Post by cardicorgi on Mar 5, 2010 13:02:08 GMT -5
An interesting blog item from The Horse (AAEP's magazine) and on point to the recent situation with the stray mule and Snohomish county's interpretation of Washington's statutes regarding roaming livestock.
There is a proposed a bill in New York state just sent to their Ag Committee that changes the legal status of horses from farm animal/livestock to their *very own* status of "equine companion."
If successful, it broadens the application of animal cruelty laws to horses - e.g., a horse abuser in NY state can now be charged with FELONY animal cruelty instead of just misdemeanor charges, which is the case with existing law in New York.
As we all know, laws are only as good as the teeth that are put in them, and often work against the animals they purportedly protect. (property rights vs. health/welfare of a horse) If passed, this would certainly give NY's horses higher protection.
I have no doubt that there will be unintended consequences and contradictions (re: how does "equine companion" fit with Ag. definition?) but I don't believe any of that is insurmountable.
cs.thehorse.com/blogs/horses-and-the-law/archive/2010/03/02/meet-my-horse-quot-fido-quot.aspx
Here is the text of the bill:
There is a proposed a bill in New York state just sent to their Ag Committee that changes the legal status of horses from farm animal/livestock to their *very own* status of "equine companion."
If successful, it broadens the application of animal cruelty laws to horses - e.g., a horse abuser in NY state can now be charged with FELONY animal cruelty instead of just misdemeanor charges, which is the case with existing law in New York.
As we all know, laws are only as good as the teeth that are put in them, and often work against the animals they purportedly protect. (property rights vs. health/welfare of a horse) If passed, this would certainly give NY's horses higher protection.
I have no doubt that there will be unintended consequences and contradictions (re: how does "equine companion" fit with Ag. definition?) but I don't believe any of that is insurmountable.
cs.thehorse.com/blogs/horses-and-the-law/archive/2010/03/02/meet-my-horse-quot-fido-quot.aspx
Here is the text of the bill:
AN ACT to amend the agricultural and markets law, in relation to horses THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: 1 Section 1. Subdivision 4 of section 350 of the agriculture and markets 2 law, as added by chapter 569 of the laws of 1995, is amended to read as 3 follows: 4 4. "Farm animal", as used in this article, means any ungulate, poul- 5 try, species of cattle, sheep, swine, goats, llamas[, horses] or fur- 6 bearing animals, as defined in section 11-1907 of the environmental 7 conservation law, which are raised for commercial or subsistence 8 purposes. Fur-bearing animal shall not include dogs or cats. 9 S 2. Section 350 of the agriculture and markets law is amended by 10 adding a new subdivision 6 to read as follows: 11 6. "EQUINE COMPANION", AS USED IN THIS ARTICLE, MEANS ANY HORSE SO 12 USED FOR RECREATIONAL PURSUITS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: RACING, 13 JUMPING, SHOWING, REHABILITATIVE PURPOSES OR OTHERWISE TREATED IN AN 14 OPEN AND KNOWN FASHION AS A "COMPANION ANIMAL" OR "PET" AS DEFINED IN 15 SUBDIVISION FIVE OF THIS SECTION. 16 S 3. This act shall take effect immediately. EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD15554-01-0