A copy of this USA law was kindly
provided by the USDA National Agriculture Library
28 hour law of 1873 (amended 1994)
Citation: 49 USC 80502
§ 80502. Transportation of
animals
(a) Confinement.--(1) Except as provided in this section, a
rail carrier, express carrier, or common carrier (except by air or water), a
receiver, trustee, or lessee of one of those carriers, or an owner or master of
a vessel transporting animals from a place in a State, the District of Columbia,
or a territory or possession of the United States through or to a place in
another State, the District of Columbia, or a territory or possession, may not
confine animals in a vehicle or vessel for more than 28 consecutive hours
without unloading the animals for feeding, water, and rest.
(2) Sheep may be confined for an additional
8 consecutive hours without being unloaded
when the 28-hour period of confinement ends at night. Animals may be confined
for--
(A) more than 28 hours when the animals cannot
be unloaded because of accidental or unavoidable causes that could not have
been anticipated or avoided when being careful; and
(B) 36 consecutive hours when the owner or
person having custody of animals being transported requests, in writing and separate
from a bill of lading or other rail form, that the 28-hour period be extended
to 36 hours.
(3) Time spent in loading and unloading
animals is not included as part of a period of confinement under this
subsection.
(b) Unloading, feeding,
watering, and rest.--Animals
being transported shall be unloaded in a humane way into pens equipped for
feeding, water, and rest for at least 5 consecutive hours. The owner or person
having custody of the animals shall feed and water the animals. When the
animals are not fed and watered by the owner or person having custody, the rail
carrier, express carrier, or common carrier (except by air or water), the
receiver, trustee, or lessee of one of those carriers, or the owner or master
of a vessel transporting the animals--
(1) shall feed and
water the animals at the reasonable expense of the owner or person having
custody, except that the owner or shipper may provide food;
(2) has a lien on the animals for providing
food, care, and custody that may be collected at the destination in the same
way that a transportation charge is collected; and
(3) is not liable
for detaining the animals for a reasonable period to comply with subsection (a)
of this section.
(c) Nonapplication.--This section does not apply when
animals are transported in a vehicle or vessel in which the animals have food,
water, space, and an opportunity for rest.
(d) Civil penalty.--A rail carrier, express carrier, or common
carrier (except by air or water), a receiver, trustee, or lessee of one of
those carriers, or an owner or master of a vessel that knowingly and willfully
violates this section is liable to the United States Government for a civil
penalty of at least $100 but not more than $500 for each violation. On learning
of a violation, the Attorney General shall bring a civil action to collect the
penalty in the district court of the