SPARKS, Nev. -
August 27, 2024The Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) will be adopting out 24 Virginia Range feral horses that were removed from an active construction site on Aug. 7 and 8, 2024. The NDA works with cooperative partner Wild Horse Connection to manage the Virginia Range horses, and Wild Horse Connection will be adopting the horses that were removed.
The horses had to be removed from a private construction site due to dangers including trenching, sharp objects and heavy machinery. After unsuccessful attempts by Wild Horse Connection to relocate the horses from the property, the NDA took action based on the cooperative agreement with Wild Horse Connection.
“The NDA, Wild Horse Connection and the developer were working together for several weeks to remove the horses from an active construction site in the interest of their safety,” said NDA Director J.J. Goicoechea, DVM. “As was discussed, the horses had to be held and advertised before we could open them up for adoption.”
Per NRS 569, the horses were advertised to ensure there were no other legal owners, after which, they were set to be posted for adoption. Wild Horse Connection was offered first rights to adoption and decided to adopt all 24 horses, covering the adoption fees.
About the Nevada Department of Agriculture
The
Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) mission is to
preserve, protect and promote Nevada’s agriculture. The department has 225
dedicated employees providing services in its five divisions, Administrative
Services, Animal Industry, Measurement Standards, Food and Nutrition, and Plant
Health and Compliance. The department’s $288 million budget facilitates
regulatory and administrative work in agriculture and food manufacturing
industries, protecting public and environmental health and worker safety, and
providing food distribution and oversight for the United States Department of
Agriculture’s school and community nutrition programs.
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