Dorian & Xanadu

The Kaufman 15

Eight-year-old Dorian was rounded up from Clan Alpine, Nevada in 2023. Five-year-old Xanadu was born in holding after her mother was rounded up from Goshute. They were kept at the BLM’s Palomino Valley holding facility outside Reno until February 2026. Along with eleven other mares and two geldings, they were shipped to an adoption event in Livingston, Texas. The paperwork shows they were purchased SA on February 28th by two couples from Pollock, Texas, who drove the animals directly to Last Chance Direct Ship Horses in Kaufman, where they posted for sale at a mark up of $700 each. They were part of the group that came to be known as the “Kaufman 15”. Their story was picked up by KLAS Las Vegas.

Each buyer signed a sales contract under penalty of federal law that they agreed to the conditions stated on the BLM’s Bill of Sale. They certified that they would not do exactly what they did hours later: give away, sell, or resell the animals to any person or organization that will sell them for commercial slaughter. We reported these four individuals and demanded that the BLM seize the mustangs back from the pen to prevent shipment. Our complaint was ignored.

Thanks to tremendous donor support, we are taking Dorian and Xanadu, but have enough funds to donate to other rescues who saved four of them. That left the “Kaufman 9” without homes. When the BLM failed to act and they were just days from shipping, some fantastic contacts stepped in. An amazing donor helped us bail them all to secure their safety. A wonderful trainer in the Midwest agreed to work with them. Instead of loading on to a trailer to Mexico, they boarded their ride to Kentucky. Domestication will give these young, healthy horses a chance at a good life with a safety net of sanctuary, if any cannot be trained. 

Dorian and Xanadu are fiery red mustangs, who represent the Chinese Year of the Fire Horse, as well as the Sale Authority emergency burning hot around wild horses. Xanadu was named for the idyllic paradise, where she will dwell in peace for the rest of her life. Dorian is named for John “J.D.” Dorian, the narrator and main character of the Scrubs series played by Zach Braff. His rescue coincided with Zach joining our brand new Wild Ambassadors. 

#skydogdorian  #skydogxanadu

American 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 two Senators to urge them to support these bills. 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

Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act of 2025 (H.R.1661 in the House and S.775 in the Senate). This bill would amend the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, commonly known as the “Farm Bill”. There are several important provisions for animals in that omnibus federal law, including the Cat and Dog Meat Trade Prohibition Act. It is currently illegal to slaughter, transport, possess, purchase, sell, or donate dogs and cats, or their parts, for human consumption. The SAFE Act would extend the ban to equines and 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. 4356) The bill would eliminate the use of helicopters in rounding up wild horses and burros, and require a study into alternative methods for humanely gathering the animals.

Ejiao Act of 2025 (H.R. 5544). 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.

See our How to Help menu for other actions to ban zebra hunting at canned hunt ranches in Texas & Oklahoma, bringing an end to the BLM using Sale Authority to funnel wild equines into the slaughter pipeline, and stopping production of Premarin & other drugs made from pregnant mare urine.