During fair weather months Palomino Valley will hold one public weekend adoption each month. At these events, approximately 100 to 150 animals will be offered for adoption. Historically, PVC usually only has horses, but some burros will occasionally be available. Potential adopters should call to determine what will be available the week of each particular adoption. The gate to facility will be open at 8:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and will close at 4:30 p.m. on Friday and 12:00 p.m. on Saturday. Pickup of animals by adopters will have to be completed by 4:00 p.m. on Friday and 12:00 p.m. on Saturday. If adopting on Saturday, adopters need to be at facility by 8:30 a.m. in order that brand & veterinarian inspections can be scheduled accordingly. The day before the event adopters may drop off their trailers and view the animals to be offered for adoption. No camping is allowed on the facility.

All applications must be pre-approved by the Bureau of Land Management office having administrative jurisdiction and mailed or faxed to the Palomino Valley facility prior to the adoption event. Applications will have to be in no later than two days before adoption date in order to attend. Palomino Valley's fax number is (775) 475-2053.

During public adoption events, selection will he done by a lottery drawing held at 8:30 a.m. on the morning of the adoption. Adopters will chose their (desired animal according to the selection number they have drawn. BLM personnel will be available to assist and answer questions during the selection process. Individuals arriving after the drawing will be assigned the next number in the sequence. The available animals will be in the pens prior to the event with a listing of the animals' age, sex, and color. Binoculars are suggested to view the animals in the pens.

The Private Maintenance and Care Agreement will need to be signed and filled out after the animal has been selected for adoption by the pre-approved applicant. At that time payment is required with the use of money orders, traveler's checks, personal checks or cash. Checks will need to be made payable to United States Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management. (NOTE: Personal checks are the most preferable)

Horses one year or older will not be loaded into anything other than a livestock trailer. Only weanlings or burros can be loaded into a two-horse (straight load) trailer when all the dividers have been removed from the inside and the back door of the trailer is enclosed all the way to the top. Arrangements for the use of a sturdy livestock trailer prior to coming to the facility must be made. Verify with the nearest Bureau of Land Management office prior to the adoption event that your trailer is acceptable. Questions concerning the new adoption policy should be directed to either Palomino Valley (775) 475-2222 or the National Program Office, (775) 785-6583.

Please do not request specific animals prior to adoption. BLM has changed past adoption procedures due to the great burden it puts on their resources at Palomino Valley when adopters request specific animals out of a pen with sometimes 200 head in it. The week of the scheduled adoption is when they select the animals for that particular adoption. This selection usually depends on which ones are the healthiest and their status in the preparation process.