| For the Minnesota owners who found their | | | | according to the bill. |
| therapeutic riding horse Poco shot to death | | | | |
| in the pasture, some solace might be found | | | | The bill states that it is a crime to "damage |
| with the recent passage of the Animal | | | | or interfere with a legitimate legal animal |
| Enterprise Terrorism Act. | | | | enterprise." |
| | | | |
| Passed by the U.S. House of Representatives | | | | The act defines the potential fines and |
| on November 13, the bill, supported by the | | | | imprisonment for such related crimes. For |
| American Horse Council, increases the | | | | example, the guilty party can be fined and |
| criminal and monetary penalties for crimes | | | | imprisoned for five years or less if he or |
| against animal owners and requires that | | | | she inflicts between $10,000-$100,000 in |
| restitution be made to owners who suffer | | | | damages or if there is reasonable fear for |
| particular economic losses. | | | | serious human bodily injury or death. |
| | | | |
| The bill's goal is to provide the Justice | | | | The black and white Pinto Poco was a |
| Department with the authority to apprehend, | | | | therapeutic riding horse and belonged to a |
| prosecute and convict individuals committing | | | | family with two autistic sons. The family was |
| animal enterprise terror. | | | | planning to open a therapeutic riding summer |
| | | | camp for children with autism. The horse was |
| An animal enterprise, as defined by the bill, | | | | found shot three times in the leg, and |
| includes academic and commercial institutions | | | | investigators do not believe the shooting to |
| that maintain or sell animals for profit, | | | | be an accident. |
| agriculture, education, research, testing, | | | | |
| food and legal equine events such as horse | | | | Michael Albert is an expert by profession but |
| shows and rodeos. The bill also protects | | | | he is also writing articles on horses, |
| zoos, aquariums, animal shelters, pet stores, | | | | stallion, and trailors for a long time. He |
| breeders, circuses and furriers. The | | | | has done his research work in the same field |
| protection also extends to fairs that | | | | within the organization of Horse Chit Chat. |
| "advance agriculture arts and science," | | | | |