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Dept. Of Ag Votes To Turn Ownership Of Wild Horses To Nonprofit

Despite opposition from wild horse advocates in the state, the Nevada Board of Agriculture voted this week to hand over control of a large population of mustangs to a nonprofit.

The Reno Gazette-Journal reports the board voted 8-1 to give up control of as many as 3,000 wild horses, but the nonprofit who will take over is not yet known.

Horse advocates in the state have raised concerns that this puts the horses at risk of being used for business interests and possibly slaughtered.

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The vote came during an emotional public meeting that generated dozens of public comments from people who attended in Sparks and Las Vegas.

Officials with the department of ag said the decision was necessary because the state is incapable of managing the horses, considered by many to be an iconic symbol of the region.

The Nevada Department of Agriculture staff will devise a request for proposals from non-profit animal advocacy groups interested in taking ownership of the animals.