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Pending Legislation

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PA's Electronic Bill Room

Type in the word "equine" in the search box to locate bills, (proposed legislation) relating to horses.

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Federal Laws

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Proposed regs will legalize every inhumane practice identified in the transport of horses to slaughter!

Doubles will be legal for 5 years AFTER the proposed regs go into effect. It has already been 4 1/2 years, that makes for 10 years of the continued use of doubles after this legislation passed..

EPN's Comments

on Proposed Regulations For the 1996 Commercial Transportation of Horses To Slaughter Act

CA Equine Council's

Comments on the Proposed Regulations For the 1996 Commercial Transportation of Horses To Slaughter Act

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State Laws

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Proposition 6,

The PROHIBITION of Horse Slaughter and Sale of Horsemeat for Human Consumption Act Of 1998, Does Not Violate The Commerce Clause

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Horsemeat Laws

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1996 Commercial Transportation Of Horses To Slaughter Act

December 7, 2001
Final Rule Commercial Transportation of Horses to Slaughter Act

American Horse Council, American Horse Protection Association, & Humane Society of US

propose to legalize every inhumane practice identified in the transport of horses to slaughter & put the very people identified as the abusers, the "killer buyers" in charge of the horses!

Proposed Regulations For the 1996 Commercial Transportation of Horses To Slaughter Act

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USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service, APHIS

Approval of Livestock Facilities;
Interstate Movement of EIA Reactors

USDA Food Safety Inspection Service, FSIS, Regulations

Biological Residues in Horses;
Slaughter of Foaling Mares;
Slaughter of Sick Horses;

USDA APHIS Humane Slaughter Act

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AZ Transport Law

CA Transport Law

CT Transport Law

MA Transport Law

MN Transport Law

NY Transport Law

Ag and Markets, Section 359-a

Horses inside double deck cattle trailer stopped by the NYSP. The owner was later convicted & fined $3000.00.

VA Transport Law

Vermont Transport Law

PA Anti Cruelty Law
Title 18, Section 5511

Sign Posted at PA Horse Auctions is NOT the Law!

Sign outside auctions is incorrect!


Sign posted outside 2 PA horse auctions regarding the PA Anti Cruelty Statute is incorrect! " Maybe the posting of this sign has something to do with "the agreement" that the auctions and the PA SPCA have with each other...

U.S. Anti-Cruelty Statutes

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PA Domestic Animal Act

Licensing of Dealers & Haulers

EIA Regulations, Coggins Test

PA Dead Animal Act

Requirements for Removal of Dead Animals

PA Animal Markets

General Provisions
Records
Transactions From Trucks

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IL Horsemeat Act

Texas Law

Sale of Horsemeat for Human Consumption

Prohibits Sale of Horsemeat For Human Consumption

Texas Attorney General Cornyn States TX Law

Prohibiting Sale of Horsemeat Applies to the 2 Texas Horse Slaughterhouses!

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Page last revised on:

2/23/2005

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This simple language will prohibit the use of double deck cattle trailers to transport horses:

"transport any equine animal in a trailer that has 2 levels, 2 tiers or 2 compartments stacked on top of each other, commonly known as a double deck trailer."

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We Won!

PA HB 590, PA's Three Legged Horse Bill,

Died At the End of the 2000 Session !

UNBELIEVABLE !!

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Thankfully PA's 3 Legged Horse Bill was killed by the outrage that the horse community and others expressed over this shocking proposed legislation. We have left this bill up on our website so that everyone will know what the PA Legislature attempted to pass. Remember that a VET introduced this language!

The EPN refused to accept this language even though other animal welfare groups stated, "something is better than nothing". Fast forward to 2001 & Lynch finally introduces the simple language above that the EPN had been calling for since the fall of 1998. HB 1139 passed & was signed into law by Governor Ridge on June 25, 2001. PA now has the simplest, yet the strongest law on the books banning double deck trailers for horses.

