Exposing Truths

And They Lived Happily Ever After.......THE END.

2009-04-10T18:01:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to announce that the horses of J.C. Cutters were moved to an adoption facility in Woodstock, IL at the end of March and are now up for adoption!

Looks like Cassa, Natalie, Dr. Seuss, Rita, Sue and Butch will end up with the forever homes that they deserve. Homes that won't include working the streets of Chicago or being kept in filthy conditions. Their new owners will be stable, no pun intended, and able to support these animals needs for the rest of their days.

We couldn't be more proud of The City of Chicago for doing their job.
Anyone who is interested in adoption should contact HAHS at www.hahs.org.

Thank you and Goodnight!

Exposed Truths.

Honesty?

2009-02-21T10:46:00.000-08:00

Hey guys - I love you all. You are all most wonderful.

At the moment, I'm so effing shot, it ain't funny. I'd be more effusive, but I've got to save it for putting together some information for some people.

I will post pictures when I've got some rest behind me. I went in today and found hay in one of the horses' stalls, water in buckets, and three bales of hay left (which I knew about because I was planning on picking up another load shortly). IOW, someone had been in there that morning to feed.

I will put out a warning that the stalls were gross. We're situated at a disadvantage for water run off. The barn's located at the bottom of a run off to the river, and we have a raised lot on one side. The lot's higher than us by 16" or more. The sudden melt flooded right into the barn. Add to that what had frozen in the stalls that was thawing out, and one has grossness. However, they weren't hock deep in shit as we'd been keeping the stalls cleaned out on a regular basis. We had plans to strip and reshave on Friday, which got rudely interrupted.

I'm all about being honest, which is why I'm putting out a warning. I'll be able to get back on tomorrow evening and get the pictures up then.

-"Hoss Driver"

Follow Up Story

2009-02-13T03:33:00.000-08:00

Seized Chicago Carriage Horses Find Temporary Home in Suburbs
by: Lisa Kemp
February 11 2009, Article # 13598
As found on http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=13598

Six Chicago horses belonging to J.C. Cutters Ltd. carriage company were seized on Friday, Feb. 6, amid conflicting reports on the reason for--and questions on the legality of--the action. The horses were taken to Flanery Farms, a private boarding stable in Maple Park, Ill.

"Animal Care and Control didn't have a court order to seize the horses," said Michele Goudie, J.C. Cutters Ltd. manager since 1997. "We've tried to comply with everything the city has asked us to do. It just never seems to be enough."

J.C. Cutters has reportedly received prior citations regarding animal care violations; calls to the City of Chicago Animal Care and Control office to confirm the number and nature of the citations, and to confirm the physical condition of the horses last Friday, were not returned.

One issue cited in media reports is J.C. Cutters' current stable, located at 1501 N. Magnolia on Chicago's Near Northwest side. Although some have described it as a tent, it is a wooden stall structure, covered by a white tarp.

According to Scott Waguespack, City Council member and alderman of the 32nd Ward, the temporary stable was never meant to be a permanent structure. "It was built in August, 2008, as temporary housing while they looked for a more permanent solution. The building they were using (previously) was cited through the city's Building Department because it had walls that were collapsing."

Although the future of the horses is uncertain, Flanery Farm owners Gerry and Franki Ellerbee report they're doing fine. The six horses are now receiving a minimum of eight hours of daily turnout, are housed in clean stalls at night, and are being fed a diet of grass hay and pelleted feed.

"They're running out in the pastures, and have already gone through 20 bales of hay," said Franki.

Cutters Court Case and Adoption Process

2009-02-11T11:34:00.000-08:00

We've been swarmed with e-mails from our very devoted readers about what will happen to J.C. Cutters horses now that they've been confiscated.

It's quite simple really, they'll be adopted to forever homes. Homes where they'll always be respected and treated kindly. There will be many court proceedings in the next few months with the most recent being on March 12th. One reader brought up a very valid concern. "If the company didn't have money to keep the horses in a wholesome manner then, what makes anyone think that they'll be able to provide for them if they get them back?" Don't worry reader, we're sure the city has thought about that long and hard. CACC has built a solid case against Cutters and will defend their decision to remove the animals from their care. Something tell us that the prosecution will have plenty of knowledge when they walk in to court on March 12th.

Some VERY BASIC Information on Equine Care

2009-02-09T14:00:00.000-08:00

An article found about how to clean a horse's stall. Full article available here: http://horses.about.com/od/basiccare/ht/stallclean.htm Author: Katherine Blocksdorf

No reasonable horseman/woman could disagree that stall cleaning should happen once a day or maybe twice if the horses NEVER get turned out.

If your horse lives in a stall for any part of his day, you'll have to keep it clean. Unclean stalls attract insects and could encourage hoof problems like thrush. Breathing ammonia from urine saturated bedding can be harmful to your horse's or pony's sensitive lungs. It's unpleasant to work in and smelly for you too. Stall cleaning should be a daily task.

Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 20 minutes

Here's How:
Dress for the Job Dress in appropriate clothing. Gloves can prevent blisters. Urine can erode the stitching on the soles of leather riding boots. Save yourself boot cleaning time by changing into work or rubber boots.

