Wednesday, March 23, 2011

What Massachusetts SB655 would do for horses . . .


Massachusetts Senate Bill S655, as introduced by Sen. Stephen Brewer, would:
- make it illegal for anyone to slaughter or cause or procure the slaughter of an equine for human consumption;
-  make it illegal for anyone to sell, offer to sell or barter, give away, purchase, possess, transport, deliver, or receive any equine with the intent of slaughtering or otherwise causing or procuring the death of an equine for human consumption;
- make it illegal for anyone to import into or export from this state, live equines where such person knew or should have known that such equine is intended for slaughter for human consumption; 
- require the state Secretary of Agriculture to maintain records of ownership and a statement signed by the owner under penalty of perjury of the destination of any equine that is  exported from the Commonwealth;
-  provide that these records of ownership and statement of destination would be available upon request to the Dept. of Health or any state or local law enforcement or animal control agency; 
- make it illegal for anyone to possess, ship, transport, purchase, sell, deliver, or receive, any equine, with the intent that it is to be exported from the Commonwealth, without evidence of ownership;
- make it illegal to acquire, possess or deliver a false statement of such ownership or statement of the destination of an equine which is to be exported or which has been exported from the Commonwealth;
- direct the Secretary of Agriculture to make such regulations that are necessary to implement and enforce the provisions of the law, including a scheme of civil penalties;
- impose criminal penalties including fines and jail time and courts would have the discretion to require a mental health evaluation and treatment and prohibit violators from keeping or residing with other animals; 
- make it illegal for anyone to sell,  barter, offer to sell or barter, give away, purchase, possess, transport, deliver, or  receive  horseflesh for human consumption and for which violations fines could be imposed;

Contact your state senator and rep today, and ask them to VOTE YES for S655!
Find yours at:
http://www.malegislature.gov/People/FindMyLegislator

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