With public outrage mounting over BLM's plans to EXPERIMENT on captive PREGNANT mustangs through STERILIZATION and DRUGS (http://protectmustangs.org/?p=8657) WHY is a non profit "advocacy group" tucking in that the signor of their letter is supporting PZP--especially when wild horses are underpopulated on public land? At least one of the $11 million grant recipients is for an EXPERIMENT with a stronger form of PZP. Read about experiment #6 here: http://protectmustangs.org/?p=8657 It says: "Recipient: Ohio State University Summary: A four-year experiment that will attempt to develop a new delivery vehicle for porcine zona pellucida (PZP) – a temporary contraceptive currently used in some wild horse herds – that would increase the duration of the vaccine’s effectiveness. Details: To reduce population on public lands, horse immunocontraception has largely focused on the use of PZP in free-roaming wild populations. The vaccine appears to act by stimulating anti-PZP antibodies that bind to the surface of the ovulated egg, preventing sperm attachment. While performance has been satisfactory, recent results have been associated with contraceptive efficiencies that are considerably less than 100%. The basis for this is unknown but is believed to be in part caused by delivery methods that require substantial heating during polymer vehicle fabrication, expose PZP to enzymatic fluids prior to entry into the bloodstream and allow gradual – not burst – release. Gradual release can potentially desensitize the immune system to the presence of PZP, resulting in inferior production of anti-PZP antibodies. Thus, an ideal delivery method would allow release of PZP in “bursts” at pre-determined intervals to assure constant immune stimulation. This project will seek to develop an electrospun technology that can allow long-term, ‘burst’ delivery of porcine zona pellucida (PZP) vaccines to the intramuscular environment of horses and burros to result in prolonged suppression of reproduction. For large-scale application, free roaming horses could be gathered in the field and processed through stock chutes for aging, at which time the implants will be inserted by trocar. The experiment will also carry out parallel in vitro and in vivo experiments to examine the potential of electrospun vehicles as immunocontraceptive carriers. An electrospun “universal delivery vehicle” will be developed to provide sustained release of effective levels of porcine zona pellucida (PZP) for immunocontraception over periods of at least three years. By careful design, fabrication and testing of two different electrospun designs, the researchers will create a comprehensive evaluation of this novel method of delivery." How are they going to harass and abuse pregnant wild horses for this PZP experiment? Here is a FACT SHEET showing the dangers of PZP: http://protectmustangs.org/?p=8749 IMPORTANT: There is no justification for population control because America's wild horses are so underpopulated that they are facing BIG PROBLEMS due to reduced genetic viability. The BLM's adoption program is a flop because BLM has horrible customer service, marketing, etc. Do people read the whole letter they are signing and sharing? Here is a screenshot shared for educational purposes: https://www.facebook.com/ProtectMustangs/photos/a.240625045996522.58710.233633560029004/1022650451127307/?type=3&theater Here is the current list of the American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign coalition members: American Competitive Trail Horse Association American Horse Defense Fund American Humane Association American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) America's Wild Horse Advocates (AWHA)- Spring Mountain Alliance Animal Law Coalition Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) The Animals Voice Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary Center for Animal Protection and Education Central Oregon Wild Horse Coalition Children 4 Horses Cimarron Sky-Dog Reserve, Wild Horse Sanctuary The Cloud Foundation Corolla Wild Horse Fund DreamCatcher Wild Horse and Burro Sanctuary Equine Advocates Equine Sciences Academy Equine Tourism Equine Welfare Consulting Services Friends of A Legacy (FOAL) Front Range Equine Rescue H.O.O.F. Habitat for Horses Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection Fund & Adoption Center Horse of the Americas Horses For Life Foundation Horse Nation Horse Savers Humane Society of the United States In Defense of Animals (IDA) International Ecotourism Society International Fund for Horses Lockwood Animal Rescue Center Last Chance for Animals Lifesavers Wild Horse Rescue Mesteno Native Horse Preserve Monero Mustangs National Geographic Kids National Wild Horse Association National Wild Horse, Burro and Animal Sanctuary One Voice Photographers for the Preservation of Wild Horses Pine Nut Wild Horse Advocates Pregnant Mare Rescue Public Lands For Public Use Respect 4 Horses Return To Freedom, American Wild Horse Sanctuary (RTF) Salt River Wild Horse Management Group Sand Wash Basin Wild Horse Club Save American Horses Saving America's Mustangs Seraphim12 Foundation The Silva Project Steadfast Steeds Southern Sun Farm Sanctuary Students for Horses True Cowboy Magazine U.S. Public Interest Research Group The Wild Spirit Horse, Inc Whole Horse Symposium Wild Burro Rescue & Preservation Project Wild Hearts Horse Fund Wild Horse Observers Association Wild Horse Preservation League Wild Horse Spirit World Wildlife Foundation Now that you know what's really going on. You will realize the importance of writing your OWN letter, even if it is short, and sending it directly from your own email. Please send in your comments to BLM opposing the cruel sterilization experiments proposed for captive pregnant mares. The deadline is February 3rd and the information is here: http://protectmustangs.org/?p=8726 Next Call and Email your letter to the following: Oregon Governor Kate Brown Phone: 503/378-4582 Fax: 503/378-8970 Email: http://www.oregon.gov/gov/Pages/share-your-opinion.aspx Senior Senator Ron Wyden (the one who can stop this) tel (202) 224-5244 fax (202) 228-2717 https://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact BLM Oregon State Director Jerome E. Perez Phone: 503-808-6026 Email: BLM_OR_Prospecting_EA@blm.gov Please contact your elected officials and politely request they take immediate action on your behalf to stop the experiments on wild horses. You can find the contact information for your elected officials here: http://www.contactingthecongress.org Share this petition widely: https://www.change.org/p/defund-and-stop-the-wild-horse-burro-roundups Every captive wild horse and burro is at high risk! Together we can turn this around! With gratitude, Anne Anne Novak Volunteer Executive Director www.ProtectMustangs.org Mission: To protect and preserve native and wild horses