BLM Offers Financial Incentives for Wild Horse and Donkey Adoption

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is offering financial incentives for the adoption of untrained wild horses and donkeys through their Adoption Incentive Program. This initiative aims to increase adoptions by providing up to $1,000 to help cover care costs such as veterinary services, feed, and training.

The program requires adopters to certify under penalty of prosecution that they will not sell or transfer the animal for slaughter or processing into commercial products. Adoption is limited to four animals per year, and the transfer of title is prohibited for at least a year from the adoption date.

Recently, theBLMupdated itspolicyto require compliance inspections within six months of adoption. Additionally, title applications must be signed by a veterinarian orBLM-authorized officer for adopters to receive the incentive payment.

More than half of all wild horses and donkeys placed into private care last year were adopted through theBLM’s Adoption Incentive Program, with a total of 8,637 animals, the highest number in the last 24 years.

However, the American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign), a leading wild horse protection group, argues that theBLM’s incentives “fall short” of eliminating the cash incentives that send horses and burros to the slaughterhouse.

The AWHC cited its own investigation that led to a2021 report in The New York Timeswhen making its claims in a press release sent shortly after theBLM’s announcement.

TheBLMmanages and protects wild horses and burros on 26.9 million acres of public lands across 10 states. To learn more about the wild horse or burro program and how to adopt,click here.

Originally posted by ABC 4