Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01), a member of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, was joined by Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) in sending a letter to Secretary Deb Haaland expressing concerns about recent reports of wild horses suffering from mysterious respiratory and neurological illnesses in Bureau of Land Management (BLM) facilities. To date 127 horses have died as a result. 

“According to a preliminary investigation by BLM, wild horses at the Cañon City facility have experienced difficulties, including nasal discharge, coughing, hypoxia, and other respiratory difficulties,” the Members wrote. “We urge the BLM to investigate the relationship between facility conditions and recent outbreaks, and consider halting further roundups until the safety of wild horses and burros can be guaranteed, both during the roundups and while they are corralled.” 

Background 

Congresswoman Titus has a long history of fighting for animal welfare in Congress. In February, she introduced the Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act of 2022 which would help advance BLM’s directive to humanely capture horses and provide a significant savings to taxpayers by ending the use of helicopters in BLM wild horse gathers. Just last month, she also co-led a letter with Rep. Cohen to the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies requesting $11 million for immunocontraceptive vaccines and an investigation into the Adoption Incentive Program to prevent the further abuse and slaughter of wild horses. 

Congresswoman Titus will continue to defend these iconic denizens of the Wild West. 

Read today’s full letter here. 

###