Letter: OSU Should Cancel Horse Sterilization Plans

It is disheartening to see Oregon State University and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management poised to carry out cruel and needless sterilization experiments on more than 200 wild horses held in the BLM’s wild horse corrals in Hines.

We hope OSU will put a halt to these plans and have filed a formal complaint with the university pointing out the ethical and scientific issues presented by the proposed, inhumane sterilization procedure.

Details of the Proposed Procedure

OSU and BLM plan to subject the wild mares to a surgical procedure that involves a veterinarian cutting into a mare’s vaginal wall, placing his hand and arm through the vagina into the abdominal cavity, manually (and blindly) locating the ovaries, then severing them with a rod-like chain tool called an ecraseur.

The surgery is as barbaric and dangerous as it sounds. Not only will it put mares at risk for infection and death, it will cause many of the already pregnant horses to suffer abortions. Fertility control vaccine is a more humane, safe, and effective way to manage wild horses on federal land.

Call to Action

Anyone concerned about animal welfare and the fate of our nation’s treasured wild horses should contact BLM and OSU and tell them not to go forward with this horrific plan.

Originally posted by Corvallis Gazette-Times