Success: Wild Horses Likely Spared From Experimental Surgeries

Target: Tony Frank, President and Chancellor of Colorado State University

Goal: Applaud university’s decision to cancel its deal with the U.S. government to perform dangerous and experimental surgeries on wild horses.

Wild horses will no longer be subjected to painful and experimental sterilization surgeries following Colorado State University’s decision to withdraw from this government-sponsored plan. After receiving substantial public outcry, including this petition on ForceChange, the university will no longer work with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to perform ovariectomies on wild mares living in the western United States.

Originally, Colorado State University (CSU) had intended to work with the federal government to round up nearly 100 female horses living in a large controlled herd and perform dangerous ovariectomies on them while the animals were still conscious. No anesthesia would have been available, given the fact that these wild animals cannot be easily handled, and there would also have been no post-operative care. The sterilizations would have been performed on pregnant mares as well, in the hopes of forcing the mothers to abort their foals.

CSU has made the right decision by listening to veterinarians and the public in pulling out of this grotesque plan. Forcing painful and dangerous surgeries on wild animals is no way to manage these horses. Sign the petition below and thank Colorado State University for breaking its deal with the BLM.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear President Frank,

I am writing to express my gratitude for your institution’s decision to withdraw from a plan to perform dangerous sterilization surgeries on wild horses. The BLM has previously attempted to convince various organizations to perform similar operations on these protected creatures, and thankfully they have been successfully challenged each time. We wish to applaud you for taking an ethical stance and acting to protect the welfare of the mares who would have been affected.

While managing wild horse populations is important to keep both these animals and the ecosystem healthy, doing so in a cruel and abusive manner is not acceptable. This barbaric proposal would have subjected dozens of female horses to painful and dangerous surgeries, without the use of anesthesia or any post-operative care. Thank you for deciding that such actions are not in line with the values that your institution represents and for choosing not to work with the government in using these innocent animals as test subjects.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: Dave Soldano