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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 13, 2022 12:19 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Liz Hanbidge |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Requiring Horse Auctions to Disclose Identifying Information |
| Each year, hundreds of thousands of horses are sold at auctions around the nation. While some horses are sold at auctions due to their perceived value in the breeding industry or as racehorses or show horses, many are unfortunately sold at slaughter auctions. At slaughter auctions, horses are sold on a per-pound basis like cattle, loaded onto trucks and taken across the border to Mexico or Canada to be slaughtered for human consumption. Although most horses that are brought to auctions are simply no longer wanted by their owners, some horses come to these auctions through illegitimate means. Many horses have been lost by, or stolen from, owners who want them back, and many of them have identifying markings or microchip implants in them. In an effort to cut down on the number of horses sold at slaughter auctions, I will be introducing legislation that would require horse auctions within the Commonwealth to determine if a horse has a tattoo, brand marking, or implanted microchip. The auction company would be required to place this information, with pictures, on its publicly accessible website at least 72 hours before the horse may be sold at an auction. The auction company would also be required to keep records of all horse markings for one year after the sale. Please join me in sponsoring this important legislation. |
Introduced as HB856