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Penn National Gaming Updates Animal Welfare Policy To Ban Transport Via Cargo Ship

Penn National Gaming, Inc. (“PNGI”) has reissued its Animal Welfare Policy that is part of its company wide Horse Racing Guide applicable to all horse racing properties owned or managed by PNGI. PNGI has had an anti-slaughter policy in effect since 2010 and issued its first Horse Racing Guide in 2011 to institute a code of conduct for all racing participants at its facilities. The Horse Racing Guide is updated annually and is paired with local rules for each racing property. Al individuals participating in racing at PNGI properties are subject to the provisions of the Horse Racing Guide.

The newest revision of the Animal Welfare Policy includes new language regarding the transport of horses, including horses being transported via cargo ship, as well as reinforcing responsibility for the overall health and welfare of individuals equine charges.

“The recent reports of horses being shipped via cargo containers has raised awareness and importance of this issue and we felt this was a good opportunity to update and reiterate our policies regarding animal welfare issues,” said Christopher McErlean, Vice President of Racing for PNGI. “This is a priority for PNGI but must also be a priority for all industry participants who need to make a good faith effort to do the right thing in all matters related to equine health and welfare. Those who continue to work outside of these guidelines should not continue to have the privilege of racing at our properties.”

The entire Penn National Gaming, Inc. updated Animal Welfare Policy is provided below:

H. Animal Welfare

The health and safety of the equine participants competing at all PENN racing properties is of paramount importance and all Racing Participants, especially those who are entrusted with the ownership and the ongoing care of these animals, must take all reasonable actions and care to ensure that their equine charges are treated with dignity and respect.

Any Racing Participant covered by this Horsemen's Guide who handles or treats any animal without regard for the well-being of the animal or causes physical injury or pain or suffering to the animal, including excessive or unnecessary training/whipping, transporting, or neglect in the care, feeding or medical attention shown to the animal, as determined in the sole discretion of Racetrack, may be sanctioned. Except as required by statute or regulation, it is the sole responsibility of the trainer to ensure that a licensed and competent veterinarian is available at all times to ensure the health and welfare of such trainer's horses and to attend to trainer's horses at all times such horses are on the grounds of Racetrack in any and all emergency situations in which a regulatory or Racetrack veterinarian is not required to be present or to respond to a trainer's horse(s).

In the event Racetrack receives credible and verifiable information regarding a Racing Participant who knowingly, or without conducting proper due diligence, buys or sells a horse for slaughter, directly or indirectly, such individual(s) may be sanctioned by the Racetrack up to and including revocation of stalls and exclusion from racing at all PENN properties. The Racetrack highly encourages Racing Participants to obtain proper written documentation on sale or transfer of any horse that they previously raced or was stabled on the grounds of Racetrack and lack of such documentation shall be considered a failure in due diligence efforts. The Racetrack reserves the right to require trainer or individuals responsible for a horse to provide such documentation as requested and failure to cooperate may result in sanctions by the Racetrack, up to and including revocations of stalls and exclusion from racing at all PENN properties.

In the event the Racetrack receives credible and verifiable information regarding a Racing Participant who knowingly, or without conducting proper due diligence, ships, assists in the shipping of, or knowingly participates in the sale or transfer of a horse that is transported by cargo container/ship, such individual(s) may be sanctioned by the Racetrack up to and including revocation of stalls and exclusion from racing at all PENN properties. The Racetrack reserves the right to require trainer, owner, or any individuals responsible for a horse to provide documentation proving the shipping method being used for a horse under their care or ownership and failure to cooperate in providing requested information may result in sanctions by the Racetrack, up to and including revocations of stalls and exclusion from racing at all PENN properties.

