Friday, May 23, 1997

Cracking down on horse thieves in Texas

By J.T. Smith / Abilene Reporter-News

The state of Texas aims to get tougher on horse thieves.

The Texas House of Representatives passed House Bill 2396 dealing with the growing problem of horse theft.

The bill, sponsored by State Rep. Charles Finnell, would create a crime prevention program for horse owners and law enforcement agencies.

If the bill, now awaiting Senate action, becomes law, each horse owner will be able to register an indentification mark with county clerks and the Texas Department of Public Safety which would help identify missing or stolen horses.

A fee of $5 per head from equine packing plants will be split between the Texas Agricultural Extension Service and the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, which is designated to inspect horses at slaughter plants to pay for the cost of the programs.

"With an estimated one million horses in Texas and no required form of identity markings, it is nearly impossible to identify such a stolen animal at a point of sale," Finnell said. "This bill strikes directly at thieves who steal horses for their meat value - and will not affect honest people in the horse industry."

Horse thieves no longer hanged

There was a time in the Old West when horse thieves were hanged.

But currently in Texas, the theft of a horse valued under $20,000 is a felony punishable by a jail term of 180 days to two years, with a fine not to exceed $10,000.

Theft of horses valued at more than $20,000 is a third-degree felony punishable by a jail term of two to 10 years, and a possible fine of up to $20,000.

"The horse industry is vital to our state's economy and must be safeguarded," Finnell said. "With goods and services valued at more than $1.7 billion, and nearly 650,000 people employed in some manner, we need to find a way to swiftly apprehend and punish horse thieves."

Finnell noted that many horse thefts affect recreational horse owners who have a strong emotional attachment to their animal. Efforts to recover those horses are hampered by the fact that they either cannot be identified, or ownership cannot be proven.

Some may be surprised in our so-called modern world to find that horse theft is so prevalent. But they shouldn't be shocked. It's a lucrative business.

"This isn't a tale of the Old West," Finnell said. "Of the hundreds of horses stolen in Texas last year, only a few were recovered."

Finnell said most of the horses were destined for meat packing plants which sell their finished product - boxed and shipped by air - directly to European and Japanese markets for human consumption.

Finnell's bill is pending in the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice.