Livestock vehicles must be covered

By Anna Weaver
Advertiser Staff Writer

People transporting horses, cows and other livestock on public roadways must now use covered trailers, under a city ordinance that went into effect June 16.

The City Council passed the ordinance after the death of a horse that jumped from an uncovered trailer onto H-1 Freeway near 'Aiea Heights last August. A passing motorcycle had startled the horse, which leaped out of the moving trailer. No other vehicles were involved, and the horse died before it could be removed from the freeway.

"Traveling in vehicles can be very traumatic for animals," said Pamela Burns, president and CEO of the Hawaiian Humane Society. "This law shows that the county is committed to improving conditions for animals in our community."

The law was sponsored by councilwoman Ann Kobayashi. Violators may be fined $57.82, according to the Honolulu Police Department.

The law applies to trucks, trailers and semi-trailers. Ventilation holes in the vehicles cannot be so big that an animal could fall or jump out. Open-air trailers, or vehicles with some portion of the walls open to the outdoors, such as windows, must have hard-top covers.

The ordinance covers bovine animals such as cows, bulls, steers and oxen, and equine animals, including horses, donkeys and mules.

"That's an excellent thing to require," said Katy Gibson, co-owner of New Town & Country Stables. She says she transports her horses in enclosed trailers. "It not only protects them (the horses), it keeps everyone else safer, too."

Reach Anna Weaver at aweaver@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2455.