Colette was born on December 24, Christmas Eve. 

Join us in wishing Colette a Happy Birthday!

Colette’s dedication, fortitude and love for our wild ones is a true asset to our team. As a current certified court reporter (for over 20 years in the courts), she brings a valuable skillset to the WHE team. Colette began her work with us on the backside, focusing on research and legislation. In 2021, when our team needed a new roundup observer, she stepped into the public eye and took on the challenge becoming a key member of our independent animal welfare team (CAWP team).

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Above: Amazing escape at Clan Alpine (see more here)

Documenting roundups is not easy. The days are long, the travel rough and nearly every day you are met by public employees where most make it obvious you are not welcome and transparency is not high on the list. A roundup operation can last anywhere from 2-8 weeks; day-after-day.

When the chopper lands, the work does not stop for the herd. Each roundup operation is carefully reviewed and WHE compiles our own After Action Reviews (AAR). Wild horses and burros are tracked into holding where we must do Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests in order to gain meaningful information because BLM does not publish facility data online and will not release the information without a formal and often lengthy process. Colette is not deterred.

Colette Kaluza began working with WHE in 2017 and became a formal volunteer shortly thereafter. Prior to joining WHE, Colette worked for multiple species in a legislative capacity for a large organization. After she found out about Ten Years to AML, she left in search of an organization that aligned with her conscience.

As a consistent team member, Colette has helped WHE expand our reach and focus. Today, our team can work in field onsite at roundup, offsite at roundups, on litigation and making deadlines on the avalanche of comment periods for projects BLM proposes from mining, livestock and wild horse and burro removals; the burden distributed throughout a dedicated team.

Capture during heat event and dangerous air quality from wildfire smoke, Blue Wing, 2024.

When you go to roundups as part of the WHE welfare team, you will take footage that lands on the news and in court challenges; not “if,” but “when.” You are not there a day (or a few days), you are in this for the long haul. “What happens” sorely needs reform and falls to the bottom of BLMs “to do list” year after year.”

You can read an OpEd Colette penned for the Reno Gazette Journal after capturing the colt from Pancake that broke a leg on video, she captures the spirit of true advocacy and WHE team membership: “One person can feel helpless. But don’t give up. Change throughout history has come from creating a ripple, and you never know how far it will travel. Out of this has come legislation and litigation.”

The challenge of long days, hard travel and, most often, the public not being welcome, is just part of the frustration. Another is dealing with an unfortunate aftermath. Not only are agency personnel “upset” by what you do, the internet and media largely take what you have done out of context, some literally rip it off or turn it toward agendas other than the direct purpose of being on a welfare team… the really hard work to gain an enforceable welfare policy. This sad fact has slowed the process down.

Colette is human and she gets frustrated. However, we wish you could see how Colette has an uncanny ability to remain optimistic; a quality you cannot teach and a key requirement to be able to do this work year-after-year.

Many of you have seen Colette’s effort throughout 2024. An onsite and offsite effort allows us to report rapidly and thoroughly to the public, yet still allows the field person to find a bit of rest in order to maintain a clear mind under often stressful conditions. Without a team effort, our ongoing litigation to gain an enforceable welfare policy filed this year, would not have been possible. Colette is an indispensable part of that team with her unwavering documentation at Antelope North.

Right now, Colette is working on FOIAs, welfare reports and prepping to be back on the road. We are grateful beyond measure for our volunteers that give so much of themselves to create the sum of WHE.

We are truly honored that Colette has chosen to become part of the WHE family. 

Happy Birthday Colette! 

Our wild ones should live free on the range with the families they hold dear. Our wild ones should also live without abuse. WHE carries ongoing litigation to push BLM into open public process to create an enforceable welfare standard for our treasured wild ones.

WHE has a 10K match challenge through the end of the year 2024. If we cab raise $10,000. a generous supporter will match contributions dollar-for-dollar DOUBLING the support! . If you create a monthly contribution. there is an additional match of up to $5,000. TRIPLING the donation.

Thank you for keeping us in the fight! 

There are many ways to support the work of WHE from direct contribution, stock donations and even while you shop. More HERE.