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Legislation Information

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California Voters "Just Say Neigh" to Horse Slaughter!

HoofPAC

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Please send your tax deductible donation to the:

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

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HoofPAC is the political action committee that has been formed to end the slaughter of America's horses. Cathleen Doyle, founder of HoofPAC, led the successful Save The Horses campaign in 1998 that made the slaughter of California's horses a felony.

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Legislation 101

This page is still under construction

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Explanations

Performance Based Language

Performance based language is vague, requires the officer making the arrest to have expert witnesses to define what is, "normal" or "accepted". The reality is when a law enforcement officer needs expert witnesses to make an arrest, the chances that law enforcement will make an arrest are reduced and the less harder it will be to secure a guilty conviction in court.

Examples of Performance Based Language

Regarding the transport of horses in double deck trailers:

The interior height of the trailer, compartement containing horses, or vehicle shall allow the horses to hold their heads in an upright manner above their withers."

First question from law enforcement not familiar with horses. Where/What is the withers?

Define "normal upright manner above the withers."

What does that mean?

A horse expert is needed to testify to what is normal, and in court a licensed veterinarian is going to carry more weight. Horses will raise and lower their heads to fit the alloted space.

The reality of the situation is that the majority of law enforcement officers do not have experience with horses, or enforcing horse related statutes. Nor do they have vets on staff or available as expert witnesses. Why should a law enforcement officer on patrol male the traffic stop when experts are needed for a violation that is a judgement call when there are speeders and other motor vehicle violations that are cut and dried that they are familiar with enforcing and do not require the amount of time that this arrest will?

Very few, if any, law enforcement officers are going to make the arrest. Translation - no enforcement.

Engineering Based Language

Regarding the transport of horses in double deck trailers:

The interior height of the trailer, compartement containing horses, or vehicle shall be seven feet tall from the floor to the lowest point of the ceiling structure.

or

"No equine animal can be carried, transported, or sheltered in a vehicle with more than one level stacked on top of each other"

The above language is specific. There are no judgement calls to be made. It either is, or it is not.

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Common Cliches

• "Something is better than nothing"

No it is not. Something is not better than nothing when:

The legislation:

• Legalizes practices that the goal was to prohibit
• Regulates practices when the goal was to prohibit the practice
• Legitimizes a practice/action
• Is unenforceable - a "publicity victory

 

• "We can come back and fix it later

No, you cannot. Nor does anyone come back and "fix it"

Why?

First off, the legislature's response to revisiting an issue, will be,

• "We addressed that issue previously."
• "The animal welfare and humane organizations supported it, were in consensus, agreed to the language"

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A word on policitians:

• Politicians are like movie stars, they do not like a bad review in the press
• Politicians listen to the money
• Politicians do not pay attention to petitions, they are counted as ONE vote.
• Politcians like "face time" on T.V.
• Politicians love petitons when created and submitted by a child/student because Petition + Child = Face Time on T.V.
• Politicians like petitions in support of their legislation for the free mailing list you have provided which provides them with a mailing list of potential donors for future re-election campaigns.

 

 

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PA Horse Transport Law Cards | NY Horse Transport Law Card | Rhode Island Horse Transport Law Card |
Vermont Horse Transport Law Card |MA Horse Transport Law Cards | MD Horse Transport Law Card

Download a card and carry in your car.
Help enforce PA, NY, & VT laws banning the use of double deck trailers to transport any horse,
no matter what its final destination!

You will need Adobe Reader a free plug in that you can download.

 

 

 

 

Save America's Horses! Please send your tax deductible donation to: Equine Protection Network, Inc., P. O. Box 232, Friedensburg, PA, 17933 Save America's Horses- Make the Commitment to Your Horse! Photos On This Page CANNOT be Used Without Written Permission

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