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Horse Cruelty Info

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PA Anti-Cruelty Law

Title 18, Section 5511

Henneke Body Scoring Condition Chart

The Henneke Body Scoring Chart is accepted in court as a scientific method of scoring a horse's body condition. It is used successfully in court to prove neglect.

Investigating Cruelty

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Horse Cruelty at Auctions

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Successful Enforcement

PA State Police arrest horse dealer at PA horse auction

PA State Police Enforce

PA Cruelty Law at New Holland, PA Auction


Young draft gelding shipped from NC displays injured left hind leg. A PA equine vet determined that there was no fixing this horse's injured leg. He was humanely euthanised.

No Enforcement

Down and bleeding inside a trailer with Maine license plates at a New Holland, PA auction. Reportedly the horse later died. No charges were ever filed. Blood was pooling on the ground under and outside the trailer.

The Downer Hall of Shame

Down Belgian was down all day at a PA horse auction. Several bystanders attempted to get the horse to rise. A vet was never called...

The Labor Day Mares

Severely foundered mare's face reveals the pain she is feeling. Mare was found down on a truck at a New Holland auction. Blood oozed from her coronary bands.

A Mule & 2 Standardbreds-

All Had Broken Legs & were Hidden on A Trailer

No Water

Water tank is empty, even though the faucets work..

The Horse the Killers Refused
& the vet passed.

Unfit Horses Sold at Auction

PSPCA allows sale - NHPD files charges, owner pleads guilty.

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Horse Cruelty Cases

Lancaster County Repeat Offender

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Page last revised on:

1/5/2006

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Lorenzo Riccobono is no stranger to the Equine Protection Network. We have been reporting on the cruelty charges filed against him since 1999. We have sent out press releases to print and television media urging them, sometimes begging them, to cover Riccobono's hearings to no avail. Paper Horse readers are familiar with Riccobono as that publication has run several articles on his convictions. After six years of trying to get the news media to cover this issue, the news media in America's largest cities are shining the spotlight on this convicted horse abuser. As is not uncommon, it took a tragedy for the news media to finally pay attention. By our count the carriage horse in NYC makes number 7.

New York City - Lorenzo Riccobono, Gap, PA is listed by the New York City Consumer Affairs Department, the agency that regulates the NYC carriage trade, as the owner of the carriage involved in an accident on Monday January 2, 2006 that critically injured 36 year old carriage driver Carmello Vargas.

The black and white carraige horse known as Spotty was trapped under the car with a broken leg and was later euthanized Monday. Vargas was thrown ten feet from the carriage when Spotty spooked. The frightened horse raced several blocks through Midtown Manhattan before running into a Nissan Maxima station wagon at W. 50th St. and Ninth Ave in New York City at 9:30 PM. The two people in the car were also injured.

The EPN appreciates the New York Post for reporting the cruelty convictions in the New York Post on January 5, 2006.

Crash-Hansom Owner Starved Horse

More Stories:

Crash Hospitalizes Coachmen

Carriage Horse Hits Car

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History of Cruelty Convictions in PA

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The horses involved in these cases are NOT related to the carriage horse accident in New York City except that they are owned by Lorenzo Riccobono of Gap, PA.

Lancaster County Man Pays Miniscule Fine For Cruelty to Three Horses

	Gap, PA- On December 8, 1999, Lorenzo Riccobono, Paradise Township, Lancaster County, PA was found guilty of one count of cruelty to animals, Section 5511 (c) regarding failure to provide food, water and shelter to 2 horses and a pony after a hearing before District Justice Stoltzfus. Mr. Riccobono was ordered to pay $125.00 in fines and court costs. The minimum fine under PA law is $50.00. Court costs are generally $50.00 to $60.00.
The PA State Police, Troop J, Lancaster brought the charge against Mr. Riccobono. The Humane League of Lancaster County informed Mr. Riccobono that he is required under the law to provide shelter for the remaining horses and other animals on his property. It is not known at this time if he has complied.
	Mr. Riccobono signed the 2 horses & pony over to the Humane League of Lancaster County. A York County horse rescue provided housing, transportation and contacted an equine veterinarian. One of the horses and the pony both had to be euthanised due to their conditions.

Closeup of wound on draft horse mare.

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PA State Police Convict Lancaster County, PA Man of Horse Cruelty- Again

Gap, PA - District Justice Isaac Stoltzfus, Gap District Court found Lorenzo Riccobono, Gap, PA guilty of cruelty to horses and fined $300.00 plus court costs of $117.00 on March 18, 2003. PA State Police investigated a complaint in February 2003 of cruelty to horses due to a down draft horse that was suffering from dehydration and starvation. The horse was euthanised. The veterinarian told investigators that he had previously euthanised another draft horse in January 2003 due to the same conditions.

In September 2002 the Large Animal Protection Society, LAPS, investigated a cruelty complaint involving an injured draft horse. The horse was found to be suffering from a broken hip and was euthanised.

