I think someone should make the BLM aware of the 1971 Wild Horse Annie Act which assured that the wild horses and burros would be allowed to roam BLM lands in freedom. And recently the SAFE Act banned the sale and transportation of equine animals to be butchered for their meat.

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I think we all suffer reverses at one time or another. Aside from those which are personal, many of us are saddened by man's cruelty to not only his fellow man -but to the animals at large. In this case, this morning I sadly read about the cruel exploitation of horses and mules rounded up on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) lands to be sold and butchered for their meat. This is in violation of the 1971 Wild Horse and Burro Act which Wild Horse Annie worked so hard to achieve. But what do cattle barons care about violating this Act? And even worse -neither does our government BLM (Bureau of Land Management).

For years now I have been receiving material re this from Diana Chontos, founder of the Wild Burro Rescue and Preservation Project. God bless her indefatigable work for these hunted horses and burros. She saves as many as she can.

I always marvel of what can only be described as a meat lust by so many people. Many of us growing up eating meat- abandoned this custom once we found out about the cruelty involved. I guess I will always wonder and be saddened that there are so many people yet who just don't seem to care- even when finding out about this cruelty.

Everyone has gifts, and for me, one of the most important ones I possess is compassion. Every day I thank God for this gift to me. I have not eaten meat since 1976, and gave up all dairy products as well since 1983. Some people may thank God for giving them intelligence. Some people may thank Him for giving them good looks. Some people may give thank for all the wealth He has helped them procure. And then there are people like me who thank God every day for giving them a compassionate heart.

Authors Bio:
I have been concerned about animal suffering ever since

I received my first puppy Peaches in 1975. She made me take a good look at the animal kingdom and I was shocked to see how badly we treat so many animals. At 77, I've been a vegan for the past 30 years and I thank God every day that I am. I am most disturbed at how little the Catholic Church and Christian churches generally give to concern re animal suffering in their ministry. I wrote to 350 bishops in 2001 and only 10-13 responded. I feel that the very least they can do is to instruct that the priests give one sermon a year on compassion to animals. I am still waiting for that sermon. I also belong to Catholic Concern for Animals - founded in England in 1929. (They are on the internet) I recently sent a sample copy of their bi-monthly publication called the ARK to the 8 Catholic bishops of Ohio. Only ONE kindly responded. Somehow we have to reach the Christian teaching magisterium. There is next to nothing re animal concerns and compassion for them. They basically believe that animals are the lesser of God's creation and that gives us the right to do anything we want to them. Way wrong. We need to change their mindsets. The animals are God's first and He expects us to treat them compassionately.