149 Horses Saved from Fallon Auction
It's been a long and difficult week, but we have good news to share. The 149 unbranded horses in limbo at the Fallon Livestock Auction in Nevada have been saved! This rescue was made possible through a collaborative effort involving several dedicated organizations and individuals.
Our friend and noted author Terri Farley sent in a photo from the stockyard where the rescue is underway. These horses were rounded up by the Fort McDermitt Paiute Shoshone tribe earlier this month with the blessing of our federal government.
As a result of our lawsuit against the federal government, a judge issued an injunction temporarily blocking their sale at the auction. Unfortunately, the sale continued with the auction of branded horses, about half of whom were purchased by kill buyers.
On Wednesday, the same judge lifted the order, allowing the horses to be sold to the highest bidder. We disagree with the verdict and the actions of the federal government, which facilitated the availability of these horses to kill buyers.
Following the ruling, we did everything possible to save the 149 horses from slaughter. After an amazing collaborative effort, these horses are now safe.
Our coalition partner, The Cloud Foundation, secured the involvement of Victoria McCullough and the Triumph Project of Wellington, Florida. Florida State Senator Joe Abruzzo negotiated with the tribe on Ms. McCullough’s behalf to purchase all the horses for rescue.
Organizations stepping up to take the horses included Ellie Phipps Price (Dunstan Wines), Madeleine Pickens (Saving America’s Mustangs), Liberty for Horses, Nevada Horse Power, and Return to Freedom. Laura Leigh of Wild Horse Education also assisted in the rescue, standing side by side with us at the August 17, 2013, slaughter auction and joining in the litigation. The Western Watershed Project was also a co-plaintiff in the lawsuit.
This rescue is a true team effort, and we are touched and grateful for the outpouring of support and concern. The public reaction to the plight of these horses has clearly demonstrated the depth of opposition by Americans to horse slaughter and their support for wild horses.
Our work is not yet over, though. Many of the rescued horses need permanent homes, and we want to ensure this situation never happens again.
If you can offer a home for one of these horses, please email contact@wildhorsepreservation.org.
If you would like to donate to help feed and care for these horses, Return to Freedom has started a fund dedicated to this rescue.
Thank you to all who have supported the effort to save the Ft. McDermitt horses.