February 14, 2002
Equine Protection Network
www.equineprotectionnetwork.com
Christine Berry
570-345-6440
The EPN extends our appreciation to Senator Wyss (R)for introducing this
legislation and for not accepting any amendments to the legislation. The EPN
also extends our appreciation to the entire Indiana Senate for voting in favor
of SB 86, IN's Horse Transport Bill.
Christine Berry of the EPN worked with Karen Hensel of WISH-TV in 2001 providing
background information, video and photographs for WISH-TV's award winning 3 part
series on horse slaughter. The link to WISH-TV's story is on the EPN homepage.
Christine Berry of the EPN testified before the IN Senate Committee on Public
Policy in favor of IN SB 86 which would ban the use of double deck cattle
trailers to transport any horse, no matter what its final destination. SB 86
passed the Committee and went on to pass the IN Senate, 49-0. The bill is now in
the IN House.
Here is the EPN presentation to the IN Senate Committee:
www.equineprotectionnetwork.com/legislation/sb86text.pdf
www.equineprotectionnetwork.com/legislation/sb86fig.pdf
The Shipshewanna auction in Shipshewanna is reportedly opposing this
legislation. The rodeo industry is opposing because they want to be able to haul
their bucking stock in double deck trailers.
This is the language the rodeo industry wanted added to Wyss' bill:
"allowing the equine to hold its head in a normal upright manner above their
withers"
Using the above language, the EPN polled law enforcement personnel experienced
in patrol, in other words officers whose job is making traffic stops. The EPN
showed the officers pictures of horses inside the bottom deck of a double deck
cattle trailer. Their comments were, " I do not see the violation."
Accepting this language will make the bill nothing more than a publicity
victory. The law will not be enforceable and the horses in Indiana will continue
to be shipped in double deck cattle trailers. Law enforcement from several
states agree w/EPN, no amendments. Law would be unenforceable.
Law enforcement are not going to arrest if they do not believe they can win a
conviction in court. District Attorneys will not prosecute or will go with a
plea agreement if they are unsure of conviction.
Law must be specific, engineering based language.
All horses, no matter what
their final destination.
On the issue of destination, law enforcement personnel again weighed in on the
issue.
How does law enforcement determine destination?
If law enforcement has to determine destination, what happens when their is no paperwork?
Reality is, there often is NO paperwork.
No paperwork, no case. Knowing someone is guilty and proving it in court are 2 very different things.
When it comes to legislation, something is NOT better than nothing.
Legislature will not readdress the issue, citing the fact that they have already
addressed the issue.
The EPN's goal is to BAN double deckers for horses.
The EPN SUPPORTS legislation
that BANS double deckers for horses.
The EPN is NOT interested in regulating the use of double deckers to transport
horses.
The EPN will oppose any legislation that regulates the use of double
deckers to transport horses.
The EPN is asking for donations to cover the cost involved in traveling from PA
to IN to testify on behalf of SB 86.
Tax deductible donations can be sent to:
EPN
P.O Box 232
Friedensburg, PA 17933
Indiana residents please contact your state representatives and ask them to
support this legislation. State your involvement in the horse industry, any
horse related organizations that you are a member of. Please ask your friends
outside the horse industry to also call their IN state reps and voice their
support for SB 86.
NO AMENDMENTS!!!
Horse organizations, please send in your support!
###
WYSS Press Release:
WYSS' BILL TO PREVENT CRUEL TRANSPORT OF HORSES APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY BY SENATE
COMMITTEE
INDIANAPOLIS -- Members of the Senate Public Policy Committee today unanimously
approved legislation authored by State Senator Tom Wyss (R- Fort Wayne) which
would outlaw transportation of horses on double-decker trailers in Indiana.
Senate Bill 86 was inspired by an investigation conducted by WISH-TV of
Indianapolis which documented the treatment of horses headed from the weekly
auction in Shipshewana, Ind. where many are purchased and slaughtered for their
meat. The recent crisis in Europe with mad cow and hoof and mouth diseases has
greatly increased the demand for horse meat in many countries, Wyss said. This,
in turn, has led to a dramatic increase in the number of horses being sold at
the Shipshewana auction for food consumption.
According to Christine Berry of the Equine Protection Network in Friedensburg,
Pa., who testified before the committee, this increased demand for horse meat
has led to a crisis in which the animals are cruelly transported in trucks
designed for small farm animals such as pigs and sheep.
Proper horse transportation vehicles have an interior height of 7 to 8 feet with
padded walls, non-slip flooring and adequate food and water. Double decker
trucks which are currently being used can cause serious harm to horses forced to
ride in such vehicles due to a variety of reasons including low ceilings,
slippery floors and narrow doorways. The horses can be trampled by other animals
and are often whipped and prodded into the trucks. In addition, some horses have
their eyes and mouths taped shut while being transported.
Senate Bill 86 will outlaw such transportation and create criminal penalties for
those who disobey the law. A separate count will be charged against the offender
for each horse involved, Wyss said.
The bill is supported by many organizations including the EPN, the American
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Animal Protection
Coalition and Indiana Horse Rescue.
Similar legislation was recently enacted by the Federal Government but does not
become law until 2007 and only established civil penalties enforced by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, said Wyss, who added that is too long to wait and
will not sufficiently address the problem.
Other states with legislation similar to SB 86 include Pennsylvania, New York,
Connecticut, California, Massachusetts, Vermont and Virginia. The bill will now
be placed on the Senate Calendar for second reading.
Wyss represents District 15 which is composed of a portion of Allen County.
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