| • Support Letters |
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Please note that letters personalized with your own words bear more weight than impersonal form letters. Below are some examples of the very eloquent support letters we have received so far.
Are you aware that recently the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) stated its intent to deal with thousands of captive wild horses and burros through euthanasia?? I am guessing that the vast majority of the American public is unaware of this decision and would be OUTRAGED if they found out. I know that I, for one, will not stand to see my tax dollars being used to put to death a beautiful animal which is also an important symbol of my country's values and heritage. I am writing to suggest that familiarize yourselves with this issue and help provide much-needed answers and government transparency on the following points:
Wild horses and burros represent important American values such as freedom, resourcefulness and our rich history. They are icons and it is our obligation to protect them too and manage them humanely. Thank you for getting the truth out to your constituency about what is going on before there are no wild horses or burros left in the wild to save! Heather
E. *** Dear Honorable ____________,
Our country has gone through many difficult passages in the last several years, and sometimes it feels as if we're not in control of our foundation while the world shifts and shakes and security seems fleeting. We can, however, preserve certain traditions and foundations that made this country the great country it is. How can it be that a law that was enacted with major popular support can be quietly subverted without a hearing or the opportunity for public review? I would like a say in how my tax dollars are spent, and I feel a humane management program for these wild horses would be a much better use of my money than slaughter and removal. I would encourage you to consider this issue carefully, as making a mistake in judgment when it comes to animal preservation is one that cannot be rectified at a later date such as a budget issue can. It would be much better at this juncture to take a conservative approach and evaluate all our options carefully. I would also encourage you to find the strength and courage it takes to do what is right despite party influences and pressure from peers. Please consider carefully the impact of purging this part of our country's history, as wild horses are a natural resource that can never be reclaimed once they are gone. I hope you will make the decision that won't further corporate business interests on this matter, but instead will establish a trend showing the world that we still know where our roots are and we know how to take care of our country and all the wealth of resources it offers. I urge you to actively support: A freeze on wild horse sales by the Bureau of Land Management to allow for humane alternatives to be effectively considered; Efforts to reinstate federal protection for our beloved wild herds; A moratorium on round-ups until actual numbers of wild horses on public lands have been independently assessed; A Congressional investigation into current wild horse management practices and the undue influence of private cattle interests over public land management. Thank you for your consideration. I will be sure to follow your and our other Washington legislators' decisions on this matter.
Sincerely, Doris C. , London KY *** Dear Honorable ______________: I would like to be counted among those who support a Congressional hearing on the government’s current wild horse management policy. Why? Because the Free Roaming Wild Horse and Burro Act of 1971, one of America’s truly ecological laws, is being grossly abused and violated by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service. Further, I feel very strongly that horses are living symbols of our national heritage. They worked very hard to build America and deserve co-patriot status - which they had in 1971. But politics and greed have stolen that away and along with it, the will of America. Whereas cattle are destructive to the land, horses truly enhance the ecosystem. Craig Downer, wildlife ecologist, and a member of the American Society of Mammalogists explains it this way, “Due to its unique digestive system, the horse greatly aids in the building up of the absorptive, nutrient-rich humus component of soils. This, in turn, helps the soil absorb and retain water upon which many diverse plants and animals depend. Since the horse's digestive system does not thoroughly degrade the vegetation it eats, many diverse seeds pass through its stomach undegraded and able to germinate in its fertile droppings. This is a beautiful example of mutualism among animals and plants; and, in the horse's case, it has been established over literally millions of years upon the North American continent. In this way, the wild horses are of great value in reducing the dry inflamable vegetation, or fuel load, in the West, thus preventing catastrophic fires. The fact that they are also able to wander much farther from water sources than many ruminant grazers makes them even more valuable to the world today as fire preventers.” Because of the indisputable fact that horses are a positive force for the environment I feel my tax dollars are better spent on an In-The-Wild management program that’s not based on removal. Why? Because I believe healthy herds of wild horses and burros can successfully protect and support the multi billion dollar outdoor industry - a viable industry currently threatened by the extractive industries (gas, oil, mining) and an industry that can keep America employed for centuries to come. As a tax paying citizen, I demand a moratorium on all round-ups until actual numbers of wild horses on public lands have been assessed by reputable groups independent of the government. Sincerely, Darynne J., California *** To whom it may concern: I am extremely distressed about the current plan to decimate even further the protected lands available to America's wild horses. The fact that this is partly being done to open up more destructive oil drilling is unconscionable. The fact that it is partly being done to offer subsidized grazing to some cattlemen is not only unconscionable, but also discriminatory against Eastern cattlemen who must pay for grazing land. I am surprised they are not in Washington, screaming for equal treatment. I certainly object to this use of my tax dollars. My children have been taught in school that preserving an ecological system means preserving the entire biome. If the balance of nature is upset, the system can fail. By opening public lands to