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