SAVE Havasupai Horses
June 9 · *** Another Eyewitness Account of Abuse in Havasupai****
Hiker A.A was also there May 23-26, 2024. This hiker has also reported to the BIA and tribal animal control.
After reading PLEASE SEND A GROUP EMAIL to the ALL of following demanding action: ( copy and paste these emails)
htchair@havasupai-nsn.gov, htvchair@havasupai-nsn.gov, Htacontrol@havasupai-nsn.gov, exsec@ios.doi.gov, thomas.smart@bia.gov, Darryl.lacounte@bia.gov, Joel.chino@bia.gov, engage@az.gov
“On the hike down we encountered a few groups of horses heading to the top with bags. The horses all avoided eye contact, hung their heads down and looked miserable. They were super dirty and looked like they had sores and scars all over them. Each group had a local riding a horse at the back. All except one younger person was whipping the horses and yelling to keep moving. The first man started to yell at one of our group members for videoing the horses and made him delete the video (which we later recovered).
The horses were all tied together, with no room to really move. The nose of the behind horse was literally an inch from the in front one’s butt. We even saw horses trying to stop walking and being dragged along (still standing) by the group.
While in camp multiple dogs came through scavenging for food scraps. These poor dogs looked grossly, underfed, dirty, and you could tell they had bugs or fleas of some kind. These dogs have never gotten proper veterinary care, and they looked so sad and miserable. When I tried to approach the dogs, they would hit the deck, obviously preparing for the abuse that they’re used to receiving from humans. When we would try to call them over to give them food, they would divert their eyes and try to hide. These dogs have probably never lived a day without fear and abuse.
On Sunday 5/26 I was walking into the village and encountered a group bringing bags down to camp. The horses looked ill. One horse was desperately trying to stop walking. They had a younger horse they were trying to “break”. The rider was nonstop whipping the horse as it fought him and was trying to buck. The horse came at me twice and tried to bite me. They had no control over it and if I wouldn’t have jumped into the bushes, I would’ve gotten very hurt! I also called out to the riders that two horses were struggling and they ignored me.
On the way I walked past multiple homes that had dogs tied up, in direct sun with no water. I encountered a few children carrying around puppies in doll clothes and throwing the poor babies around like they weren’t living beings.
When I got to the village, I could’ve cried. All the houses have dogs and horses tied to poles with less than 6ft of rope. They have no shade from the sun and some weren’t even by a water source! I tried to take a picture of some horses that were flesh and bones but the locals started yelling at me and making me feel very unsafe since I was alone.
When I got to the cafe area in the village, I was appalled. There are homeless dogs wandering everywhere. They are all dirty and way too thin. Their fur is lacking shine which is sign of neglect. They also won’t make eye contact or approach humans which is another sign of abuse. The dogs also all lay on the ground and divert their eyes as soon as locals spot them.
I was sitting on the cafe steps with 3 puppies sleeping on the ground in front of me. Two children came out of the cafe and the little boy walked across one puppies ribs and then when the puppy tried to be pet he smacked the dog across the face with his tablet! I audibly gasped at this and the parents said and I quote “don’t do that when THEY’RE around”… obviously they have no respect for animals lives. Then while sitting across from the helicopter landing, I watched time and time again as locals yelled at dogs, kicked them, threw sticks and just bullied the poor animals! None of them are spayed/neutered and you can tell they all have had litters. The dogs are so unsafe and not cared for. Some dogs I saw trying to hunt for scrapes in the trash and would be chased away. It’s digesting treatment of living animals!
I wanted to take some dogs with me but I felt so unsafe around the locals. The elders gave off a cruel and controlling vibe. Multiple people asked me in disgust, as to why I was waiting so long in the village and kept looking over my shoulder to make sure I wasn’t taking photos. I’ve rescued dogs before and this was such a blatantly obvious case of neglect and abuse. The locals have no respect or concern for the lives or safety of any of the animals there. They see the visitors as a paycheck and nothing else. They don’t use any of that money to help their animals or give them even a shred of a quality life. These animals need help! “ See less
