TAYA AND HER PUPPIES

Udates as of right now show more than 3900 of our wolves have been slaughtered. Wolves are to be protected by the Endangered Species Act, but government officials say otherwise. Money talks loudly, and the most powerful are the ranchers of Wyoming, Dakotas, and throughout the northwest regions. Our wolves need recovery to survive, our Gray Wolf, Red Wolf, Mexican Gray Wolf, Timber Wolf, as well as our Arctic Wolves need our protection and safe havens. Extinct is forever, we will never be able to correct that, now is our chance to make our VOICES HEARD LOUDLY, to everyone that continues to show malice towards our Wolves in the wild. They are beautiful animals, and never kill just to kill. They are a balance to our ecosystems, as well as other predator animals. We as protectors need to continue to put pressure on our government officials, which includes our U.S Fish and Wildlife Service! Mahalo to everyone and please share, and help if you can!

Mexican Gray Wolf  Endangered

The newest wolf-killing tally is in: More than 3,900 wolves have been hounded, gunned down and trapped to death since politicians took away protection in six states -- hundreds since September alone. Each death can destroy a family and shatter a pack.

Lets stop this brutal terrorizing of wolves once and for all. There is a generous donor who has committed to match every dollar given before Dec. 31 in the fight for wolves.  I hope each one of us can give now to the Endangered Species Defense Fund, and your donation will be doubled.

Wolves are a highly social species, forming lifelong packs to raise their young -- so when wolves are killed, the stability of these packs is destroyed. They can no longer work together to forage in the wild. Without their families, wolf pups don't stand a chance of survival.

We can stop this senseless killing through petitions, and Giving just a little to the Endangered Species Defense Fund now, if we can just donate $1 it will be doubled and we will be even more powerful.

                                                                    Timber Wolf

If not satisfied with the deaths of more than 3,900 wolves since 2011, far-right politicians want to spread the slaughter across the nation. Congress is currently pushing legislation to do nationwide what they've done in states like Idaho -- end protection and allow open season on wolf families. If the federal government abandons wolves, more will be gut shot and trapped, and more packs will be destroyed.

The Center of Biological Diversity and their attorneys do know how to win for wolves. They have gotten them protected in California, won in court to stop Wyoming's vicious hunt, and shut down an Idaho wolf-killing contest on BLM land. Wolves have no more effective ally than our lawyers, scientists and activists. But we can only win for wolves with everyone's support.  

PLEASE SHARE AND HELP IF YOU CAN!!!!!!!!

Kierán Suckling is the Executive Director Center for Biological Diversity @KieranSuckling

Updating on News our Wild Mustangs are safe!! The U.S. Forest Service as just announced that they are withdrawing their Wild Horse roundup and impound of the Salt River horses that roam free in the Tonto National Forest, which is not far from Phoenix, Arizona. This is impart of all the petitions that were shared and signed throughout the nation. Government officials had to listen to the VOICE OF THE PEOPLE dedicated in protecting and saving our Wild Horses. Mahalo to everyone!!!

Photo | Jennifer MaHarry Photography Thank you everyone who signed and shared all the petitions to save our Wild Horses! Great news! This morning, the U.S. Forest Service announced that it has withdrawn its notice to round up and impound the wonderful Salt River wild horses who live in the Tonto National Forest near Phoenix, Arizona. This is a direct result of public pressure and a great example of how our government and elected officials can and should listen to the will of the people! Since August, we have worked with our coalition partner the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group(SRWHMG) toward the cancellation of the impound notice in order to allow time to negotiate an agreement for the long-term protection of the horses on Salt River. Just last week, U.S. Congressman Matt Salmon and seven of his House colleagues sent a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, who oversees the Forest Service, asking the agency to listen to public, which wants these horses preserved. Previously, Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake and Governor Doug Ducey expressed their strong support on behalf of their constituents for protection of these horses. Huge congratulations go to the SRWHMG and its president Simone Netherlands for their tireless work to protect these horses. They have organized tremendous public support and have spent years doing critically-important, boots-on-the-ground work as stewards and documentarians of this very special herd. Thank you sincerely to the AWHPC supporters who provided us with the resources to help fight this battle to save these amazing horses. The American Wild Horse Preservation will continue to work securing lasting protection for these beautiful animals which are part of our heritage.  Hard work still lies ahead, but for now, we need to  celebrate this victory -- it shows that the power of the people can prevail!                WE ARE THEIR VOICE WE WILL CONTINUE                              TO SAVE AND PROTECT!

American Wild Horse Preservation

Received today, from Humane Society of the US. They are on the ground right now rescuing and fighting to save every animal on this severely neglected property in southern Ohio. Please share, with everyone, so everyone can see first hand what they do everyday, along with Humane Society International and other dedicated organizations. We are their VOICE, we are here to Save and Protect!!! Mahalo

Humane Society of the US are right now in southern Ohio, pulling more than 80 animals from a suspected neglect situation. If one can please help with a small donation of any kind, it will help with every Angel of Kindness putting forward their blessings.  Mahalo  

Some people just do not care!!!

Sadly, it's as horrific as I'd heard.

As we make our way around the property, every 10 paces or so, we come across another animal living like this:

Please make an emergency gift today to save more animals like them from neglect and cruelty.

Many of the dogs had nothing but rotting deer carcasses to eat. I'm sorry to show such a graphic image -- but I didn't want to cover up the tragic reality of what I'm witnessing today.

That look of desperation is something I will never forget:

Tia, I know this is very disturbing -- and the last thing any of us want to hear is more sad news.

But I hope you can find comfort in knowing that more than 80 dogs and cats will be loved and cared for from this moment on. That's what I do when faced with gut-wrenching rescues like this one.

We're searching the rest of the property, and we won't stop until we're certain that every animal is rescued. Then, the animals will be thoroughly examined and receive any necessary immediate medical treatment.

If you can, please help rescue more animals from such horrific situations with your donation to the Animal Rescue Team today.

Sincerely,

Sara Varsa
Senior Director, Animal Cruelty, Rescue and Response
The Humane Society of the United States