HSUS Press Release/ Horse Transportation Safety Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Humane Society of the United States Applauds Passage of H.R. 305, the Horse Transportation Safety Act, in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

(July 29, 2010)—The Humane Society of the United States applauds the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for passing legislation—H.R. 305, the Horse Transportation Safety Act of 2009—that will vastly improve the welfare of horse transport in the United States.

Chairman James Oberstar, D-Minn., and Ranking Member John Mica, R-Fla., exhibited strong leadership for horse protection by moving this bill for a vote. Chairman Oberstar spoke eloquently about the dangers horses faced in a series of accidents involving double-decker trailers and commended the bipartisan nature of the legislation. Rep. Leonard Boswell, D-Iowa, offered an amendment to remove the ban on double deckers from the bill and to simply regulate these vehicles. He then agreed to withdraw the amendment after several members from both parties spoke strongly against it as undermining the need for an immediate ban.

The legislation would prohibit the interstate transportation of horses in a motor vehicle containing two or more levels stacked on top of one another. The bill was introduced by U.S. Reps. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., and Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., and has 70 House cosponsors. In addition to Chairman Oberstar and Rep. Cohen, Reps. John Hall, D-N.Y., Phil Hare, D-Ill., and Frank LoBiondo, R-N.J., also spoke in strong support of the legislation today.

“The time has come for Congress to ban double decker trailers for all horses,” said Keith Dane, The HSUS’ director of equine protection. “We don’t need any more gruesome incidents to know that double-decker trailers are inhumane and unsafe. These vehicles are primarily used by the horse slaughter industry for hauling as many horses as possible from auctions to slaughter plants in Canada and Mexico. The American public loves horses and this legislation is urgently needed to prevent future tragedies.”

Double-decker trailers are designed for animals such as cattle and pigs – shorter-necked species than horses, who require more headroom than double-decker trailers afford. Horses often throw their heads to maintain balance, and injure easily in such vehicles.

The USDA has stated: “We do not believe that equines can be safely and humanely transported on a conveyance that has an animal cargo space divided into two or more stacked levels.” (9 CFR Parts 70 and 88)

“It is time that we put an end to the inhumane practice of using double-decker trailers to transport horses,” Rep. Kirk said. “Stacking these animals one atop the other in a moving vehicle is simply an accident waiting to happen. It is not only a cruel way to transport horses, but it also puts human lives at risk.”

Rep. Cohen said, “Using double-stacked trailers is inhumane and cruel. Our bill prohibits any interstate transportation of horses in double-stacked trailers and implements tough civil penalties for anyone caught using such deplorable modes of transportation for horses.”
Recent accidents graphically demonstrate the dangers of the double-decker trailers. In 2006, a double-decker truck hauling 41 horses in Missouri crashed, killing 16 horses. In 2007, a double-decker carrying 59 horses in Illinois struck another vehicle after blowing through a stop sign. It took five hours to rescue the horses from this mangled truck, resulting in the death of nine horses; six died later due to injuries sustained. In both instances, the design of the trailers caused horses to lose parts of their legs or break their backs. Others were crushed under the weight of other horses falling on top of them.

Congress will soon recess for the summer but returns in September when H.R. 305 is now cleared for a vote before the U.S. House of Representatives.



The following letter was used by the HSUS:

The Honorable Chairman Oberstar
2165 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

RE: SUPPORT H.R. 305 with no amendments

Dear Chairman Oberstar:

We write to endorse H.R. 305, the Horse Transportation Safety Act of 2009. Thank you for your leadership in working for the passage of this important legislation. As leading horse welfare advocates, we object to the inhumane transportation of horses in double-decker trailers that are not designed for horses, and that pose a serious threat to the safety of the public driving on America’s roads and highways. We do not believe that these can be made safe under any conditions, given the physical characteristics of equines and the existing highway safety regulations.

Double-decker trailers were not designed or built with horses in mind. They force horses to endure long journeys with their heads held in an unnatural and uncomfortable position. Far too often we have heard of horrific accidents, where trailers overturned or collided with other vehicles. Horses are crushed and trampled to death, and others escape to run loose on crowded highways.

Although USDA regulations prohibit the use of double-decker trailers to transport horses to slaughter, they do not adequately address horse welfare. Because there are no horse slaughter plants in the U.S., most horses bought for slaughter are transported to holding facilities before being shipped across the border. These dangerous trailers remain the most popular way for killer buyers to transport horses on our public roads.

We hope Congress will act quickly in passing HR 305, without amendment, and in doing so protect not only the welfare of America’s horses, but also the safety of the American public.


Beth DiCaprio
The Grace Foundation

Nicki Branch
FalconRidge Equine Rescue, Inc.

Joan Steelhammer
Equine Outreach, Inc.

Jerry Finch
Habitat for Horses

Leslie Maxwell
AlderHill Farms Equine Rescue

Jill Curtis
Shiloh Horse Rescue

Hilary Wood
Frontrange Equine Rescue

Karen Pomroy
Equine Voices Rescue