Thank you to all the organizations, individuals and legislators who supported the effort to pass this legislation.

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Capitalized language is the amendments that the House Judiciary Committee added to HB 590 on May 16, 2000. Language that has been removed from the bill has a line through the language.

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PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 616 PRINTER'S NO. 3592

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 590 Session of 1999

INTRODUCED BY LYNCH, STEELMAN, S. MILLER, ALLEN, MANDERINO, SERAFINI, NAILOR, RUBLEY, MASLAND, BARD, HENNESSEY, ROSS, DeWEESE, SAYLOR, E. Z. TAYLOR, WILT, L. I. COHEN, CORRIGAN, READSHAW, MAITLAND, MARSICO, SCHRODER, CALTAGIRONE, HESS, CIVERA, WALKO, SHANER, DALLY, KREBS, JOSEPHS, CLARK, PLATTS, BUXTON, YOUNGBLOOD, NICKOL, TRELLO, ORIE, DALEY, SCRIMENTI, SATHER, WILLIAMS, CASORIO, COLAFELLA AND CORNELL,

FEBRUARY 16, 1999

AS RE-REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, MAY 16, 2000

AN ACT

Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for cruelty to animals. The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

5hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1.  Section 5511(e) of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania
7 Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
8§ 5511. Cruelty to animals.
9 * * *
10 (e) Transporting animals in cruel manner.--[A]
11(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a person
12commits a summary offense if he carries, or causes, or allows
13 to be carried in or upon any cart, or other vehicle
14 whatsoever, any animal in a cruel or inhumane manner.
15(2) A person may not, in a cruel or inhumane manner,

1 transport for slaughter an equine animal. Each equine animal
2 transported in violation of this section shall constitute a
3(2) A PERSON MAY NOT TRANSPORT AN EQUINE ANIMAL TO
4 SLAUGHTER IN A CRUEL OR INHUMANE MANNER. EACH EQUINE ANIMAL
5& TRANSPORTED TO SLAUGHTER IN VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION SHALL
6&CONSTITUTE A separate offense under this section. Grading is
7as follows:
8 (i)Except as set forth in subparagraph (ii), a
9 person that violates this paragraph commits a misdemeanor
10& of the third degree.
11 (ii) A person that violates this paragraph after
12 being sentenced under subparagraph (i) commits a
13misdemeanor of the second degree.
14 (3) The person taking [him] the violator into custody
15may take charge of the animal and of any such vehicle and its
16 contents, and deposit the same in some safe place of custody,
17 and any necessary expenses which may be incurred for taking
18charge of and keeping the same, and sustaining any such
19 animal, shall be a lien thereon, to be paid before the same
20 can lawfully be recovered, or the said expenses or any part
21thereof remaining unpaid may be recovered by the person
22incurring the same from the owner of said creature in any
23 action therefor.
24 (4) For the purposes of this [section] subsection, it
25shall not be deemed cruel or inhumane to transport live
26 poultry in crates so long as not more than 15 pounds of live
27 poultry are allocated to each cubic foot of space in the
28 crate.
29 (5)  As used in this subsection, an equine animal is, in
30 a cruel or inhumane manner, transported for slaughter if it

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19990H0590B3592

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1 is:
2&(5) AS USED IN THIS SUBSECTION, AN "EQUINE ANIMAL" IS
3 DEFINED AS A MEMBER OF THE GENUS EQUUS THAT IS TRANSPORTED TO
4SLAUGHTER. AN EQUINE ANIMAL IS TRANSPORTED TO SLAUGHTER IN A
5CRUEL AND INHUMANE MANNER IF IT IS:
6(i) unable to bear weight on all four THREE limbs or
7walk unassisted;

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Here it is above in red text,, the ammendment offered by
Montgomery County, PA State Representative, Raymond Bunt, Jr,
Chairman of the House Agricultural & Rural Affairs Committee.
This is the PA Legislature endorsing cruelty to horses.
Enabling owners to make the last few dollars from a horse that can ONLY walk on THREE legs.
Legalizing the transport of these horses over 500 miles to Canada.
1500 miles and 28 hours to TX.
On THREE legs...
No pain medicine. No food. No water. No rest.
In an overcrowded cattle trailer...
Remember, the horse had to collected/shipped from other sales to PA to be picked up by the "killer buyers".
How many days has this horse suffered??

