Legislation Information

Double Deck Cattle Trailers Transporting Horses

On the use of double decker cattle trailers to transport horses. Any state that has a law against the cruel and inhumane transport of horses or animals, can use that law to prosecute people who use double deckers to transport horses. In court the prosecutor must prove and demonstrate why a double deck cattle trailer is cruel and inhumane for horses. This is not difficult. This is a no brainer.

Double deck cattle trailers are not manufactured or designed to transport horses.

• Do you see double deck cattle trailers advertised in horse magazines?
  
   
• Do you see companies that manufacture both double deck cattle trailers and horse trailers advertising their double deckers in horse magazines, or do they advertise their vans designed for horses?
  
   
• Manufacturers refer to double deck trailers as "cattle" or "hog" trailers, not horse trailers.
  
   
• Do you see commercial horse transport companies using double deckers to transport horses?
  
   
• Does your vet recommend you transport your horse in a double deck cattle trailer?
  
   
• Do articles on trailering or transporting horses recommend that you use a double deck cattle trailer to transport a horse?
  
   
• How many trailers designed to carry 6 or more horses, do trailer manufacturers sell with a height of less than 6'6"? 6'9"? 7'?
  
   
• How many horse trailers have 3 inch "I" beams protruding below the ceiling of the trailer?
  
   
• How many horse trailers force a horse to go down a ramp into the trailer? A ramp and opening so small, that the only way horses will go down them is with electric cattle prods?
  
   

Read, learn & print out your state's anti-cruelty law. Put a copy of it in your car in the glovebox. Be on the alert for double deck trailers carrying horses. If you see horses inside a double deck cattle trailer:

• Write down the license plate of the trailer.
• Description of the truck and the trailer.
• Location of the trailer and the direction it is traveling.
• Call law enforcement and report an incident of cruelty to animals.
• Most humane agents do not have the power to stop a vehicle.
• Be prepared to tell law enforcement why it is cruel and inhumane to transport horses this way. (It forces the horses to hold their heads down. Prevents the horses from raising their heads. Remember there may also be injured horses in the trailer. The trailer may be overcrowded.)

Getting Involved

• Learn your state's laws.
• What horse organizations in your state represent the horses industry in the state legislature?
• Do they represent you on horse welfare issues? Many state horse councils are in favor of horse slaughter and do not take a strong stand on the enforcement of anti-cruelty laws as they apply to horses.
• If the horse industry organizations in your state do not represent your views on horse slaughter and horse welfare, write to your state representatives and let them know that these organizations do NOT represent you, a member of the horse industry, on this issue.
• Inform the horse organizations that you are a member of that you are opposed to the use of double cattle trailers to transport horses & opposed to the slaughter of horses for human consumption.

This section of our website has information on action you can take to help the horses; pending legislation; USDA Regulations on the handling and slaughter of horses; individual state transport laws; California's Prop 6 which banned the sale of CA horses to slaughter, (Yes, CA's horse industry is still thriving!) and other related information.

Many states have their laws, (statutes or codes) online. You can check on the status of legislation affecting horses by going to your state legislatures website and doing a search. Type in the word "equine" or "horse". Often you can communicate with your state and or United States Senators and Representatives by e-mail. Remember though to include your full name and address in your e-mail.