U.S. Horse, Burro Program Reformed

The federal government announced tougher regulations aimed at keeping wild horses and burros out of the slaughterhouse. The crackdown came 3 1/2 months after the Associated Press revealed abuses in a program to find homes for the animals. The Bureau of Land Management manages about 42,000 wild horses and burros on public lands in 10 states. During the last 25 years, more than 175,000 of the animals have been placed with adopters for about $125 each. Earlier this year, the AP found out that thousands of the animals were being slaughtered and that BLM employees were profiting. New adopters will now be contacted within six months and inspections will increase.