Equine Protection Network -

State Statutes Information

This section of our website has information on action you can take to help the horses; pending legislation; USDA Regulations on the handling and slaughter of horses; individual state transport laws; California's Prop 6 which banned the sale of CA horses to slaughter, (Yes, CA's horse industry is still thriving!) and other related information.

Many states have their laws, (statutes or codes) online. You can check on the status of legislation affecting horses by going to your state legislatures website and doing a search. Type in the word "equine" or "horse". Often you can communicate with your state and or United States Senators and Representatives by e-mail. Remember though to include your full name and address in your e-mail.

Getting Involved

Learn your state's laws.
What horse organizations in your state represent the horses industry in the state legislature?
Do they represent you on horse welfare issues? Many state horse councils are in favor of horse slaughter and do not take a strong stand on the enforcement of anti-cruelty laws as they apply to horses.
If the horse industry organizations in your state do not represent your views on horse slaughter and horse welfare, write to your state representatives and let them know that these organizations do NOT represent you, a member of the horse industry, on this issue.
Inform the horse organizations that you are a member of that you are opposed to the use of double cattle trailers to transport horses & opposed to the slaughter of horses for human consumption.

Reading a Statute

Look for the Definitions - This section will tell you what animals are covered under the statute and define certain terms.
Look for Penalties- This section tells you what the penalty is for a person convicted of the offense. It also tells you whether or not the penalties are Civil or Criminal. Criminal penalties can be enforced by police departments. Civil Penalties do not allow for imprisonment. Usually the penalty involves monetary damages.
Look for Authority- This section will tell you what law enforcement agency or agencies have jurisdiction. In other words, who can enforce the law.

Look for Sections - The sections will describe the act(s) which are illegal.

Resources for State Laws Regarding Horses

Michigan State University College of Law: Animal Legal & Historical Web Center

Horse Statutes

This site is an excellent resource for statutes and cases regarding all animals.

State Statutes Abandoned Animals

State Statutes Dead Animals

State Statutes Horsemeat Laws

State Statutes Horse Transport Laws

State Statutes Police Animals

State Statutes Selling Lame, Disabled, or Debilitated Horses

Utah

Dead domestic animals -- Duty of owner to bury or otherwise dispose of them -- Liability for costs.

It is the responsibility of the owner or other person responsible for any domestic animal which dies to bury or otherwise dispose of it within two days after death. If the owner or other person responsible for such an animal cannot be found, it is the duty of the county, city, or town within which the dead animal is found, at such political subdivision's expense, to bury the dead animal. A county, city, or town which incurs expense under this section is entitled to reimbursement from the owner of the dead animal.

Enacted by Chapter 2, 1979 General Session

4-26-2. Dead animals -- Deposit on another's land prohibited.

No person shall deposit a dead animal upon the land of another person without the latter's consent.

Enacted by Chapter 2, 1979 General Session

76-10-805. Carcass or offal -- Prohibitions relating to disposal -- Classification of offense.

Every person who puts the carcass of any dead animal, or the offal from any slaughter pen, corral, or butcher shop into any river, creek, pond, street, alley, or public highway, or road in common use, or who attempts to destroy it by fire, within one-fourth of a mile of any city or town is guilty of a class B misdemeanor.

Enacted by Chapter 196, 1973 General Session

26-23-3.   Violation of public health laws or orders unlawful.

   It shall be unlawful for any person, association, or corporation, and the officers thereof:
   (1) to willfully violate, disobey, or disregard the provisions of the public health laws or the terms of any lawful notice, order, standard, rule, or regulation issued thereunder; or
   (2) to fail to remove or abate from private property under the person's control at his own expense, within 48 hours, or such other reasonable time as the health authorities shall determine, after being ordered to do so by the health authorities, any nuisance, source of filth, cause of sickness, dead animal, health hazard, or sanitation violation within the jurisdiction and control of the department, whether the person, association, or corporation shall be the owner, tenant, or occupant of such property; provided, however, when any such condition is due to an act of God, it shall be removed at public expense; or
   (3) to pay, give, present, or otherwise convey to any officer or employee of the department any gift, remuneration or other consideration, directly or indirectly, which such officer or employee is forbidden to receive by the provisions of this chapter;
   (4) to fail to make or file reports required by law or rule of the department relating to the existence of disease or other facts and statistics relating to the public health.

Enacted by Chapter 126, 1981 General Session

76-10-802.   Befouling waters.

   A person is guilty of a class B misdemeanor if he:
   (1) Constructs or maintains a corral, sheep pen, goat pen, stable, pigpen, chicken coop, or other offensive yard or outhouse where the waste or drainage therefrom shall flow directly into the waters of any stream, well, or spring of water used for domestic purposes; or
   (2) Deposits, piles, unloads, or leaves any manure heap, offensive rubbish, or the carcass of any dead animal where the waste or drainage therefrom will flow directly into the waters of any stream, well, or spring of water used for domestic purposes; or
   (3) Dips or washes sheep in any stream, or constructs, maintains, or uses any pool or dipping vat for dipping or washing sheep in such close proximity to any stream used by the inhabitants of any city or town for domestic purposes as to make the waters thereof impure or unwholesome; or
   (4) Constructs or maintains any corral, yard, or vat to be used for the purpose of shearing or dipping sheep within twelve miles of any city or town, where the refuse or filth from the corral or yard would naturally find its way into any stream of water used by the inhabitants of any city or town for domestic purposes; or
   (5) Establishes and maintains any corral, camp, or bedding place for the purpose of herding, holding, or keeping any cattle, horses, sheep, goats, or hogs within seven miles of any city or town, where the refuse or filth from the corral, camp, or bedding place will naturally find its way into any stream of water used by the inhabitants of any city or town for domestic purposes.

Enacted by Chapter 196, 1973 General Session

Federal Laws, State Statutes, USDA & State Regulations

Federal Laws

Federal Horsemeat Laws

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

State Horsemeat Laws

CA's Proposition 6, The PROHIBITION of Horse Slaughter and Sale of Horsemeat for Human Consumption Act Of 1998, Does Not Violate The Commerce Clause

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!

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

Links to State Statutes

PA Statutes & Regulations

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

Links

Equine Protection Network, Inc., P. O. Box 232, Friedensburg, PA, 17933.

State Statutes Information

Getting Involved

Reading a Statute

Resources for State Laws Regarding Horses

Utah

Save America's Horses- Make the Commitment to Your Horse!

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

CA's Proposition 6,

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

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!

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

Equine Protection Network, Inc.,
P. O. Box 232, Friedensburg, PA, 17933.