After being accused of complacency by horse advocacy groups, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has announced protective measures to prevent adopted horses from ending up in auction yards, destined for slaughter.
Over the past couple of months, advocacy groups have claimed some horses adopted out of BLM’s Adoption Incentive Program (AIP) have been sold for slaughter after adopters collected the program’s incentive money.
“While the vast majority of adopters already adhere to our requirements to provide a good and caring home, the BLM is now taking additional steps to secure the health and safety of adopted animals,” said BLM Deputy Director for Programs Nada Wolff Culver in a release.
Culver said the bureau will begin to make additional compliance visits following adoptions, scrutinize potential adopters more strictly and increase warnings at sale barns about the risks of illegally selling wild horses and burros.
BLM currently allows a maximum of four animals to be adopted within a 12-month period through its adoption program and titles cannot be transferred for at least 12 months from the adoption date. Adopters must also certify under penalty of persecution that they will not knowingly sell or transfer the animal for slaughter or processing into commercial products.
BLM plans to implement other preventative measures, including:
• Working with stakeholders to continuously improve the program;
• Ensuring applications and agreements clearly state the adopter must provide humane care;
• Improving the screening of adoption applicants;
• Conducting inspections of adopted horses within six months of adoption, rather than 12 months;
• Having a vet certify all title applications to receive incentive payments;
• Increasing postings of warning notices at livestock sale facilities;
• Referring cases to relevant U.S. attorneys for false or misleading statements on applications and agreements; and
• Evaluating changes that strengthen protections for adopted animals.
Current BLM estimates show there are more than three times the number of wild horses and burros than is sustainable on public lands. Under AIP, adopters have the opportunity to earn up to $1,000 in incentive money. The first $500 is given within 60 days of adoption and the additional $500 is given within 60 days of titling the animal. — Anna Miller, WLJ managing editor
