Governor Ridge Signs PA Horse Transport Bill into
Law - Equine Protection Network
Governor Ridge signed the PA Horse Transport Bill
into law on June 25, 2001. HB 1139, introduced by Representative Jim Lynch,
Warren County,(R) on March 21, 2001. Act 64 bans the use of double deck
trailers to transport horses. The law takes effect in 60 days. The bill passed
the PA Senate on June 21, 2001 by a vote of 49-0. On May 8, 2001 the bill
passed the House 199-0.
The EPN appreciates all the individuals and organizations who have supported
our efforts and worked toward passage of this legislation. The EPN applauds Rep
Lynch for sponsoring this legislation and the PA Legislature for passing the
Horse Transport Bill.
Members of the EPN first approached the PA legislature in 1996 asking for
legislation to ban the use of double deck cattle trailers in PA. Members of the
EPN later testified on the cruel and inhumane transport of horses in double
deck cattle trailers in June 1998 at a House Judiciary Committee hearing held
in Gettsyburg, PA. The EPN contacted the New York State Police in 1997 urging
them to step up enforcement of NY law banning the use of double deck cattle
trailers. The increased enforcement has resulted in numerous guilty convictions
and $8000.00 paid in fines. The EPN also called for enforcement of PA's
currently law prohibiting the cruel and inhumane transport of horses resulting
in Arlow Kiehl and Harold Rodgers arrest and later conviction in the summer of
2000. The conviction was overturned on appeal on June 25, 2001 in the Lancaster
County Courthouse before Judge Farina. Judge Farina felt that the Commonwealth
had not met it's burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. However Judge
Farina did admonish Mr. Kiehl to not use a double deck trailer to transport
horses again.
The Equine Protection Network, Inc., EPN, has led the fight in PA since 1996 to
pass legislation in Pennsylvania that would outlaw the use of double deck
cattle trailers to transport horses, and has the support of over 25 PA and
national horse industry organizations along with several thousand individual
horse owners and enthusiasts, including 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist David
O'Connor.
On March 21, 2001 PA House Bill 1139 was introduced by Representative Jim
Lynch, Warren County, (R). On May 8, 2001 the bill passed the PA House, 199-0.
It passed the Senate on June 21, 2001, 90 days after being introduced.
The bill had over 60 co-sponsors. The bill will amend the PA anti-cruelty law,
Title 18, Section 5511(e), making it illegal to transport any equine animal in
a conveyance with two or more levels.Each equine animal is a separate offense.
First violation is a summary. Second violation is a third degree misdemeanor
for each equine animal.
Members of the EPN first approached the PA legislature in 1996 asking for
legislation to ban the use of double deck cattle trailers in PA. Members of the
EPN later testified on the cruel and inhumane transport of horses in double
deck cattle trailers in June 1998 at a House Judiciary Committee hearing held
in Gettsyburg, PA. The EPN contacted the New York State Police urging them to
step up enforcement of NY law banning the use of double deck cattle trailers.
Resulting enforcement has resulted in numerous guilty convictions and $8000.00
paid in fines. The EPN also called for enforcement of PA's current law
prohibiting the cruel transport of horses resulting in Arlow Kiehl and Harold
Rodgers arrest and later conviction.
Since 1998 the EPN has pressed for the stepped up enforcement of New York
State's Agriculture and Markets Law, Sec. 359-a, which bans double deck
trailers to transport horses. Enforcement efforts by the New York State Police,
NYSP, have resulted in over 300 arrests and fines approaching $20,000. Several
of the arrests came when New York "killer buyers" crossed into NY
from PA after purchasing horses at PA horse auctions.
The horses are destined for slaughter in Canada for human consumption overseas.
Mad Cow Disease & Hoof & Mouth in Europe have driven up demand for
horsemeat in Europe, resulting in more American horses being slaughtered for
human consumption overseas.
The EPN has also pressed for more enforcement of PA's anti-cruelty laws as they
apply to horses. In June 2000 PA State Police, Troop J in Lancaster County,
stopped a double deck cattle trailer with 17 horses and mules inside. The
horses and mules were being shipped from the New Holland Sales Stables and Mel'
Stables to Watertown, NY before being shipped to Canada for slaughter. An
undetermined number of hogs were on the top deck of the trailer. The owner,
Arlow Kiehl, Watertown, NY and his driver Harold Rodgers, Lowville, NY were
both convicted of cruelty to horses under PA's current anti-cruelty law, Title
18, Sec. 5511 (e).
Kiehl is also scheduled to appear in court in Barker, NY on 32 misdemeanor
counts of the illegal transport of horses. Possible fines are $32,000.
Kiehl purchased horses at the New Holland Sales Stables on Feb. 19, 2001. Kiehl
loaded cattle into the nose deck of the trailer at New Holland. Kiehl then had
other dealers, including Zweist, bring him the horses at the Lebanon Valley
Livestock Market in Fredricksburg, PA. Under the cover of darkness the men
unloaded the horses from the stock trailers into the sale barn & then
forced the horses into the bottom deck of the Eby double deck cattle trailer.
New York State Police stopped Kiehl when he crossed into NY in the early
morning hours of February 20, 2001. Obviously Kiehl is trying to evade the PA
State Police in Lancaster County who have previously convicted him of cruelty
to horses for using a double deck trailer.
Drug runners use the cover of darkness to commit their illegal activity. Just
as drug runners turn on the runway lights so the approaching aircraft can land,
Kiehl flashed his lights in the darkness so the stock trailers could locate the
double decker.
Kiehl has maintained to the news media that his Eby double deck trailer was
made to transport horses. Since when did Eby Trailers, Blue Ball, PA start
manufacturing double deck trailers to transport horses?
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Statement from Cathleen Doyle who banned the slaughter of horses in CA:
In l995 the horse transport bill was first brought to Representative Lynch for
sponsorship in the Pennsylvania Legislature by Chris Berry of EPN.
The language of the original bill did not reflect the language submitted by EPN
and was badly in need of some rather simple amendments.
Representative Lynch, for whatever reason, was unwilling to take the time to
make the necessary amendments, therefore rendering the bill as drafted
unsupportable. It was, however, EPN who provided and picked up the expenses on
all the "experts" who testified during the subsequent committee
hearings.
Then, if possible, the bill went from bad to worse. Representative Lynch
accepted hostile amendments from the House Agriculture Committee that totally
eviscerated the bill's purpose and intent.
It was EPN and Equine Advocates who did the right thing and ultimately killed
the bill.
So it is this "gutted and killed" version, HB1139, introduced by EPN,
which is today successfully working its way through the Pennsylvania
Legislature without opposition and hopefully into law.
Where were PLAN, ASPCA and Federated Humane when EPN was trying to get the
much-needed amendments? When the bill needed to be killed? As Antoinette Fitch
reporter from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, stated, I interviewed those groups
regarding this horrible debacle of a bill, and they would say, "Don't
throw the baby out with the bath water." What's wrong with these groups?
There is no baby!
It was EPN who fought the good fight and would not compromise or abandon its
principles for the sake of political expediency. Hats off to EPN for being able
to create meaningful new laws without accepting harmful and counterproductive
amendments in the process.
EPN I thank you. The horses thank you.
Respectfully,
Cathleen Doyle
The Equine Council
www.equineprotectionnetwork.com
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