The bill is currently headed to the Assembly floor before going to the governor’s desk for final approval.
Owners of stolen or lost horses would have the means to relocate them before their sale under a Senator Dawn Marie Addiego bill (S-455) that cleared the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on Jan. 24.
“I’m extremely pleased that this bill is close to making its way into law. We need this measure to protect these vulnerable animals that don’t have a voice of their own,” said Addiego (R-8).
The bill will now head to the Assembly floor before going to the governor’s desk for final approval.
The measure requires a horse auctioneer or seller to determine whether the horse has an implanted microchip or has been tattooed or branded and, if so, to display the information online for at least 72 hours before the sale.
“Horses that are stolen, lost during times like a terrible storm or rented out by a trainer and not returned, often find their way to auctions or sales with the rightful owner never knowing of the horse’s whereabouts,” Addiego said.
“Horse rescues and owners have decried the lack of resources to locate and get these horses back, most of which are sold and sent off to slaughter,” she continued.
Hundreds of horse auctions are held each year in every state, and while some people are looking for inexpensive riding horses, the majority of horses are sold to “killer buyers” who represent or sell to horse slaughterhouses, according to The Humane Society.
Under the bill, horse auctioneers and sellers would be able to work with local rescues to photograph and post online any horses that have a microchip or brand. Records on the date and time of the posting and the date and time of when the horse was sold would have to be kept for a minimum of one year.
Any violation of the law would be subject to a civil penalty of up to $200 for the first offense and $500 for the second and each subsequent offense.
