BELLA

When we were set the video of Barnaby and Bella, being led around at the kill pen, we knew we had to do something. While Bella wasn’t a mustang, we were sure Barnaby wasn’t going to leave her behind. So we saved them both and they called to each other all the way through the process. Bella is most like a quarter horse but she also had been worked hard and starved. She’s an unpredictable mare who likes to swing her butt but has never kicked. She just seems very defensive and worried about what people are going to do to her, especially when she is haltered. We got her feet trimmed and she has put on a great amount of weight. We know she flew under the radar but for all the brown horses out there who don’t get as much attention, we would love to get her a sponsor so she has her own person to love her. “Bella” means beautiful - and she is.

Bella has not left Barnaby’s side since they both were moved to our Malibu, CA ranch for extra care. She’s actually a stunning mare when she runs and I never noticed before how divine this dark bay mare is with the cross on the forehead, which was symbolic as we rescued her last Easter. Love that you find late in life is so special and I think these two are going to just retire side by side after a lifetime of work and service. How sad that they ended up dumped once they couldn’t work hard or cost too much to feed, but it’s just another day in paradise here in Malibu and we couldn’t be happier to add another old couple to the herd. Bella had a bath today to wash off all the mud and dirt and looks like a shiny new horse and ten years younger. Barnaby is a handsome fellow who is acting like he won the lottery. #skydogbella

Mustangs and Burros Need Your Help

In addition to supporting our work by donating, becoming a patron on Patreon, or sponsoring a Skydog, there are several important pieces of legislation to protect American equines currently moving through Congress. It only takes a few minutes to contact your Rep and Senators and urge them to support these bills:

Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act of 2023 (H.R. 3475 in the House / S.2307 in the Senate). This bill will shut down the slaughter pipeline that sends some 20,000 American horses and donkeys to savagely monstrous deaths in foreign slaughterhouses every year.

The Wild Horse & Burro Protection Act of 2023 (H. R. 3656) This bill will prohibit the use of helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft in the management of wild mustangs and burros on public lands, and require a report on humane alternatives to current management practices.

Ejiao Act of 2023 (H.R. 6021). To ​​ban the sale or transportation of ejiao, a gelatin made from boiling donkey skins, or products containing ejiao in interstate or foreign commerce, which brutally kills millions of donkeys primarily for beauty products and Chinese medicine.

You can Contact Members of Congress by calling the Capitol Switchboard (202) 224-3121‬, submitting contact forms on their individual websites, or sending one email to all three simultaneously at www.democracy.io

See our How to Help menu for other actions to ban zebra hunting at US canned hunt ranches, stop production of Premarin & other PMU drugs, and defund the Adoption Incentive Program.