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8 (ii)&blind in both eyes;
9 (iii) suffering from a broken or dislocated limb;
10 (iv)(III) a mare, gelding or foal commingled with a
11 stallion during transport;
12 (v) (IV) not given at least two hours of rest and
13access to adequate potable water after every 12 hours of
14transport; or
15 (vi)  transported in (V) TRANSPORTED TO SLAUGHTER IN
16 A vehicle or trailer which does not allow it sufficient
17 clearance in a standing position with its head in a
18 normal upright position without contact with the roof or
19 an overhead structure. The trailer or portion of a
20 vehicle used to transport TO SLAUGHTER more than six
21 equines EQUINE ANIMALS shall conform to the following: 22;A) 22 22Be limited to one level throughout the

23 vehicle.
24 (B)Have an interior height of no less than 78
25 inches from the lowest overhead protrusion to the
26 floor underneath. The interior height shall meet
27 industry standard of height requirements.

28 (C)  Be equipped with nonmetallic, antiskid

29 flooring.
30 (D) Be equipped with sufficient apertures to

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19990H0590B3592  - 3 -

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1 insure adequate ventilation.
& 2 (E) Be equipped with sufficient insulation or
3 coverings to maintain an adequate temperature in the
4 compartment containing equines.
5 (F) Interiors of compartments containing equines
6 (B) BE EQUIPPED WITH ANTISKID FLOORING.

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The dealers/"killer buyers" argue in court that diamond plate flooring is "non-skid"

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7 (C) BE EQUIPPED WITH VENTILATION APERTURES.
8 (D) INTERIORS OF VEHICLES AND COMPARTMENTS
9 CONTAINING EQUINE ANIMALS shall be constructed of
10 smooth materials, containing no sharp objects or
11 protrusions which are hazardous to equines.
12 (G) (E) Ramps designed specifically for loading
13 and unloading equines EQUINE ANIMALS shall be
14 provided if the vertical distance from the floor of
15 the compartment containing equines EQUINE ANIMALS to
16 the ground is greater than 15 inches. Ramps shall
17 have nonmetallic antiskid flooring.

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The reason for removing "nonmetallic" ??
The dealers/"killer buyers" argue in court that diamond plate flooring is "non-skid"

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18 (H) (F) Partitions designed and industry
19 manufactured to meet equine industry standards shall
20 be placed a maximum of ten feet apart in vehicles
21 which do not have stalls. Partitions shall be closed
22 and latched in place.
23 (I) (G) The top of all partitions shall be at
24 least five feet from the floor. If there is a space
25 between the floor and the bottom of the partition, it
26 shall be NOT MORE THAN 12 inches. Slatted partitions
27 shall have gaps of no more than two inches between
28 slats.
29 (J) Doorways shall have heights and widths that
30 meet industry standards for vehicles designed to

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19990H0590B3592 - 4 -

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1 transport six or more equines. There shall be at
2 least two doorways for ingress and egress which shall
3 not be on the same side.
4 (K) Meet all public health and safety standards.
5 (L)Be specifically manufactured to include the
6 transportation of equines.
7 (6) No mare that is nursing a foal shall be transported
8 to a slaughter establishment or intermediate handler. No mare
9 that is in the last trimester of pregnancy, shows evidence of
10 bagging up or waxing shall be transported to a slaughter
11 establishment or intermediate handler. No foal under six
12 months of age or 600 pounds shall be transported to a
13 slaughter establishment or intermediate handler.