a variety of grazing animals, such as horses, cattle, bison and antelope, the balance of nature is preserved and the system can survive. Cattle, bison and antelope eat different types of vegetation, allowing all to survive. By tipping the balance in favor of beef cattle, certain types of vegetation become overgrazed and the remaining types can take over - or, worse, die off. What this means is that we are setting ourselves up for another dustbowl such as we experienced in the Great Depression. Horses reseed the land. Because they are not ruminants, like cattle, the seeds they eat pass through their gastrointestinal tract and are still viable and protected in manure piles, ready to germinate in the spring and keep the balance of nature in place while protecting against erosion — as well as providing vegetation for the next year's food supply. By removing all the horses, we are upsetting the balance of nature — and at great cost to the taxpayer. Even if all the horses were adoptable, it would seem they would be of more value to us preserving our land than being "adopted," no matter how loving and capable the new family. There has been some argument about the place of horses in North America. However, the fossil record tells us that horses actually evolved on this continent. It would be wonderful if we could manage not to make our horses in the wild extinct. We could look to the Spix's Macaw for an example of what happens when we abdicate our responsibility to the creatures whose land we have usurped. Lastly, from a different perspective, I hope you have taken some time to visit places where wild horses are available to people, such as on the barrier islands on the East Coast. You will discover that people place much value on the ability to see these animals in their natural habitat. If asked, most of them would list the wild horses as a national treasure. And it is worth some effort to keep our national treasures, at least in my mind. Thank you for your attention to this lengthy letter. Amy H., Georgia * * * I am appalled and deeply saddened that the slaughter of wild mustangs and burros has been allowed. People are destroying our heritage on a daily basis. We need to put an end to this. Did you know that the Burns Amendment to the 1971 Act will lead to the slaughter of this beloved part of our national heritage to supply horsemeat for human consumption abroad? Why weren’t we told about the Burns Amendment, why didn’t we get a chance to voice our opinions and concerns? Instead they slipped it in because they knew it would never have passed if the public got involved. Did we forget that horses and burros helped our ancestors to settle this country, farm the land and took part in our nation’s wars? Just because we now drive automobiles doesn’t give us the right to destroy something that was once depended on for survival and is now part of American history. If it weren’t for these powerful creatures, where would we be today? It seems clear to me that this is about greed. Keep the private cattle enterprise on private land; leave the public land for the wild horses and burros that are not as harmful to the land as cattle. They actually help spread seeds and fertilizer for future plants (their own food). How would you explain to our future generations why the Mustang became extinct – GREED? I implore a moratorium on round-ups until actual numbers of wild horses on public lands have been assessed. After all, isn’t this America – LAND OF THE FREE? Tamara F. *** Our country has gone through many difficult passages in the last several years, and sometimes it feels as if we're not in control of our foundation while the world shifts and shakes and security seems fleeting. We can, however, preserve certain traditions and foundations that made this country the great country it is. How can it be that a law that was enacted with major popular support can be quietly subverted without a hearing or the opportunity for public review? I would like a say in how my tax dollars are spent, and I feel a humane management program for these wild horses would be a much better use of my money than slaughter and removal. I would encourage you to consider this issue carefully, as making a mistake in judgment when it comes to animal preservation is one that cannot be rectified at a later date such as a budget issue can. It would be much better at this juncture to take a conservative approach and evaluate all our options carefully. I would also encourage you to find the strength and courage it takes to do what is right despite party influences and pressure from peers. Please consider carefully the impact of purging this part of our country's history, as wild horses are a natural resource that can never be reclaimed once they are gone. I hope you will make the decision that won’t further corporate business interests on this matter, but instead will establish a trend showing the world that we still know where our roots are and we know how to take care of our country and all the wealth of resources it offers. Thank you for your consideration. I will be sure to follow your and our other Washington legislators’ decisions on this matter. Nancy E., WA *** Every day, a part of our nation’s heritage is being destroyed. Wild horses and burros are slaughtered inhumanely due to faulty estimates of their numbers, though the true population is unknown. Although it is up to you to decide what to recommend to the Senate, I suggest a suspension of round-ups until an independent assessment of the wild horse population on public lands has been completed. Until then, the Burns Amendment to the 1971 Act will allow the slaughter of an embodiment of our national heritage to continue. It is a discouraging thought that such an amendment could be passed without the consent of the public, or without even being submitted for public review. I strongly advocate a management program that is not based on removal, rather than spending our tax dollars on destroying these beautiful monuments to American freedom. Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter. I would appreciate hearing from you in regard to how you intend to address this issue. Sincerely, Stacey C., Seattle, WA *** I want my tax dollars to be spent on an in-the-wild management program which is not accompanied by a removal of wild horses. I want a moratorium called on all wild horse round-ups by the Bureau of Land Management until a thorough assessment has been made of wild horses on public lands. I respectfully request a response from you addressing these issues and stating what your intended action plan would be. Sincerely, Gail C., Easton, MD *** My name is Shannon S___________, and I am a seventeen-year-old junior at ___________ High School in Middletown, Ohio. Like all little girls, I grew up loving horses, and with the support of my parents, this love has grown into my passion. I have had my own horse, Aschella, for three years now, and she shows me everyday what unique, brilliant, and beautiful animals horses truly are. Thus, when news reached me of this amendment, one which would provide for the destruction of these magnificent creatures, I was horrified. Wild horses have served as a symbol of freedom and power to Americans for centuries, and the people’s loyalty to them was clearly visible in the outcry which resulted in the Free-Roaming Wild Horse & Burro Act thirty years ago, an uproar unsurpassed by any save that raised over the Vietnam War. Over the past 100 years, our wild horse populations have steadily declined from over two million to less than 35,000. Still, the round-ups continue at great costs to taxpayers. It is my understanding that an in-the-wild management program not based on removal, such as that used to control the herds of Assateague Island in Maryland, would save millions of our tax dollars annually. It would also reflect the will of the American people by preserving free-roaming herds on public lands for generations to come. I urge you to actively support:
I respectfully request a response from you addressing these issues and stating what your intended action plan would be. Thank you, Shannon S., Springboro, OH
I am writing to protest the recent rider stealthily proposed by Senator Burns to the 2005 Appropriations Bill, which acts as an amendment to the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act. I would further like to see a Congressional investigation into the wild horse management practices currently in place, and the remaining numbers of wild horses on our public lands. I feel that the will of the people was followed in 1971 when the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act was enacted, and that this rider is not only contrary to that will, but also a subversion of the democratic process. A change such as this should have had public hearings before a vote was taken. The 1971 law was enacted without a dissenting vote and as the result of a greater public outcry than over any issue except the War in Vietnam. The Burns Amendment will lead to the slaughter of one of our national symbols and, more importantly, of one of our national treasures. This slaughter would provide horsemeat for consumption by humans abroad, but in developed countries that are not deprived of food. Furthermore, the ecological balance of our western states will be endangered by changing the balance of species there, especially since the species being limited is the one grazing species most active in reseeding the land. Removing large numbers of these animals will result in the depletion of the gene pool which is now smaller than it has ever been (less than 25, 000 horses where there were once over two million, supported by our lands.) It seems clear that this removal is aimed at providing more public land for the use of private cattle enterprises. I am emphatically against this. I am surprised that the Eastern cattlemen, who must purchase the land on which to graze their livestock, and pay taxes on it, are not protesting more loudly. That said, I would venture to guess that there are numerous American citizens who would be willing to support the grazing of one or more of our glorious wild horses on public lands at the cost of less than $1.50 per month now paid per head by these cattlemen; I would certainly do it. Before “renting out” our public lands, I think the public should be able to express its desires for the lands. Private enterprises such as the cattle industry should not exert undue influence on our legislators and their decisions while the will of the public is ignored. Please call for a moratorium on the wild horse round-ups and sales until an accurate assessment of the current numbers and management practices of wild horses can be made. I believe my tax dollars can be better spent on an effective in-the-wild management program than on removing the horses to slaughter. It is my understanding that an in-the-wild management program would save millions of tax dollars every year. The current management plan does not seem to be effective and may need adjustment. If you have not done so, I would recommend you read Hope Ryden’s book, America’s Last Wild Horses. I will look forward to hearing how you intend to address these issues and reinstate federal protection for America’s wild horse herds. Thank you for your attention.
I am writing to express my terrible distress over the passage of Section 142 (SALE OF WILD FREE-ROAMING HORSES AND BURROS), attached to the Omnibus Appropriations bill. The fact that it was attached right before Thanksgiving, giving no opportunity for review or discussion, is most disconcerting. The 1971
Free-Roaming Wild Horse and Burro Act protecting these animals called
them a living symbol of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West, an
important part of our history, and recognized their importance to diversity
of life forms in this nation. As a resident of New Jersey, I have little
contact with wild horses and burros, but I am truly It is my hope that you will support a Congressional hearing on the government's current wild horse management policy. There should be a review of scientific findings that contradict the Bureau of Land Management's claims of wild horse overpopulation and negative impact on the range. Round-ups of wild horses should be stopped until there can be an independent assessment of the actual numbers of wild horses and burros on public lands. The Herd Management Areas designated by the 1971 Act should be restored, and an in-the-wild management program should be implemented. Tamar B., NJ *** This letter does not simply urge you, it begs you, to repeal the recent amendment to the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act (Section 142 of the 2005 Appropriations Bill) that allows the sale of wild horses to slaughter. Can you really live with such a decision as to take the lives of these living symbols of our national heritage? Errors made in the past can be corrected not by slaughter, but by a proper in-the-wild management program. As Dr. Seuss would so aptly put it: I am the
Lorax who speaks for the horses It is left to a few Americans like yourself to make the decisions for all of us. Please consider a wiser use of our tax dollars to help manage rather than slaughter. Please think not of a few cattlemen but future generations of Americans who will appreciate that you did the right thing. Sincerely, Ann W.
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