Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has a program specifically aimed at animal welfare for the wild horses and burros it manages, called the Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program (CAWP). Here's a breakdown of how it works and how it could be improved:
Current BLM CAWP:
Standards and Training: The program outlines standards for humane handling and care throughout an animal's journey, from on-range management to capture and holding facilities. It also includes training for BLM staff and contractors involved.
Monitoring and Assessment: The BLM has an assessment tool to evaluate adherence to these standards during capture operations. However, there have been criticisms regarding the transparency and effectiveness of these assessments.
Room for Improvement:
Transparency and Enforcement: Critics argue that the BLM hasn't fully implemented the program or enforced its standards consistently [5]. Formalizing the assessment process with independent oversight could increase transparency and accountability.
Population Control Methods: The focus on roundups to control populations raises welfare concerns. Organizations like The Humane Society advocate for prioritizing humane fertility control methods alongside targeted gathers in limited situations.
Potential Benefits of Formalization:
Stronger Protections: Formalizing the CAWP process with clear guidelines and independent oversight could ensure better welfare for wild horses and burros.
Public Trust: Increased transparency in assessments and enforcement could rebuild public trust in the BLM's management practices.
Alternative Solutions: A more formalized approach might encourage the BLM to prioritize non-lethal population management methods alongside gathers.
Overall, the BLM's CAWP has the potential to ensure humane treatment of wild horses and burros. By formalizing the program and its assessment process, the BLM could address concerns about transparency and effectiveness, leading to better welfare outcomes for the animals.
< link > to detailed suggestions by a wild horse advocate groupÂ