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Endorsing the shipment of pregnant mares and foals to slaughter

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14 (7) If an equine suffers injury or for any reason goes
15 (H)  DOORWAYS FOR VEHICLES DESIGNED TO TRANSPORT
16 SIX OR MORE EQUINE ANIMALS SHALL HAVE HEIGHTS AND
17 WIDTHS THAT ALLOW AN EQUINE ANIMAL TO PASS THROUGH
18 WITHOUT TOUCHING THE SIDES OR TOP OF THE OPENINGS.
19 THERE SHALL BE AT LEAST TWO DOORWAYS FOR INGRESS AND
20 EGRESS WHICH SHALL NOT BE ON THE SAME SIDE.
21 (I)  BE SPECIFICALLY MANUFACTURED TO INCLUDE THE
22 TRANSPORTATION OF EQUINE ANIMALS.
23 (6) IF AN EQUINE ANIMAL SUFFERS INJURY OR FOR ANY REASON
24 GOES down while being transported to a slaughter
25 establishment, the person driving the vehicle shall seek
26 prompt assistance from an equine veterinarian.
27 (8) Equine animals shall be transported in accordance
28 FROM A VETERINARIAN.
29 (7) EQUINE ANIMALS SHALL BE TRANSPORTED TO SLAUGHTER IN
30 ACCORDANCE with the following:

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19990H0590B3592; - 5 -

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1 (i) In vehicles without stalls:
2 (A) An equine that exhibits dangerous or
3 (I) IN VEHICLES WITHOUT STALLS AN EQUINE ANIMAL THAT
4 EXHIBITS DANGEROUS OR aggressive behavior towards a
5 person, other equine or other animals shall be segregated
6 in an individual compartment during transport TO
7SLAUGHTER.
8 (B) An equine that measures below 14 hands shall
9 be transported separately from all other equines
10 measuring above 14 hands in order to prevent injury
11 to the equine.
12 (ii) No equine shall be transported in the same
13 compartment with animals of a genus other than the genus
14 equus, except animals that are not for commercial
15 purposes. Example, race equines' mascots or companions.
16 (iii) No equine shall have its eyes or mouth taped
17 or held shut in any manner while being transported.
18 (9) Each equine animal transported for slaughter shall
19 obtain a certificate of inspection in accordance with the
20 following:
& 21 (i) Within 24 hours prior to the loading or the
22 reloading of any equine, the owner shall cause an equine
23veterinarian to inspect and determine the fitness of the
24 equine to be transported and to prepare a certificate of
25 inspection.
26 (ii) The certificate of inspection shall contain a
27 statement from the equine veterinarian who conducted the
28; inspection that the equine:
29 (II) NO EQUINE ANIMAL SHALL BE TRANSPORTED TO
30 SLAUGHTER IN THE SAME COMPARTMENT WITH ANIMALS OF A GENUS

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19990H0590B3592 - 6 -

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OTHER THAN THE GENUS EQUUS.
(III)  NO EQUINE ANIMAL SHALL HAVE ITS EYES OR MOUTH
3 TAPED OR HELD SHUT IN ANY MANNER WHILE BEING TRANSPORTED
4 TO SLAUGHTER.
5(8) EACH EQUINE ANIMAL TRANSPORTED FOR SLAUGHTER SHALL
6BE ACCOMPANIED BY A CERTIFICATE OF INSPECTION IN ACCORDANCE
7 WITH THE FOLLOWING:
8 (I) WITHIN 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE LOADING OF AN
9 EQUINE ANIMAL, THE OWNER SHALL CAUSE A VETERINARIAN TO
10 INSPECT AND DETERMINE THE FITNESS OF THE EQUINE ANIMAL TO
11 BE TRANSPORTED TO SLAUGHTER AND TO PREPARE A CERTIFICATE
12OF INSPECTION.
13 (II)  THE CERTIFICATE OF INSPECTION SHALL CONTAIN A
14 SIGNED STATEMENT FROM THE VETERINARIAN WHO CONDUCTS THE
15 INSPECTION THAT THE EQUINE ANIMAL:
16 (A) Is able to stand and is ambulatory without
17 medication.
18 (B) Is able to bear weight on all four limbs and
19 walk unassisted in a normal cadence.
20 (C) Is not blind or has vision loss in one or
21 both eyes and is not disoriented.
22 (D)Has no observable symptoms of illness.
23 (E) Is otherwise able to withstand the stress of
24 being transported.
25 (iii) The veterinarian who inspected the equine
26 shall certify, in the form of a medical opinion, that the
27 equine is either fit for transportation or fails to
28 satisfy the criteria set forth in subparagraph (ii).
29 (iv) The certificate shall contain the signature,
30 complete description of the equine including breed,

