Lawsuit Filed Over Tribal Roundup of Horses in Palomino Valley
January 16, 2019
A lawsuit has been filed against the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe and others over the controversial roundup of 400 wild horses in Palomino Valley on January 4 and 5, 2019. The American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Preservation) and Colleen Westlake, who owns a horse named Lady, are among the plaintiffs. The suit alleges illegal actions and violations of state law.
Details of the Lawsuit
The American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Preservation) and Colleen Westlake have sued the Nevada Department of Agriculture, Cattoor Livestock Roundup, Inc. of Utah, a Churchill County woman, and two Department of Agriculture employees. The suit was filed on January 16, 2019, in U.S. District Court in Nevada.
The lawsuit claims the Tribe and its associates illegally entered federal land to round up horses and burros, driving them onto reservation land. It asserts that the animals were feral, owned by the state of Nevada or privately owned, and not by the Tribe.
Allegations and Responses
Wild horse advocates reported the alleged illegal actions to the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office and were redirected to the Nevada Department of Agriculture, which in turn referred them back to the sheriff’s office. The suit accuses Chris Miller, an enforcement supervisor for the Department of Agriculture, of improperly issuing brand inspections to the Tribe without proof of ownership.
The lawsuit also alleges that Zena Quillan of Churchill County purchased the horses from the Tribe and sent them to a slaughterhouse in either Canada or Mexico. The suit seeks to prevent future roundups of this nature.
The Department of Agriculture and Cattoor Livestock Roundup, Inc. have not commented on the lawsuit. Alan Mandell, vice chairman of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, stated they had not yet seen the lawsuit and would respond appropriately once they had.
Statements from Plaintiffs
Suzanne Roy, executive director of the American Wild Horse Conservation, stated, “We respect the sovereignty of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe for activities on their nation’s lands. However, the roundup of the Palomino Valley horses occurred on private lands outside the reservation, involving trespass, taking of private horses, and violations of state law. We are bringing this suit on behalf of the residents whose property rights have been violated and the wild horses who have lived peacefully in Palomino Valley for years.”
Colleen Westlake expressed her desire to visit Lady or learn about her status. “If Lady is still being held, and I was able to go to the corral, I know I could identify her. However, no one will tell me where she could be or will let me try to identify her. I just want permission to go and see if my horse is being held with those that have been rounded up since January 4th,” Westlake said. “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.”
Originally posted by KOLO TV