Judge Blocks Slaughter of Horse 'Lady' Ensnared in Roundup, Fate Remains Uncertain
January 17, 2019
A federal judge in Reno has issued a temporary restraining order to prevent the slaughter of a horse named 'Lady,' thought to be ensnared during a controversial roundup. This decision comes amidst a lawsuit filed by wild horse advocates, highlighting ongoing disputes over the management of wild horses and burros on public lands.
Legal Intervention to Save 'Lady'
U.S. District Court Judge Miranda Du authorized the order, directing defendants to refrain from slaughtering the horse, which belongs to Sparks resident Colleen Westlake. "This order will issue without notice because time is of the essence – Defendants plan to slaughter or take to slaughter Plaintiff's horse Lady in the immediate future," Du wrote.
However, Westlake fears it may be too late, worrying that Lady may have already been shipped off. "Maybe this will make them give her to me," Westlake said. "I pray they have her somewhere ... I don't know."
Background of the Roundup
Residents of Nevada’s Palomino Valley, who lost horses and burros during a multi-day roundup coordinated by the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, filed suit in federal court to order the animals returned. The complaint alleges that the roundup wrongly swept privately owned animals from private property.
Some animals, like two burros, were released when workers realized they were privately owned, but they remain loose on the range. Lady, adopted through the Nevada Department of Agriculture, has not been returned, and Westlake fears she is being shipped for slaughter.
“I just want my horse back,” Westlake declared. “I love my horse, she means everything to me. No amount of money could replace Lady, and I would be devastated if she were slaughtered.”
Claims of Trespassing and Mismanagement
In a separate declaration, Thomas Baker, owner of the burros, reported that workers trespassed on his property, using a helicopter to herd his animals away. “My burros were herded along with the horses until another neighbor informed tribal members that those burros were owned by me and told them they had better let them go,” Baker wrote. “They were cut loose and have been wandering around the valley since that time.”
The roundup, which began on January 4, was part of a broader plan by the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe to restore the range on their reservation, devastated by recent fires. Tribal officials claim the roundup was legal and necessary to protect natural resources.
“We are just following through with this management plan to protect the natural resources,” Vice Chairman Alan Mandell stated. “We weren’t stealing anything, we were just recovering property, that’s all,” added Tribal Councilman John Gurrero.
Legal Battle Continues
The lawsuit by Westlake and the American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign) argues that the tribe and Cattoor Livestock Roundup trespassed on private property and took horses without proper authorization. The suit also names the Nevada Department of Agriculture and other officials as defendants, seeking the return of the animals and damages for the loss of Lady.
Advocates claim the horses were wrongly attributed to the tribe and were actually feral livestock, arguing that residents should have been notified and given a chance to claim the horses. The lawsuit also alleges a failure to conduct proper brand inspections to verify ownership.
Sue Cattoor of Cattoor Wild Horse Roundups and Nevada Department of Agriculture officials declined to comment on the lawsuit. The RGJ could not reach Zena Quillan for comment.