Davis, California (September 29, 2023)... The American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) mourns the loss of U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, a stalwart champion for America's equines and a pioneering female leader whose legacy will endure in California and across the nation.
With Senator Feinstein's passing, animals - particularly our cherished horses and burros - have lost a formidable advocate for their welfare.
"I am deeply saddened by the passing of a distinguished Senator with an unwavering dedication to a multitude of causes, including her passionate advocacy for the safeguarding of wild horses, a passion rooted in her lifelong love for these majestic creatures," said Ellie Phipps Price, President of the AWHC Board of Directors. "The Senator's enduring connection with horses from her youth fueled her commitment to justice and equity in the government's handling of America's wild equines."
Senator Feinstein, who described herself as a "lifelong lover of horses," was a strong ally in our efforts to improve the treatment of America's federally-protected wild horses and burros. She consistently championed AWHC initiatives through her unwavering support for appropriations language that prohibited the slaughter of wild horses and burros while demanding substantive reforms within the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro Program.
In recent years, she also joined us in calling for a suspension of the BLM’s Adoption Incentive program and a complete investigation “to ensure federal funds are used to protect wild horses and burros against abuse, neglect, or slaughter, as intended by Congress.” She further wrote to the U.S. Forest Service with concerns about the roundup of California wild horses from the Devil’s Garden Wild Horse Territory and their potential sale for slaughter.
Senator Feinstein was a steadfast voice against horse slaughter and the mistreatment of horses within the racing industry as well. AWHC expresses our gratitude for the Senator’s contributions to our cause and our deepest sympathies to her family and staff during this difficult time.
About the American Wild Horse Campaign
The American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) is the nation’s leading wild horse protection organization, with more than 700,000 supporters and followers nationwide. AWHC is dedicated to preserving the American wild horse and burros in viable, free-roaming herds for generations to come, as part of our national heritage.
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