U.S. judge bars slaughter of Nevada horse in tribal roundup

RENO — A federal judge has granted a Northern Nevada woman’s request for a court order to protect her horse after she says it was stolen during a tribal roundup and fears it could be headed for the slaughterhouse.

U.S. District Court Judge Miranda Du issued a temporary restraining order in Reno on Thursday forbidding the slaughter of the horse named “Lady” owned by Colleen Westlake of neighboring Sparks.

Westlake and the American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign filed a lawsuit against the Nevada Department of Agriculture, Pyramid Lake Paiute Indian Tribe and others on Wednesday seeking to protect “Lady” and other horses gathered during a roundup on Jan. 4 in the Palomino Valley area north of Reno and south of Pyramid Lake.

Du’s order only directly affects Westlake’s horse. She said she’ll address any others at a hearing Jan. 28.