Ricobono told investigators that he loves these horses and had been treating it with penicillin. Ricobono also told investigators that his brother owns a carriage business in New York City. Ricobono stated he purchases horses for his brother and also provided rest for the horses. This is not Ricobono's first time in court.

PA State Police filed charges against Ricobono in 1999 and on December 8, 1999, District Justice Stoltzfus found Ricobono guilty after a hearing of one count of cruelty to animals, Title 18, Section 5511 (c) regarding failure to provide food, water and shelter to 2 horses and a pony. Mr. Riccobono was ordered to pay $125.00 in fines and court costs.

The minimum fine under PA law is $50.00. Court costs are generally $50.00 to $60.00. The draft horse and the pony both had to be euthanised due to their conditions. State Police have also investigated a horse that was killed by a car in front of his property on Route 30 in July 2002.

LAPS Case Files

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PA Cruelty Statutes

Title 18, Section 5511

PENNSYLVANIA STATUTES AND CONSOLIDATED STATUTES PURDON'S PENNSYLVANIA CONSOLIDATED STATUTES TITLE 18. CRIMES AND OFFENSES PART II. DEFINITION OF SPECIFIC OFFENSES ARTICLE F. OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND DECENCY CHAPTER 55. RIOT, DISORDERLY CONDUCT AND RELATED OFFENSES

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§ 5511. Cruelty to animals

(c) Cruelty to animals.--A person commits a summary offense if he wantonly or cruelly illtreats, overloads, beats, otherwise abuses any animal, or neglects any animal as to which he has a duty of care, whether belonging to himself or otherwise, or abandons any animal, or deprives any animal of necessary sustenance, drink, shelter or veterinary care, or access to clean and sanitary shelter which will protect the animal against inclement weather and preserve the animal's body heat and keep it dry. This subsection shall not apply to activity undertaken in normal agricultural operation.

(d) Selling or using disabled horse.--A person commits a summary offense if he offers for sale or sells any horse, which by reason of debility, disease or lameness, or for other cause, could not be worked or used without violating the laws against cruelty to animals, or leads, rides, drives or transports any such horse for any purpose, except that of conveying the horse to the nearest available appropriate facility for its humane keeping or destruction or for medical or surgical treatment.

(e) Transporting animals in cruel manner.--A person commits a summary offense if he carries, or causes, or allows to be carried in or upon any cart, or other vehicle whatsoever, any animal in a cruel or inhumane manner. The person taking him into custody may take charge of the animal and of any such vehicle and its contents, and deposit the same in some safe place of custody, and any necessary expenses which may be incurred for taking charge of and keeping the same, and sustaining any such animal, shall be a lien thereon, to be paid before the same can lawfully be recovered, or the said expenses or any part thereof remaining unpaid may be recovered by the person incurring the same from the owner of said creature in any action therefor.

PA's Horse Transport Law, Act 64

Signed into law on June 25, 2001 by Governor Tom Ridge

(e.1) Transporting equine animals in cruel manner.-- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person commits a summary offense for each equine animal if the person carries, or causes or allows to be carried any equine animal in or upon any conveyance, or other vehicle whatsoever with two or more levels STACKED ON TOP OF ONE ANOTHER. A person who violates this subsection on a second or subsequent occasion commits a misdemeanor of the third degree for each equine animal transported.

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§ 5511.2. Police animals.

(a) Illegal to taunt police animals.--It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully or maliciously taunt, torment, tease, beat, kick or strike a police animal. Any person who violates any of the provisions of this subsection commits a felony of the third degree.

(b) Illegal to torture police animals.--It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully or maliciously torture, mutilate, injure, disable, poison or kill a police animal. Any person who violates any of the provisions of this subsection commits a felony of the third degree.

(c) Resitution.--In any case in which a defendant is convicted of a violation of subsection (a) or (b), the defendant shall be ordered to make restitution to the agency or individual owning the animal for any veterinary bills, for replacement costs of the animal if it is disabled or killed and for the salary of the animal's handler for the period of time the handler's services are lost to the agency.

(d) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection:

"Accelerant detection dog."

A dog which is trained for accelerant detection, commonly referred to as arson canines.

"Bomb detection dog."

A dog which is trained to locate a bomb or explosives by scent.

"Narcotic detection dog."

A dog which is trained to locate a bomb or explosives by scent.

"Police animal."

An animal, including, but not limited to, dogs and horses, used by the Pennsylvania State Police, the Department of Corrections, a county facility or office or by a municipal police department, fire department, search and rescue unit or agency or handler under the supervision of such department, search and rescue unit or agency in the performance of the functions or duties of such department, search and rescue unit or agency, whether the animal is on duty or not on duty. The term shall include, but not be limited to, an accelerant detection dog, bomb detection dog, narcotic detection dog, search and rescue dog and tracking animal.

"Search and rescue dog."

A dog which is trained to locate lost or missing persons, victims of natural or manmade disasters and human bodies.

"Tracking animal."

An animal which is trained to track or used to pursue a missing person, escaped inmate or fleeing felon.