Sandy,
a Virginia Range wild horse who lived
peacefully on Nevada USA state lands in the foothills that surround Reno was recently captured by the Nevada Department of Agriculture along with the rest of her herd, 23 adults and 7 foals.
The horses were being sold by the pound, in grave danger of being purchased by kill buyers who would ship them for slaughter in Canada or Mexico.They mobilized to rescue her after the state captured her and her band and dumped them at a livestock auction.
However, different buyers were present to purchase the horses and rescue them from the cruelest of fates. These buyers were wild horse advocates, and thanks to the dedicated supporters of the American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign (AWHPC), they had the resources needed to purchase every one of the horses.
There was an unbelievable show of support and concern for Sandy and the rest of these horses. On Tuesday afternoon Nevada advocates were in despair due to a lack of funds to purchase all of the horses at auction. On Tuesday evening, an appeal for funds was sent out. Within six hours, enough money was transfered to the Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection Fund to ensure that every single one of the horses could be rescued!From the U.S. to Canada to the UK and Belgium, people responded to the appeal in force. Funds were forthcoming from people who had been laid off from their jobs, people whose funds were strapped due to medical expenses, people who had their own horses to feed. Supporters wrote that they were praying for the horses to be saved, spreading the word to all their friends, calling the Governor to protest this shameful treatment of Nevada's proud mustangs.
"Tuesday
morning we felt defeated. We were in tears because we just didn't
have the funds, and these horses -- who we'd come to know and love
after years of watching them -- were going to slaughter.
Within a few hours, a miracle happened and the funds were there,
thanks to the outpouring of support. We are so grateful to AWHPC and
deeply touched by the fact that so many people care about our wild
horses! From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to everyone who helped
make this rescue possible." - Carrol Abel, Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection Fund.
Sandy and her herd have been saved but there are others who will need help, here's what you can do to help:
►Donate to our Virginia Range Mustang Rescue Fund. All funds will be used to help with the care and feeding of Sandy, her family and the other rescued Virginia Range horses while permanent homes are found. If enough funds are raised, they will also be used for the rescue of additional Virginia Range horses who are expected to be put up for auction in the coming weeks, and to secure a humane management policy for all wild horses living on state lands in Nevada.
► Permanent homes are needed for these horses. If you or know anyone you know can offer one, please contact Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection immediately by clicking here.
►Contact Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval today! (775-684-5670 or 702-486-2500) and send him a message through
his website. Tell the governor politely but in the strongest of terms
that his Nevada Department of Agriculture's (NDOA's) policy toward the
state's iconic wild horses is shameful. If you are from out of state,
remind him that tourism is Nevada's number one industry, and tell him
that you will not spend your tourism dollars in his state until this
policy is changed. Inform the governor that the continued dumping of
wild Nevada mustangs at livestock auctions to be sold for slaughter is
unacceptable. Ask him to direct the NDOA to work with local wild horse
groups to place captured horses and to implement management programs
aimed at keeping the Virginia Range horses in the wild, where they
belong.
Here's a video of the rescued horse in their temporary home.
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