STARGAZER
Stargazer is a beautiful, young filly, who was taken under the wing of an esteemed elderly mare, Kamali, at the BLM Burns corrals. The final act of this fierce, but tired senior matriarch of South Steens was to make sure this filly was safe at Skydog before she allowed herself to pass into eternal sleep. Stargazer had been pointed out to us as she had special needs. She was cow hocked. Her back legs rubbed against each other causing her pain. Once Janelle gentled her to be handled by the vet, she received treatment and then a surgery at Bend Equine. The recovery time was hardest for her as her movements were restricted. When she was finally released into a pen, where Firefly welcomed her at the gate. With squeaks of delight she moved those legs in laps of joy with the rest of the band chasing after.
Eventually, we placed Stargazer and Curly Girl with the Golden Girls: Calypso, Chardonnay, and Cloud. Who better than these distinguished Queens of South Steens to give these youngsters some much needed guidance that Kamali would approve of? They were released onto 1200 acres where Blue Zeus and his family share space with a herd of long ears. After the ritual drama of first encounters, Nike welcomed the newcomers and is graciously overseeing their integration. Stargazer quickly made chums with Phoebe, but this is just the beginning. With Blue Zeus’ protective presence, she can play with his children surrounded by wonderful aunties to instruct her in the wild ways. Kamali smiles.
Helping Mustangs & Burros
In addition to supporting our work by donating, becoming a patron on Patreon, or sponsoring a Skydog, there are several important pieces of legislation to protect American equines currently moving through Congress. It only takes a few minutes to contact your Rep and Senators and urge them to support these bills:
Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act of 2023 (H.R. 3475 in the House / S.2307 in the Senate). This bill will shut down the slaughter pipeline that sends some 20,000 American horses and donkeys to savagely monstrous deaths in foreign slaughterhouses every year.
The Wild Horse & Burro Protection Act of 2023 (H. R. 3656) This bill will prohibit the use of helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft in the management of wild mustangs and burros on public lands, and require a report on humane alternatives to current management practices.
Ejiao Act of 2023 (H.R. 6021). To ban the sale or transportation of ejiao, a gelatin made from boiling donkey skins, or products containing ejiao in interstate or foreign commerce, which brutally kills millions of donkeys primarily for beauty products and Chinese medicine.
You can Contact Members of Congress by calling the Capitol Switchboard (202) 224-3121, submitting contact forms on their individual websites, or sending one email to all three simultaneously at www.democracy.io
See our How to Help menu for other actions to ban zebra hunting at US canned hunt ranches, stop production of Premarin & other PMU drugs, and defund the Adoption Incentive Program.