BLM Sales and Adoption Event in Annville, PA: A Firsthand Account

Inside the BLM Sales and Adoption Event in Annville, PAInside the BLM Sales and Adoption Event in Annville, PA

It was a beautiful day in Annville, Pennsylvania, with temperatures in the mid-70s. I attended my first Bureau of Land Management (BLM) sale and adoption event at Shale Knoll Arena. The thought of seeing these beautiful horses and burros, previously wild, in pens with unknown fates was unnerving. However, as part of a team with boots on the ground, I was determined to document what is happening to these animals. This effort supports the American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign) staff and volunteers in making a difference.

michele patterson

I was greeted by a knowledgeable BLM staff member who had been with the agency for two years.

There were 73 animals up for adoption:

  • Pen 1 - 7 burros, jennies, and geldings
  • Pen 2 - 10 mares
  • Pen 3 - 8 geldings and 3 mares (all yearlings)
  • Pen 4 - 8 geldings
  • Pen 5 - 11 geldings
  • Pen 6 - 7 mares
  • Pen 7 - 8 mares
  • Pen 8 - 11 geldings

The burros, from Arizona and California, were incredibly friendly and approached me readily. The mustangs, from Utah and Nevada, were in good body condition. I pondered the journey these creatures endured, rounded up and transported across the country.

As I walked around each pen, I photographed and filmed the animals. They huddled together, seeking safety in numbers, having been removed from their homes and transported to a strange place.

Despite my initial apprehension, I was relieved to see the BLM staff demonstrating excellent horse handling skills, with interactions proceeding smoothly. Each pen was equipped with water and hay, adhering to Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program adoption standards.

While I hope these animals found safe adoptive homes, I am saddened by their loss of freedom and family.

Two federal bills introduced in the U.S. Congress could significantly aid in protecting our cherished wild horses and burros. The Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act, introduced by U.S. Representative Dina Titus of Nevada, aims to end the use of helicopters in roundups, which often result in fatalities due to trauma and exhaustion. You can urge your U.S. Representative to cosponsor this bill by taking action here.

The Ejiao Act seeks to ban the sale or transportation of ejiao, a gelatin made from donkey skins, in interstate or foreign commerce. Millions of donkeys are slaughtered annually for ejiao production. Witnessing the burros' friendliness at the event, I felt the betrayal of such practices. You can ask your U.S. Representative to support this bill by taking action here.

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