Equine Protection Network
www.EquineProtectionNetwork.com
www.SaveAmericasHorses.com

Horse World Expo 2008
Harrisburg, PA
Booth 819


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reach our goal of 30,000 searches in 30 days by Searching the Net
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Tracking Animal Cruelty Crimes Act of 2007

Sen. Robert Menendez [D, NJ] introduced the Tracking Animal Cruelty
Crimes Act of 2007 on December 10, 2007 in the 110th Session of
Congress. The bill was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
The bill currently has 4 co-sponsors.

This bill will require the National Incident Based Reporting System,
the Uniform Crime Reporting Program, and the Law Enforcement National
Data Exchange Program to list cruelty to animals as a separate
offense category.

Law enforcement agencies report crime statistics to the FBI and the
Department of Justice using NCIC, the UCR, and the recently created
LENDER program. Currently there are no availble statistics on animal
cruelty due to the fact that there is no reporting.

Every state has their own laws regarding animal cruelty and different
agencies have jurisdiction. Police agencies have reporting systems in
place, but no specific category for animal cruelty.

In many states humane societies have the authority to enforce animal
cruelty statutes. Due to a lack of resources, training and/or
standards there is a lack of tracking of animal cruelty
investigations.

In New York the lack of tracking was demonstrated by Nickerson
Livestock's ability to deny knowledge of the NY Horse Transport Law
to the District Attorney's Office when arrested for violating the law
in January 1998. Nickerson Livestock was attempting to enter a plea
agreement with the DA's Office stating that they had no knowledge of
the law and this was a first offense. Fortunately,the EPN was aware
that Nickerson Livestock was the subject of the Syracuse 36 case and
another ongoing investigation in Essex County, NY, and informed the
DA's Office of the the prior and ongoing investigations. Instead of a
plea agreement with a $300.00 fine, the case went to court resulting
in a guilty conviction and a fine of $3000.00.

Pro slaughter organizations point to a supposed rise in horse neglect
cases as a result of the closing of the U.S horse slaughter houses.
Due to the fact that there is no tracking of animal cruelty cases, it
is impossible to make a statement regarding the rise or fall of horse
neglect cases.

Horse cruelty is an under reported crime, and when it is reported,
the invesitgation is often mis handled by investigators who do not
have the knowledge or the resources to properly investigate horse
cruelty cases.

Many times humane agencies that make claims to the public that they
enforce the cruelty law and asking for donations for such, refuse to
respond to complaints from the public of horse neglect. Due to the
efforts of the EPN and other groups such as the Large Animal
Protection Society, LAPS, some of these cases are investigated by
LAPS, or the police with assistance from the EPN or LAPS.

Unfortunately in many cases the complaint is not investigated and the
neglect continues. Sometimes the complainant purchases the horse to
stop the neglect. Finally in too many cases the horse is picked up by
a dealer, taken to an auction and sold in violation of state laws
that prohibit the sale of sick, lame, and debilitated horses. The
horse may be bought by a rescue or by a killer buyer. It is rare that
anyone complains to law enforcement demanding that the law against
selling sick, lame, and debilitated horses be enforced, or the law
against neglect be enforced.

Passage of this legislation will go a long way toward improving the
welfare of animals due to the numbers being available to substantiate
the need for more resources to investigate and prosecute cases of
animal neglect.

The EPN is an advocate for owner responsibility and accountability.
FOr too long neglectful owners have been allowed to dump the animals
they have neglected or abused into slaughter, or onto the American
Public with no negative consequences for ther behavior. When owners
are held accountable by the Criminal Justice System we will see a
change for the better, not a temporary feel good fix.

The EPN urges you to contact your Congressman and ask them to co-
sponsor this much needed and long overdue legislation. Urge any
organization that you are a member of to support this legislation.

Visit this webpage for more information on the bill, including
status, sponsors, and the means to contact the sponsors,


http://www.opencongress.org/bill/110-s2439/show

110th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 2439
To require the National Incident Based Reporting System, the Uniform
Crime Reporting Program, and the Law Enforcement National Data
Exchange Program to list cruelty to animals as a separate offense
category.


IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

December 10, 2007
Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mrs. DOLE, Mr. KENNEDY, and Mr. LEVIN)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to
the Committee on the Judiciary


----------------------------------------------------------------------
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A BILL
To require the National Incident Based Reporting System, the Uniform
Crime Reporting Program, and the Law Enforcement National Data
Exchange Program to list cruelty to animals as a separate offense
category.


Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. INCLUSION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS ON CRIME DATA BASES.

The Attorney General shall, in consultation with the Director of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation, modify the National Incident Based
Reporting System, the Uniform Crime Reporting Program, and the Law
Enforcement National Data Exchange Program to list cruelty to animals
as a separate offense category.

SEC. 2. IMPLEMENTATION.

Section 1 shall be implemented not later than 12 months after the
date of enactment of this Act.

END

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SUPPORT THE EPN!

The EPN needs your support to continue our work to Save America's
Horses.

In 2007 alone 50 horses in one Pennsylvania county now have shelter,
food, and necessary vet care as required under Pennsylvania law due
to the the EPN. The EPN's Christine Berry testified in court and
offered expert opinion on horse management in horse cruelty
investigations conducted by the PA State Police involving 50 horses.

You can support the EPN this Holiday Season by shopping at IGive.com,

Searching the Internet using GoodSearch.com,

Selling your items on Ebay and selecting the EPN as your charity of
choice,

Purchasing your horse care products or gifts at Back In the Saddle,
Jeffers, or Country Supply through the EPN website,

Purchasing your CD's at CDRush.com,

You can tell more people about HR 503 by purchasing merchandise from
the EPN store at Cafe Press.

All of these ways to support the EPN can be found on the EPN website,

http://www.equineprotectionnetwork.com/general/fundraise.htm

Here are some of the EPN Accomplishments:

http://www.equineprotectionnetwork.com/presentations/present.htm

Help us reach our goal of 30,000 searches in 30 days using GoodSearch!
Download the GoodSearch toolbar from GoodSearch.com & start searching
to Save America's Horses!

Have a safe and happy Holiday Season from all of us at the EPN!

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