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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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Did You Know?
"I personally think the double-stack trailer being used to convey horses ... has to be changed,"
Representative Jere Schuler from Lancaster County, New Holland's Representative

Page last revised on:

9/30/2005

Sad Eyed Arab

Equine Protection Network Horse Slaughter Awareness Campaign


Double Deck Possum Belly Trailers

PA Horse Transport Law Cards

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


Act 64, the PA Horse Transport Bill went into effect on August 25, 2001 making double deck trailers illegal in PA to transport any horse no matter what its final destination, under Title 18, Section 5511(e)1. Double deck trailers are also prohibited in NY, MA, and VT. These laws are effective and can be enforced. Law enforcement depends on the public to report suspected violations. Citizens must be on the lookout for horses inside double deck trailers and then must be willing to report the violation to the police.

Rodeo stock contractors, low end horse dealers and "killer buyers" have been known to use double deck trailers to transport horses.

AZ, CA, CT, MN, and VA regulate their use for transporting horses.

The federal law, The 1996 Commercial Transportation of Horses To Slaughter Act, will not ban the use of inhumane double deck cattle trailers until 2007, eleven years after it was passed.

This law with it's"..guidelines to regulate.." and civil penalties if any, will do nothing more than legitimize the cruel and inhumane transport of horses to slaughter. Horses will continue to go 28 hours without food, water and rest. Pregnant mares will be slaughtered with their full term foals being "born" on the slaughterhouse floor.


Bottom Deck of Double Deck Possum Belly Cattle Trailer


Diagram of a double deck cattle trailer. PROPERTY OF THE CALIFORNIA EQUINE COUNCIL. This Drawing IS COPYWRITED. NO COPYING WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION.

PROPERTY OF THE CALIFORNIA EQUINE COUNCIL.
This Drawing IS COPYWRITED.
NO COPYING WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION!


Looking at the above diagram, the bottom deck is the section in front of the doghouse and behind the nosedeck.
The above photo shows the 3 inch metal "I" beams that support the top deck of the trailer. These beams protrude below the ceiling of the bottom deck. The beams are on 12 inch centers.
The above photo shows the 3 inch metal "I" beams that support the top deck of the trailer. These beams protrude below the ceiling of the bottom deck. The beams are on 12 inch centers.

New York Agricultural and Markets Law, Section 359-a states,

a. The interiors of compartments containing horses shall be constructed of smooth materials, containing no sharp objects or protrusions which are hazardous;
The above photos shows the door located on the left side of the double deck trailer. New York Agricultural and Markets Law, Section 359-a states,

The above photos shows the door located on the left side of the double deck trailer. New York Agricultural and Markets Law, Section 359-a states,

f. Doorways shall be of sufficient height to allow safe ingress and egress of each horse contained in the compartment;

Does it appear that a full size draft horse could exit through this doorway? Judging by the "I" beams, that are spaced on 12" centers, located above the doorway in this picture, the doorway appears to be at the most 3 feet wide.


Horses On the Bottom Deck of Double Deck Cattle Trailer!


Horses inside a double deck cattle trailer on the bottom deck
  • Is it equine industry standard to have 3 inch metal "I" beams protruding below the ceiling of the trailer?

    No, industry standard are trailers of one level. There is no need to support a top deck, thus there are no 3 inch "I" beams in trailers designed and manufactured for horses. Commercial horse trailers designed and manufactured to carry 6 or more horses have a standard minimum height of 7'. Eight feet is the standard on a tractor trailer of this size.

  • Is it equine industry standard to transport horses on trailers with metal floors?

    No, industry standard is to have rubber mats on the floor covered in bedding to asorb the urine.

  • Is it equine industry standard to have ramps without sideboards?

    No, sideboards are used on ramps on horse vans to prevent horses from falling off the ramp. Exceptions are trailers with a drop down ramp that is only inches off the ground.

  • Is it equine industry standard to have trailers with holes in the side big enough for a horse to put a foot through?

    No, of course not. Horses can put their leg through a hole, panic and cause severe injury to themselves.

    Oops, we forgot. THESE horses are going to slaughter, so what does it matter if they injure their heads or legs? No meat there...

Double Deck Trailer Continued

Save America's Horses!

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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!

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