The Humane Society of the United States and The Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust commends Daniel G. Bogden, United States Attorney for the District of Nevada, along with a host of federal and state law enforcement officials for their diligent efforts to apprehend and charge two suspects with killing a band of six federally protected wild horses found in northern Washoe County, Nevada, in early December. On Wednesday, two Pershing County men - Todd Davis, 44, and Joshua Keathley, 36, both of Lovelock, – were charged with the malicious harassment and death of five wild free-roaming horses by shooting them.

 

The Case: A Bureau of Land Management press release and news reports give the following account: On Dec. 5, 2009, a helicopter crew conducting a wild-horse gather saw five mustang carcasses in one area and a sixth, dead mustang about a half-mile away from the others. BLM officials from the Surprise Field Office in Cedarville, Calif., recognized the dead mustangs as belonging to a clan of horses known to roam the Buckhorn Herd Management Area. In January 2010, The HSUS added $2,500 to the $10,000 reward the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) initially offered for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for killing a band of six wild horses in the hopes that the substantial increase would encourage those with information to come forward.

 

“The Humane Society of the United States applauds the BLM and the other cooperating agencies for their tireless efforts to bring the perpetrators responsible for this heinous crime to justice,” said Beverlee McGrath, the HSUS’ Nevada state director.

Federal/State Wild Horse Protection Laws: The federal Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 mandates the BLM to protect and manage wild horses in the United States. In addition, under state regulations adopted by the Nevada Commission for the Preservation of Wild Horses, “A person who willfully and maliciously kills a wild horse is guilty of a category C felony (NRS 504.490 Unlawful acts) (Added to NRS by 1985, 1889; A 1999, 2516)

 

The Investigators: The BLM’s Office of Law Enforcement and Security California State Office in Redding, Calif., conducted the investigation in cooperation with the Lovelock Police Department, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, the Washoe County Forensic Services Division, the Nevada Department of Wildlife, and the California Department of Fish and Game. The Humane Society of the United States and the State of Nevada Commission for the Preservation of Wild Horses also contributed to the investigation.

 

The HSUS works to stop wildlife abuse and animal cruelty across the country. Visit humanesociety.org/wildlifeabuse for more information.