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19990H0590B3592 - 7 -

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1approximate age, sex, color, markings and other
2 requirements. The veterinarian shall sign and provide
3  such other information on the certificate as determined
4necessary by the department.
5 (v) If based on an inspection of the equine the
6 veterinarian certifies that the equine fails to satisfy
7the criteria, the veterinarian shall immediately inform
8 the owner of the reason for the failure to pass
9 certification. The owner may then authorize the
10 veterinarian to render immediate veterinary care to the
11 equine. This veterinary care shall not be to rehabilitate
12 the equine for the sale or transport to slaughter. The
13 owner may also authorize the veterinarian to humanely
14destroy the equine immediately. The owner shall bear the

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15(B)  IS ABLE TO BEAR WEIGHT ON THREE LIMBS AND
16 WALK UNASSISTED.

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UNBELIEVABLE!!!!
The PA Legislature ENDORSES this BARBARIC treatment of Horses!!

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17 (C) IS NOT BLIND IN BOTH EYES.
18 (III) THE VETERINARIAN WHO INSPECTS THE EQUINE
19 ANIMAL SHALL CERTIFY, IN THE FORM OF A MEDICAL OPINION,
20 THAT THE EQUINE ANIMAL IS EITHER FIT FOR TRANSPORTATION
21TO SLAUGHTER OR FAILS TO SATISFY THE CRITERIA SET FORTH
22IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II).
23 (IV)  THE CERTIFICATE SHALL CONTAIN A COMPLETE
24 DESCRIPTION OF THE EQUINE ANIMAL, INCLUDING BREED,
25APPROXIMATE AGE, SEX, COLOR AND MARKINGS.
26 (V)  IF BASED ON AN INSPECTION OF THE EQUINE ANIMAL
27 THE VETERINARIAN CERTIFIES THAT THE EQUINE ANIMAL FAILS
28 TO SATISFY THE CRITERIA SET FORTH IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II),
29 THE VETERINARIAN SHALL IMMEDIATELY INFORM THE OWNER OF
30 THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE TO PASS INSPECTION. THE OWNER

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19990H0590B3592 - 8 -

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1 MAY THEN AUTHORIZE THE VETERINARIAN TO RENDER IMMEDIATE
2 VETERINARY CARE TO THE EQUINE ANIMAL. THE OWNER MAY ALSO
3 AUTHORIZE THE VETERINARIAN TO HUMANELY DESTROY THE EQUINE
4 ANIMAL IMMEDIATELY. THE OWNER SHALL BEAR THE cost to
5provide such care or humane destruction.
6 * * *
7Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
 
 

A19L18DMS/19990H0590B3592
 - 9 -

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Note: The 1997-1998 PA Legislative session ended without HB 2127 being put on the House Calendar for a vote.  Representative Lynch reintroduced the horse transport legislation in February 1999, as HB 590.

