VIRGINIA RANGE ESTRAY HORSE RANGE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

 AS WRITTEN AND PROVIDED BY THE NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

 MISSION

            To develop, maintain and implement a comprehensive Virginia Range estray horse  management  program.  The program will focus on three major areas of concern: (1) public safety and animal welfare; (2) maintenance of a healthy and sustainable estray horse population in the Virginia Range; and, (3) establishment of cooperative agreements with non-profit groups to facilitate the adoption and proper care of the estray horses removed from the Virginia Range.

 POLICY

The fundamental policy of the Department of Agriculture and the political subdivisions involved in the Virginia Range Management Program is that estray horses will be removed as soon as practical from congested residential and commercial areas of the range.  Horses removed will be relocated or placed in the estray horse adoption program.  Furthermore, the Department will remove specified numbers of estray horses from non-congested areas when necessary to maintain a healthy and sustainable estray horse population in the Virginia Range.  To insure appropriate management levels, decisions for such removals will be based on habitat and resource availability in any given year. All estray horses removed from the Virginia Range will be held for a specified period of time to allow for proper placement, by non-profit groups, through an approved adoption process.  Estray horses not placed through the adoption process will be sold at a public sale after the prescribed holding time has expired.

           PROCEDURES

The following procedures will be implemented by the Department of Agriculture.

            1.  In the interest of public safety and animal welfare, any estray horse found in a congested residential and commercial area will be trapped and transported to a designated holding site or relocated if practicable.

            2.  An aerial survey will be conducted by the Department of Agriculture to determine the number of horses in the Virginia Range and a management plan will be developed that addresses the horse population relative to the availability of food, water and land resources. The survey and resource plan will be periodically re-evaluated to insure proper management of the horse population in the Range.  Aerial surveys will be conducted to determine the effectiveness of the established management plan.  Herd size and composition will also be analyzed to address adaptability issues.

3. A written agreement between the Department of Agriculture and each political subdivision will be developed and signed which addresses the issues specified in the mission and policy statement.  The political subdivision agreements will be reviewed  and re-negotiated each fiscal year.

            4. The following protocol will be implemented to insure proper placement or    disposition of Virginia Range estray horses.

a. Upon capture of an estray horse, either by a resident or a representative of the Department of Agriculture, a brand inspector will examine the animal to determine ownership, if any.

b. Any estray horse captured in the Virginia Range will be transported to    the holding facility operated by the Department of Agriculture or placed in a temporary holding facility until the horse is properly processed for adoption   or sale.

c. All estray horses captured in the Virginia Range will be branded with the appropriate freeze brand and given the veterinary treatment which has been established by the Department of Agriculture.

d. All estray horses removed from the Virginia Range will be held for a maximum of 60 days from time of branding and prescribed veterinary treatment is completed.

e. After 60 days the Virginia Range estray horses that are not adopted will be auctioned at the holding facility and sold to the highest bidder.  Minimum bid will be determined by the cost associated with holding and veterinarian costs.

f. After 61 days the Virginia Range estray horses that did not sell at auction will be transported to a livestock sale yard.  Minimum sale will be determined by the cost associated with holding and veterinarian costs.

g.    Buyers of Virginia Range estray horses at either public sale will be given a brand clearance certificate.  This will serve as ownership papers.

h. Upon the capture and transport  (or keeper designation) of a Virginia Range estray horse, all non-profit groups having a signed agreement with the Department of Agriculture concerning the adoption of Virginia Range estray horses will be notified.  A description of the horses and location of capture will be forwarded to each participating non-profit group.

i. Virginia Range estray horses will be sold to the qualified non-profit groups for the cost associated with brand inspection, posting newspaper notice, branding, veterinary services and cost of daily care.  (Example: brand inspection $10 minimum; newspaper posting $5-$15; branding and veterinary services $75; daily care at $2.75 per day; administration fee $25)

j. Adoption process can take place at holding facility or at keepers location.  If adoption takes place at the holding facility there will be no charge for brand inspection when animals are transferred to adopter.  Those horses adopted at a keepers locations will be charged the regular cost of brand inspection.

k. The adoption procedure and qualification criteria for potential adopters will be the total responsibility of the non-profit groups participating in the Virginia Range Estray Horse Program.  The tracking and monitoring of horses adopted will also be the responsibility of the non-profit groups. 

l. All non-profit groups participating in the Virginia Range Estray Management Program must enter into a written agreement with the Department of Agriculture.