The morning was sunny and calm, the rising sun peaking through a row of trees. Horses and burros grazed quietly in the Bureau of Land Management adoption pens in Colusa.

It was a perfect, quiet time for 11-year-old Ashley to ponder one of the biggest decisions of her life: which burro would become her very own?

Below, Ashley reviews the animal information before casting her bid for burro no. 7220.

"It's number 7220," she said confidently as she waited at the Bureau of Land Management adoption office to pay the $135 she bid on the 3-year-old gray Jennie that caught her eye. "My mom liked the stripes on her back and legs, and so did I."

Below, Ashley receives her change from BLM's Sue Lopez.

Despite the fact that Ashley's mother was required to sign the BLM adoption contract, the adoption decision and the financial arrangements were Ashley's alone. She came to the adoption event with cash she earned selling her pens of rabbits at the county fair. She made her adoption choice carefully, looking at the pen of Jennies (females), then at the Jacks, and then the Jennies again. She wrote down an initial bid of $125 and found she had competition for the pretty burro with a calm disposition. She had to raise her bid to win the right to take home the burro that will become "just a pet."

Below, Ashley's new burro quietly studies her new owner.

Burro No. 7220 became "Lady Annie" when she got to Ashley's home, and the pasture she'll share with "Sir Arthur," a mule retired from a barrel racing career.

"He never really wanted to race. He just wanted to be with people," Ashley said knowingly.

Now, Sir Arthur has a pasture mate and Ashley has another pet with which she'll surely bond. She was up at dawn to spend time in the corral with Lady Annie on her first morning home. They are well on the road to a long-lasting friendship.

- Jeff Fontana, BLM 11/07

BLM California News.bytes, issue 306