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# Saving the Wild Horses … In North Hollywood
October 22 2012
Written by Greg Nelson.
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ANIMAL RIGHTS - [**Last week’s column**](http://www.citywatchla.com/4box-left/3921-saving-the-wild-horses) generated an enormous response from CityWatch readers.
The column invited people to sign an online petition that asks the Secretary of the Interior to place an emergency stop to the sale, roundup, and removal of our nation’s remaining wild horses “until a humane and transparent management program is implemented that guarantees the safety of the American wild horses.”
The petition was posted on the Internet on October 4 with a goal of collecting 20,000 signatures. Nine days later the drive had 25,000 supporters. Now the number has pushed its way over 31,000.
There is still time to sign the petition before the October 31st deadline. [Just click on this link](http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/438/612/888/).
Another way to support the effort is to join to the fundraising event at North Hollywood’s Eclectic Wine Bar & Grille on Saturday, November 3. Yes, leaders of the campaign to save the wild horses are coming to the Valley.
Here’s all you need to know about [**the event**](http://www.returntofreedom.org/events/eclectic-wine-bar-grille-benefit).
It will include wine from the [**Beckmen Vineyard**](http://www.beckmenvineyards.com/) in the Santa Ynez Valley, music by [**Jacqueline Fuentes**](http://jacquelinefuentes.com/), and a raffle and silent auction featuring gift certificates, jewelry, and other items.
Among the “other items” will be moving wild horse photographs taken by [**Elissa Kline**](http://elissakline.com/).
The main focus of her work has been the Challis (Idaho) herd of horses that were saved by moving them to the Return to Freedom sanctuary in Lompoc.
A few numbers can help explain the plight of the wild horses.
The cost to the government to remove a single wild horse from public lands and process it is $5,000.
Private cattle out number wild horses on public lands 150 to 1, but public land grazing accounts for only 3% of our national beef production, and 1% of the total income and employment in the western states.
During the 19th century there were about two million wild horses in the West. Now there are less than 30,000 left on public lands, and 32,000 more in government holding pens.
I’ve told the organizers about the presence that equestrians have in some of our neighborhood councils, and they were very impressed.
*(Greg Nelson is a former general manager of the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment, was instrumental in the creation of the LA Neighborhood Council System, served as chief of staff for former LA City Councilman Joel Wachs … and occasionally writes for CityWatch. He can be reached at gregn213@cox.net)*
-cw
CityWatch
Vol 10 Issue 85
Pub: Oct 23, 2012
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