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PRINTER'S NO. 616
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL

No. 590 Session of 1999

INTRODUCED  BY:

LYNCH, STEELMAN, S. MILLER, ALLEN, MANDERINO,

SERAFINI, NAILOR, RUBLEY, MASLAND, BARD, HENNESSEY, ROSS, DeWEESE, SAYLOR, E. Z. TAYLOR, WILT, L. I. COHEN, CORRIGAN, READSHAW, MAITLAND, MARSICO, SCHRODER, CALTAGIRONE, HESS, CIVERA, WALKO, SHANER, DALLY,  KREBS, JOSEPHS, CLARK, PLATTS, BUXTON, YOUNGBLOOD, NICKOL, TRELLO,ORIE, DALEY, SCRIMENTI, SATHER, WILLIAMS, CASORIO, COLAFELLA and CORNELL.

An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, further providing for cruelty to animals.
Referred to JUDICIARY, Feb. 16, 1999

The (General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enact as follows:
Section  5511(e) of Title1t8 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statute is amended to read:
 5511  Cruelty to animals.
***
(e) Transporting animals in cruel manner.--[A]

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), 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.

(2) A person may not, in a cruel or inhumane manner, transport for slaughter an equine animal.  Each equine animal transported in violation of this section shall constitute a separate offense under this section. Grading is as follows:

(i)  Except as set forth in subparagraph (ii), a person that violates this paragraph commits a misdemeanor of the third degree.

 (ii)  A person that violates this paragraph after being sentenced under Subparagraph (i)
commits misdemeanor of the second degree.

 (3)  The person taking [him] the violator into custody may take charge of the animal and of
any such vehicle and its contents, and deposit the Same in some Bate place of custody, and any necessary expense 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.

 (4) For the purpose of this [section] subsection, it shall not be deemed cruel or inhumane to transport live poultry in crates so long as not more than 15 pounds of live poultry are allocated to each cubic foot of space in the crate.

 (5)  As used in this subsection, an equine animal is, in a cruel or inhumane manner, transported for slaughter if it is:

(i) unable to bear weight on all four limbs or walk unassisted,

(ii) blind in both eyes;

(iii) suffering from a broken or dislocated limb;

 (iv)  a mare, gelding or foal commingled with a stallion during transport;

 (v)  not given at least two hours of rest and access to adequate potable water
   after every 12 hours of transport; or

  (vi)  transported in vehicle or trailer which does not allow it sufficient clearance in  a
standing position with its head in a normal upright position without contact with the roof  or an overhead structure.

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The following sections of HB 2127 defining trailer specifications, MUST apply to all horses, just as in NY, VT, MA, CT & VA law. The language regarding the trailers is copied from NY law. NY consulted horse trailer manufacturers when writing NY Agriculture & Markets Law, Section 359-a.  The law is non-discriminatory when it applies to all horses, & insures enforcement.

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The trailer or portion of  a vehicle used to transport more than six equine shall conform to the following:

(A) Be limited to one level throughout the vehicle.

(B) Have an interior height of no less than 78 inches from the lowest overhead protrusion
to the floor underneath. The interior height shall meet industry standard of height requirements.

(C) Be equipped with non-metallic antiskid flooring.

(D) Be equipped with sufficient apertures to insure adequate ventilation.

(E) Be equipped with sufficient insulation or coverings to maintain an adequate temperature in the compartment containing horses.

(F) Interiors of compartments containing horses shall be constructed of smooth materials, containing no sharp objects or protrusions which are hazardous to equines.

(G) Ramps designed specifically for loading and unloading equine shall be provided
if the vertical distance from the floor of the compartment containing horses to the
ground is greater than 15 inches. Ramps shall have non-metallic antiskid flooring.

(H) Partitions designed and industry manufactured to meet equine industry  standards shall  be placed a maximum of ten feet apart in vehicles which do not have stalls. Partitions shall be closed and latched in place.

