(Reno, NV) Federal Judge Miranda Du issued an emergency restraining order in a legal action filed in Reno Federal District Court against conduct at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) wild horse roundup operation in northern Nevada.
The order states: Defendants shall immediately cease cease and halt all wild horse gathers at the Owyhee Complex, including the one currently ongoing at the Owyhee HMA, and the BLM shall not transport horses from the Owyhee HMA, until the court has had an opportunity to hear this matter.
The case was filed on behalf of Laura Leigh, founder of Wild Horse Education, by attorney Gordon Cowan of Reno.
“To protect America’s wild horses from inhumane conduct represents significant public interest” said Cowan, “as an attorney I am gratified to pursue that interest.”
Over the course of the last two years BLM has been making claims that a policy will be in place or creating operation “memorandums” that are ignored in practice. After a Restraining Order gained by WHE in August of 2011, after a pilot apparently hit a horse with the helicopter skids, BLM did an internal revue that revealed a host of inappropriate conduct. That case is still active in Federal Court with hearings expected early this year.
“I have tried everything I can think of to have a reasonable conversation about addressing these serious issues and the requests are ignored or dismissed,” stated Leigh “It is literal agony watching what I can only classify as a callous disregard for basic welfare go ignored. I felt there was no option but to file further litigation as I have every expectation the conduct will continue at Owyhee for the next decade.”
At the Owyhee Complex roundup operation that began on November 26, Leigh continued to witness offensive conduct. In court documents Leigh states that inappropriate conduct was observed repeatedly including: routine use of electric cattle prods, wild horses driven through barbed wire, operations in sub-freezing temperatures. In one instance wild horses were documented being driven into a barbed wire fence and four animals became entangled, two literally crashing onto their heads.
“I can tell you that the effort to obtain the documentation and craft these cases is monumental,” Leigh stated “It really does seem insane to have to fight for a humane care standard with an agency tasked by Congress to manage animals humanely. That said, I will sleep better tonight knowing the wild horses at Owyhee are not being stampeded this weekend.”
note: Cowan and Leigh have gained four TRO’s, one Injunction and a landmark Ninth Circuit Decision on wild horse issues. The organization, Wild Horse Education, currently carries three active legal actions (two to inhumane conduct issues) in Federal Court.
The order states: Defendants shall immediately cease cease and halt all wild horse gathers at the Owyhee Complex, including the one currently ongoing at the Owyhee HMA, and the BLM shall not transport horses from the Owyhee HMA, until the court has had an opportunity to hear this matter.
The case was filed on behalf of Laura Leigh, founder of Wild Horse Education, by attorney Gordon Cowan of Reno.
“To protect America’s wild horses from inhumane conduct represents significant public interest” said Cowan, “as an attorney I am gratified to pursue that interest.”
Over the course of the last two years BLM has been making claims that a policy will be in place or creating operation “memorandums” that are ignored in practice. After a Restraining Order gained by WHE in August of 2011, after a pilot apparently hit a horse with the helicopter skids, BLM did an internal revue that revealed a host of inappropriate conduct. That case is still active in Federal Court with hearings expected early this year.
“I have tried everything I can think of to have a reasonable conversation about addressing these serious issues and the requests are ignored or dismissed,” stated Leigh “It is literal agony watching what I can only classify as a callous disregard for basic welfare go ignored. I felt there was no option but to file further litigation as I have every expectation the conduct will continue at Owyhee for the next decade.”
At the Owyhee Complex roundup operation that began on November 26, Leigh continued to witness offensive conduct. In court documents Leigh states that inappropriate conduct was observed repeatedly including: routine use of electric cattle prods, wild horses driven through barbed wire, operations in sub-freezing temperatures. In one instance wild horses were documented being driven into a barbed wire fence and four animals became entangled, two literally crashing onto their heads.
“I can tell you that the effort to obtain the documentation and craft these cases is monumental,” Leigh stated “It really does seem insane to have to fight for a humane care standard with an agency tasked by Congress to manage animals humanely. That said, I will sleep better tonight knowing the wild horses at Owyhee are not being stampeded this weekend.”
note: Cowan and Leigh have gained four TRO’s, one Injunction and a landmark Ninth Circuit Decision on wild horse issues. The organization, Wild Horse Education, currently carries three active legal actions (two to inhumane conduct issues) in Federal Court.