Have You Adopted a Devil’s Garden Mustang from the Forest Service between 2018-2021? We Need Your Help.

The American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) is investigating the U.S. Forest Service’s completion of compliance checks before transfer of ownership (title) for any Devil’s Garden horses adopted from the Double Devil Wild Horse Corrals on the Modoc National Forest (MNF).

The Forest Service repeatedly states that it’s finding “Happy Homes” for the Devil’s Garden wild horses rounded up and held at the Double Devil for placement. However, when AWHC filed a Freedom of Information (FOIA) request for records on compliance checks on the horses, we were told that none existed.  

To follow up, AWHC asked how the Forest Service was determining if adopters were eligible to receive title after one year if the agency was not completing any compliance check. It responded that titles are issued automatically, but that the Forest Service is working on developing guidelines and forms for compliance checks.

While we understand that many Devil’s Garden horses have been adopted into good homes, we are concerned that the Forest Service is not following its own regulations regarding compliance checks to first confirm that the horses are receiving proper care before the agency transfers title from the Forest Service to adopters.

In order to document this situation, we are seeking information on mustangs adopted from the Double Devil Wild Horse Corrals between 2018 and now. If you’ve adopted one or more of these horses, we’re asking if you would consider sending the following information to Mary Koncel at mary@americanwildhorsecampaign. 

  • a copy of the title for each of your mustangs adopted from the Double Devil corrals;
  • a statement verifying that a compliance check was not completed by the Forest Service;
  • any communications from the Forest Service mentioning a compliance check;
  • any other paperwork regarding finalization of the adoption; 
  • any other information about your mustang/s and your experience adopting them that you feel comfortable sharing.

AWHC guarantees that we will keep all personal identifying information confidential, meaning we will not reveal your name, home address, contact info, or anything about your horses and/or burros. We are simply seeking adoption records for these horses. If you would prefer, feel free to redact your records before sending them to AWHC.

We are grateful to everyone who has stepped up and adopted one of these amazing wild horses from Devil’s Garden. However, we are committed to holding the Forest Service responsible for following its own regulations in order to help ensure that these horses end up in the best possible homes. We know that others share our concern about the placement of Devil’s Garden horses, and we need your help.

If you have any questions, please email Mary Koncel at mary@americanwildhorsecampaign.org.

Thank you!

 

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