Companion animal welfare act requirements

Chapter 346 in the Minnesota Pet and Companion Animal Welfare Act defines equines as horses, ponies, mules and burros. Horse owners must meet the following legal minimum requirements.

Requirements

Food

You must provide equines with food of sufficient quantity and quality to allow for normal growth or maintenance of bodyweight. Feed standards shall be those recommended by the National Research Council.

Water

You must provide equines with clean, potable water in sufficient quantity to satisfy the animal's needs or allow for free choice. Snow or ice isn’t an adequate water source.

Shelter

Provide equines with at least free choice protection or shelter from adverse weather conditions including:

• Direct sun

• Extreme heat or cold

• Wind

• Precipitation

Natural or constructed shelters must be large enough to provide proper protection. Constructed shelters must meet the following:

• Structurally sound

• Free of injurious matter

• Maintained in good repair

• Ventilated

Outside exercise paddocks don’t require separate constructed shelters, if you don’t keep equines outside during adverse weather conditions.

Space and cleanliness requirements

Constructed shelters except for tie stalls must provide space for the animal to (1) roll with a minimum danger of being cast; or (2) easily stand, lie down and turn around.

You must keep stalls clean and dry such that the animal doesn’t need to lie or stand in fluids. You must provide bedding in all stalls, keep it reasonably clean and routinely change it. The bedding must be safe for the animal.

Exercise

You must provide equines opportunity for periodic exercise. This can be through a free choice or forced work program unless a licensed veterinarian restricts exercise.

Hoof care

You must keep all of your equines’ hooves properly trimmed routinely to prevent lameness.

Transportation

You must provide your equines food and water in sufficient amounts to minimize stress and maintain hydration.

The vehicle must meet the following:

• Contains a floor capable of safely supporting the horse’s weight.

• Contains floors of nonskid construction or nonskid material that sufficiently provides the animal with traction during transport.

• Provides at least 12 inches between the withers of the largest equine and the structure above the animal while it’s in a natural standing position.

• Contains sturdy partitions at least every 10 feet inside the vehicle.

• Contains smooth construction in the interior compartments with no protruding or sharp objects.

• Has ventilation.

Reporting cases

Veterinarians must report known or suspected cases of abuse, cruelty or neglect to peace officers and humane agents.

If you know of or suspect an animal neglect or cruelty case, please contact one of the following:

• Animal Humane Society (AHS) (763-489-2235).

• Your local law enforcement agency.

• An animal control facility.

Your call will be kept confidential, but you may be asked to testify (if charges are filed), or submit an eyewitness statement. Follow up with AHS for more information. You will need to leave your name and a phone number in case they need more information. Have available the correct address of where the violation is occurring. This will be needed to open an investigation.

For your safety, never approach someone you suspect of animal cruelty or neglect. Always contact the correct agency(ies) to best resolve the problem.