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Wild Horses Drag Pickens' Cash Away

T. Boone's wife adopts 30,000 mustangs, blocking euthanasia

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 18, 2008 11:16 AM CST

(Newser) – Some 2,000 wild horses of the American West were in danger of euthanasia—until billionaire T. Boone Pickens’ wife, Madeleine, stepped in and offered to adopt them and 28,000 of their closest friends, the Washington Post reports. The Bureau of Land Management holds the animals in pens, rounding up thousands each year to avoid a grazing shortage, but their numbers were growing too big to handle.

Under the Bush administration, the bureau’s horse holdings have more than tripled, reaching 30,088 as of June. Euthanasia is legal, but animal rights groups have fought it. And, meanwhile, the overpopulation problem has become “intractable,” says a lobbyist concerned about resources for cattle. The bureau’s deputy head is urging Congress to address the issue. Lawmakers have voiced opposition to euthanasia, he notes, “but the law says, 'You shall.'”

Madeleine Pickens has stepped in to adopt 30,000 wild horses.
Madeleine Pickens has stepped in to adopt 30,000 wild horses.   (Shutterstock)
A pilot rounds up wild horses from a herd management area due to a water shortage, Sunday, July 13, 2008, in Washoe County, Nev.
A pilot rounds up wild horses from a herd management area due to a water shortage, Sunday, July 13, 2008, in Washoe County, Nev.   (AP Photo/Brad Horn)
Madeleine Pickens and her husband, billionaire T. Boone Pickens.
Madeleine Pickens and her husband, billionaire T. Boone Pickens.   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
Guest
Nov 21, 2008 8:28 PM CST
I think the Pickens have a big heart to save these horses.
Guest
Nov 18, 2008 1:54 AM CST
Congratulations to the Pickens! Not only does he have credible energy ideas that Congress should seriously consider, he now saves the lives of 30,000 wild horses that our so-called 'representatives' in Congress can't seem to figure out what to do with. I guess in a perverse way the American people are 'lucky' Congress doesn't act since they would likely screw it up and turn it into a "worldwide horse health rescue plan" or some such stupid idea.
Guest
Nov 18, 2008 12:52 AM CST
Good for her,If ya got money,spend it for some good.Now,if she'd use some money to feed and take care of some children,that would even be better.

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