OUR CAMPAIGN TO ENSURE THE DASTARDLY RFP TO TRANSFER OWNERSHIP OF THE VIRGINIA RANGE HORSES TO AN UNKNOWN ORGANIZATION
CONTINUES
!!!!!!!
THANK YOU to all who submitted their letters, emails, FAXes, made phone calls, and provided social media comments!!!!
YOU SPOKE LOUD AND CLEAR FOR THE WILD ONES
WE ARE ALL VERY GRATEFUL
WE ARE ALSO A TEAM NOT TO BE UNDERESTIMATED!!!!!!
We received a response from Paul Anderson, Nevada Board of Agriculture Chair -
see above. It was expectedly short sighted and fell far short of addressing the concern voiced by all of you!!!!!!
RESCIND THE RFP NOW!!!!!!!
We're asking you to contact the Governor of Nevada once again!!!!!
Ask Brian Sandoval if this is the way he wants to be remembered?
"The Governor who gave Nevada's precious Virginia Range wild horses away to an unknown fate!!!!!"
Today we want to inundate Governor Sandoval's fax machine again! The fax is FREE and can be done right from your computer!
Or if you have access to a fax machine, print a letter and fax it yourself - even better!
Or stop into Foothill Feed & Mercantile at 1330 Geiger Grade (just passed the traffic circle) to sign a letter that will be faxed for you free!
We’ve given you a body of information you can use below - use your own words to fill in the {add your own words here} section of the letter. You can keep it short and to the point - in fact that’s best.
BUT PLEASE LET HIM KNOW THAT *YOU* want him to force his Board of Appointees to reverse their decision.
TELL HIM NOW!!!!
Here are some talking points again:
- as community and business members, we want to see the horses remain on the range under humane management and oppose any decision that could put them at risk
- the decision as it stands violates Nevada Revised Statutes, per NRS: Chapter 569
- the transfer would be cost prohibitive to taxpayers to implement under NRS: Chapter 569 if implemented as the law requires
- the Virginia Range wild horses are a draw for tourism dollars for our surrounding cities and towns, and a draw for incoming businesses
- it would be impossible for a non-profit organization to secure liability insurance to cover these horses who roam primarily privately owned tracts of land
2) Simply fill in your full name, email and phone number (including area code)
These faxes will go to Nevada Governor Sandoval’s Carson City office.
3) Copy and paste the letter outline below into the box for text. You do not have to attach a separate document. Type your personal comments into the body of the letter where it says {
add your own comments here}. Tell them what the Virginia Range horses mean to you, and pick any or all talking points from the list above to expand on in your own words.
Make sure you sign (type) YOUR name & address below “Sincerely,” at the bottom of the letter. This lets them know you are a human, not a robot or computer.
4) Type in the provided confirmation code.
5) Click "Send free fax now".
6) CHECK YOUR EMAIL and click the confirmation link for your fax to be sent.
DONE! EASY!!! THANK YOU!
As an alternative, you may also copy and print the letter out and send from your own fax machine if you have access.
March 11, 2018
Governor Brian Sandoval
101 N Carson Street
Carson City, NV 89701
Dear Governor Sandoval,
I remain opposed to the Nevada Board of Agriculture’s (Board) decision to transfer ownership of the Virginia Range wild horses and I ask you to intercede by telling the Board to rescind its decision and send the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) back to the table with local advocates to work out a humane Cooperative Management plan for the horses of the Virginia Range.
{
Add your own words here to tell Governor Sandoval that you want the Virginia Range wild horses to remain under state ownership, and managed humanely on the range. Tell him how it is important to you.
}
Despite your encouragement to open dialogue with advocates, the NDA, specifically Director Barbee, has thus far refused to come to the table. And the Board itself has rebuffed all communication from the public regarding this subject.
A united group of wild horse advocates stands firm in their opposition to the Board’s decision to transfer ownership of the nearly 3,000 Virginia Range wild horses to a nonprofit organization, and fully support Cooperative Management Agreements directly between local advocates and the NDA for the humane management of the Virginia Range herds. I ask you to compel the NDA to work with them directly.
Nevada Revised Statute Chapter 569 covers “Estrays and Feral Livestock” and how these animals are to be addressed. It:
·
defines these horses as property of the NDA, to which State laws apply
·
does not provide for the disposition of the horses as a herd, which is clearly the intent of the RFP
·
is very specific in defining the legal procedures required for the disposition of each individual horse – the cost of which the NDA, and the Nevada taxpayer, could never afford
·
does allow for the NDA to delegate management responsibilities through Cooperative Management Agreements, which is agreeable to all parties affected
It is unacceptable to me that the RFP put out by the NDA does not include any provisions that guarantee the future for the Virginia Range wild horses and provides no assurance that they:
·
can't be sold for slaughter
·
won't be completely removed from the Virginia Range
In brief, it appears the cost to the State to legally execute the RFP would be exorbitant, while it would cost little to no money to the NDA to re-engage in a Cooperative Management Agreement that has proven to increase public safety. Non-profits and local businesses have paid for the materials and installation of fencing, moved horses out of harm’s way, paid for diversionary feed, and paid for the entire fertility control program to help stabilize the population growth. Which do you think is the better option?
As you well know by now, the majority of our community, including local businesses like those at the TRIC, wants the Virginia Range horses to remain on the range, under a humane and safe management plan. And I feel the same!!!
Again, I am asking you to intercede in this situation by telling the Board to rescind its decision and force the NDA to return to the table for talks directly with local advocates regarding problem solving and re-establishing a humane, safe Cooperative Management Agreement to ensure public safety.
Sincerely,
(Name & Address)
ALTERNATIVE METHODS TO GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT!!!
SNAIL MAIL:
Mail your signed letter to Governor Brian Sandoval, 101 Carson Street, Carson City, NV 89701
EMAIL:
CALL:
You can also CALL the Governor's office and leave your polite, respectful comments – 775-684-5670.
FACEBOOK:
You can post your comment using @BrianSandoval
TWITTER:
You can tweet Governor Sandoval through twitter @govsandoval
Please remember to keep ALL comments, written or voiced, calm and respectful. Be matter of fact and stick to the point. We understand the frustration and emotion that goes with this issue, but we will get much further by staying calm, strong, united, and committed.
PLEASE ASK YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND CO-WORKERS TO EACH DO THE SAME! SHARE THIS NEWSLETTER!
We need to FLOOD the Governor's office! We have not given up and we NEVER will!!!
LET THE ROARING CONTINUE!!!!!!!!