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United States House Passes Funding Package With Multitude Of Pro-Animal Provisions

The Humane Society Legislative Fund commends the U.S. House of Representatives for passing an appropriations package that features numerous animal protection provisions, including directives for better enforcement of laws that target horse soring and other animal cruelty, expanded shelter options for domestic violence survivors with pets, and measures to prevent horse slaughter on U.S. soil, enhance U.S. Department of Agriculture laboratories' compliance with animal welfare standards, and encourage the transition of egg farmers to cage-free operations.

Other animal welfare provisions approved include funding increases to implement a humane, long-term management regime for wild horses and burros on federal land, combat wildlife trafficking, protect endangered and threatened species, and address the dangers of live wildlife markets and zoonotic disease spillover, along with directives to reduce animal testing and to promote federal building designs and materials that reduce bird mortality from collisions.

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“These extraordinary gains are a testament to the power of the purse, and the clearest possible indication that animal protection enjoys strong support from the majority of House members,” said Sara Amundson, president of Humane Society Legislative Fund. “We'll move right into gear to press the Senate to follow suit, because these are all important measures that deserve to be enacted.”

The bill also prohibits funds from being used by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to issue permits for the import of a sport-hunted trophy of an elephant or lion taken in Tanzania, Zambia or Zimbabwe – three countries where the species populations are in severe decline. Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., led a letter seeking this prohibition signed by a bipartisan set of 33 representatives. An amendment to strike this important provision was defeated.

Additional amendments approved by a vote of 371 to 55 authorize the transfer of $2 million to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to study the plight of the West Indian manatee in Florida and potential remedies, championed by Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., and direct the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to use $5 million for equine assisted therapy within the VA's Adaptive Sports Program, which was advanced by Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky.

The measures are part of H.R. 4502, “Minibus #1”, which passed by a vote of 219 to 208. This package of seven appropriations bills funds several federal departments including Agriculture, Interior, and Health and Human Services, and contains many pro-animal provisions approved by earlier committee action, highlighted here and here.

House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Sanford Bishop, D-Ga., proved a strong champion of animal provisions in his bill, many of which were requested by a bipartisan set of 204 Representatives and 43 Senators led in the House by Reps. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., and Christopher Smith, R-N.J. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., led a committee amendment to limit higher-speed slaughter lines.

“The way we treat animals reflects the values we hold. I'm thrilled to see so many of our bipartisan animal welfare provisions reflected in the appropriation bills moving forward in Congress,” said Rep. Earl Blumenauer, co-chair of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus. “From supporting cage-free egg laying facilities to strengthening the humane handling requirements for poultry plants to stopping horse soring, we are taking critical steps to ensure better treatment of wild and domestic animals.”

By a vote of 217 to 212, the House also passed a separate appropriations bill, H.R. 4373, funding the State Department, U.S. Agency for International Development, and other agencies that adds tens of millions of dollars and key provisions to tackle the combined threats to human health and animal welfare worldwide from wildlife trafficking and live wildlife markets that are associated with zoonotic disease transmission. During debate on that bill, the House approved a good amendment on combatting the trafficking of endangered species, which was offered by Rep. Jackson Lee, D-Texas.

New Zealand’s Animal Welfare Laws Strengthened; Horses Offered Additional Protection

New Zealand has passed new regulations in an effort to strengthen the country's animal welfare system. These regulations cover a variety of animals and procedures, as well as denote who can perform surgical procedures and under what circumstances.

Equine castrations may only be done by a veterinarian or a veterinary student under direct supervision of a vet, and the horse must be given pain medication. Failure to comply can result in fines up to $5,000.

Striking a horse on its head is a new offense that carries a fine of up to $1,500. Failure to provide a horse that is tied with food, water, shade and shelter from extreme weather conditions can carry a fine of up to $900. Any equipment that injures the horse, or prevents it from eating or drinking, is now also a punishable offense.

These regulations become law in August, but will not be enforced until May 9, 2021. Some offenses carry fines and possible convictions. In instances where the horses are severely impacted, prosecution would fall under the Animal Welfare Act, which carries more substantial penalties.