The Farm Bureau Horse Council spoke in opposition to this bill because it amended the definition section in the animal welfare laws, Title 7 and Title 17 to enact a definition of "companion livestock" and the bill also enacted civil violations for endangering the welfare of animals.

The Horse Council felt that the was no purpose served by adding the definition for companion livestock and there would be significant potential for problems with the proposed definition. The endangerment section of the bill was too vague and could potentially allow normal equine activities to be considered as endangerment.

As a result of the hearings and the working session, definitions for companion livestock and companion animals were struck from the bill and replaced with the word animal in the domestic relations portion of this bill. The entire section on endangerment was also struck from the bill. Norma Worley will rework this section at a later date.

The committee voted this bill as ought to pass with the above amendments. There were a few other amendments as well, but they did not affect horses.

Norma Worley (Director of Animal Welfare), Representative John Piotti and Representative Don Marean were very helpfully in getting these changes made.

Thank you all for you emails and phone calls, they worked.

If you have any questions please ask.

Deborah Plengey