| Memo from Bobbi Royle Wild Horse Spirit, Ltd. (775) 883-5488; Fax 884-2333 e-mail: wildhorses@pyramid.net Update 2/22/99 SB 26 - About the Bill __________________ Update 2/16/99 We Need to Focus on Nevada SB 26 __________________ 1-08-99
Sunday afternoon, 12-27-98, Wild Horse Spirit
was contacted by Washoe County Animal Control regarding a report that a young horse was
shot & wounded around the Rattlesnake Mountain near the Reno area. Reportedly at least
two other horses were dead. We met with a Washoe Animal Control officer, a Washoe County
Sheriff & followed the person who reported the shootings into the Virginia Range
mountains east of Reno to the location. We weren’t prepared for what we finally saw.
As it turned out these were the first six of what now has evolved into at least 34 wild
horses shot & killed in this area. A holiday massacre.
The other five horses that were dead included a 5-6 month old stud colt that had been sprayed with a whitish material over the mouth, nose, eyes, genitals & rectal areas. The remaining horses were a nursing mare & her 6-7 month old filly & two stallions. Thanks to the Washoe County Officer Spratley, an excellent investigation began at that time while other authorities were notified. So far, we understand, the REWARD is an accumulative
$25,000 leading to the arrest & conviction of the person(s) responsible. Call Secret
Witness at (775) 322-4900, if you have any information about this crime. How can you help? Call elected officials to express your concern about what has happened & urge the continued investigation to make an arrest(s) & prosecution of those responsible & punished to the fullest extreme of the law. ALSO, urge re-introduction & passage of the Felony bill in the 1999 Nevada Legislature that makes it a "Felony for the intentional & unauthorized killing of a wild horse & burro on public lands AND to include this time, (estray) wild horses on private open ranges, which includes the Virginia Range (estray) wild horses". These are Wild Horse Annies’ horse progeny that started her on the long & gruesome journey that ended in passage of the 1971 Wild Horse & Burro Protection. Unfortunately, these horses as well as other wild horses were not included under the protection of the ACT. Nevada Senator Dina Titus (D-Las Vegas) has introduced & re-introduced the Felony bill since 1993, but Senator Dean Rhodes (R-Tuscarora) who is a public lands rancher has never allowed the bill off his desk. Senator Lawrence Jacobsen (R-Western District) who has advised people "to get their shot guns out" when wild horses come on their property, was also on this committee. Call Senator Titus from the south to give her support & urge her to re-introduce this bill in 1999. We also feel newly elected Congresswoman, Bonnie Parnell, will be supportive from the north. The seemingly intent of two Nevada Bills, SB 27
& SB 211, that passed during the 1997 Nevada legislature, was to get rid of wild
horses under the guise of "management". Removed from their rightful free-roaming
state. There is no provision in these laws that protect wild horses that remain
free-roaming. Certainly, if a horse is injured & needs vet attention to survive or a
horse that is in jeopardy, removal for their safety & protection is necessary &
adoption is an option. Passage of the Felony Bill is one of the most urgent issue for the
preservation & protection of Nevada’s wild horses. 1-10-99 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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