(I)  The top of all partitions shall be at least five feet from the floor. If there is a space between the floor and the bottom of the partition, it shall be 12 inches. Slatted partitions shall have gaps of no more than two inches between slats.

(J) Doorways shall have heights and widths that meet industry standards for
&vehicles designed to transport six or more horses. There shall be at leastt wo
doorways for ingress and egress which shall not be on the same side.

(K) Meet all public health and safety standards.

(L) Be specifically manufactured to include the transportation of equines.

(6) No mare that is nursing a foal shall be transported to a slaughter establishment or intermediate handler. No mare that is in the last trimester of pregnancy shows evidence of bagging up or waxing shall be transported to a slaughter establishment or intermediate handler. No foal under six months of age or 600 pounds shall be transported to a slaughter establishment or intermediate handler.
 

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The definition of an intermediate handler MUST be added.
Any person engaged as part or all of their business, in receiving custody, or maintaining horses for slaughter, leading to the transport of horses to a slaughter establishment, including a stockyard, feedlot, or assembly point.

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(7) If an equine suffers injury or for any reason goes down while being  transported
to a slaughter establishment he person driving the vehicle shall seek prompt assistance from an equine veterinarian.

(8) Equine animals shall be transported in accordance with the following:

(i) in vehicles without stalls:

(A) An equine that exhibits dangerous or aggressive behavior towards a person, other equine or other animals shall be segregated in an individual compartment during transport.

(B)An equine that measures below 14 hands shall be transported separately from all other
equines measuring above 14 hands in order to prevent injury to the equine.

(II)  No equine shall be transported in the same compartment with animals of a genus other  than the genus equus, except animals that are not for commercial purposes. Example, racehorses mascots or companions.

(iii) No equine shall have its eyes or mouth taped or held shut in any manner while being
transported.
 

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Remember horses going to slaughter in Canada are already required to obtain a health certificate, paid for by the "killer buyer", the owner. This section would further define the requirements of this health certificate. Currently "killer buyers" obtain "blanket" health certificates, often from veterinarians whose practice is limited exclusively to small animals.

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(9) Each equine animal transported for slaughter shall obtain a certificate of inspection in
accordance with the following:

(I) Within 24 hours prior to the loading or the reloading of any equine, the owner shall cause an equine veterinarian to inspect and determine' the fitness of the equine to be transported and to prepare a certificate of inspection.

(ii) The certificate of inspection shall contain a statement from the equine veterinarian who conducted the inspection that the equine:

(A) Is able to stand and is ambulatory without medication.

 (B)  Is able to bear weight on all four limbs and walk unassisted in a normal cadence.

 (C)  is not blind or has vision loss in one or both eyes and is not disoriented

 (D)  Has no observable symptoms of illness.

 (E)  Is otherwise able to withstand the stress of being transported.

 (iii)  The veterinarian who inspected the equine shall certify, in the form of a medical
opinion, that the equine is either fit for  transportation or fails to satisfy the criteria set
forth in subparagraph (ii)

 (iv)  The certificate shall contain the signature, complete description of the horse
including breed, approximate age, sex, color, markings and other requirements. The
veterinarian shall sign and provide such other information on the certificate as
determined necessary by the department.

 (v)  If based on an Inspection of the equine the veterinarian certifies that the equine fails
to satisfy  the criteria, the veterinarian shall immediately inform the owner of the reason
for the failure to pass certification. The owner may then authorize the veterinarian to render immediate veterinary care to the equine. This veterinary care shall not be to rehabilitate the equine for the sale or transport to slaughter. The  owner may also authorize the veterinarian to humanely destroy the equine Immediately. The owner shall bear the cost to provide such care or humane destruction.

 *   *
 Section 2.  This act shall take effect In 60 days.
 -

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Horse trailers already exceed these standards.

Horses shipped to Canada, including those for slaughter, are required to have a health certificate.

It is against USDA Food Safety Inspection Service, FSIS, regulations to slaughter sick animals for human consumption.