Clear the Work Area: Take your horse out of the stall. A good time to muck out is when your horse is in his pasture. If you can't put him out, put him in an empty stall. Remove all the feed tubs, water buckets and stall toys.

Assemble Your Tools: Get your cleaning tools and park your wheelbarrow or cart close to the stall door facing in the direction you'll want to go when the barrow is full. It's easier to maneuver an empty wheelbarrow than a full one.

Dig In: If the stall is bedded with straw use a pitchfork to remove manure and wet or soiled bedding. If shavings or sawdust have been used, use the shavings fork to remove manure and wet bedding. Fork the manure into the wheelbarrow or cart. Sometimes it's easier to pick up wet bedding with a shovel.

Head for the Manure Pile: Wheel the filled barrow and dump out the contents in the assigned area (the manure pile). It's tempting to fill the wheelbarrow really high, but this can make it hard to push and easy to tip. It's frustrating having to clean up manure a second time because you've tipped over the wheelbarrow!

Do a Thorough Job: Continue cleaning out the dirty bedding. Scrape the unsoiled bedding to one side, and check that there is not wet or manure soiled bedding hiding underneath.
Even The Surface: Once you've removed all the manure and wet bedding, spread the cleaner bedding back over the whole stall area. Check around the edges of the stall as clean bedding sometimes gets tossed against the walls as the horse moves around. This leaves a thinner area in the middle or where the horse usually stands. Distribute the bedding evenly.

Add Clean Bedding: Add new bedding to replace any that has been removed. You'll either add a whole bale of straw, or portions of one. Fluff it with a pitchfork. Some stables have truckloads of loose shavings piled, or some buy bags of compacted shavings. Use your wheelbarrow to transport fresh shavings to the stall, or open a bag and fluff the compacted shavings with the shavings fork.

How Thick To Bed: Gauge how thick to bed by what type of floor is under the bedding and what season it is. If there is thick rubber matting on the stall floors, bedding can be thinner. On concrete, especially during cold weather, add more bedding to provide padding and urine absorption. Sand floors are easier on the horse's legs, but may get saturated with urine quickly if not enough bedding is put down.

Weekly Maintenance: You may want to completely strip a stall occasionally. In this case, keep filling your wheelbarrow until the stall floor is bare. Use the shovel to scrape up remnants of bedding and the broom to sweep it clean. You may want to put down odor control solution or stable disinfectant. Let the floor dry before re-bedding.

Keep Alleys and Doors Clear: After you've finished cleaning and bedding the stall, use the broom to sweep up spilled manure, straw or shavings in alleys and doorways. Scoop up the sweepings into the shovel and toss them into the manure pile. Manure, chaff and bedding pushed out a doorway will turn into a muddy mess in wet weather.

Prepare Tools for Next Use: Put all the tools away where they won't cause a tripping hazard.
Ready for Your Horse: Replace feed tubs, buckets and toys so the stall will be ready for your horse when he comes in.

J.C. Cutters UPDATES

2009-02-06T16:25:00.000-08:00

Various news stories with video.

http://www.wgntv.com/evening_news

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=6644997

http://cbs2chicago.com/local/carriage.horse.rescue.2.928664.html

Horses Caught in Carriage Companies' Crunch as posted at http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/horse-carriage-.html#2bfnHY6261BsUZkWnkB

Chicago police crews converged on a property in the West Town neighborhood on Friday as part of an investigation into the alleged neglect of several horses by a carriage operator.
The investigation focuses on five to seven horses found in a vacant field inside a tent at 1501 N. Magnolia Ave., according to police News Affairs Officer Laura Kubiak.
The tent had a tarp over it that likely offered little protection in the brutal cold, CBS2chicago.com reported.
The stable is operated by J.C. Cutter, which told NBC Chicago in October, "We love our work and our horses. The horses are thoroughly examined every three months by a veterinarian."
She did not know what time the horses were discovered, but said police and representatives of three animal protection agencies were at the scene late Friday morning.
Rescue crews had to get through a gate that was chained shut and blocking access, according to CBS2 Chicago.
.

ANOTHER STORY

2009-02-06T11:42:00.000-08:00

neglected Horses Rescued
Tim Jackson
February 6, 2009

Chicago police have rescued half a dozen neglected horses in the Old Town neighborhood of Chicago. Investigators tell WGN-TV that they found the horses in a vacant lot in a tent, in the 1500 block of North Magnolia. They were malnourished and cold.
Police say they belonged to a carriage operator who apparently abandoned them.

J.C. Cutters horses REMOVED BY AUTHORITIES!

2009-02-06T11:05:00.001-08:00

It has been confirmed by a media outlet that authorities have confiscated all the horses from 1501 N. Magnolia. The horses are owned by J.C. Cutters and were seen being loaded on a very large "horse moving van."

There will be stories on every station in Chicago tonight and in every major news paper too.

***More news as it becomes available***

xoxo

E.T.

A Story by Sara Olkon of Chicago Tribune

2009-02-06T10:09:00.000-08:00

Interesting that this story came up the SAME day as J.C. Cutters is accused of starving their horses. Not looking good for the Chicago carriage industry.

Horse-drawn carriage firms say business is suffering
They blame Chicago regulations, cold as some companies go out of business
By Sara Olkon Tribune reporter
February 6, 2009

Dan Sampson says he and some competitors want the city to change how it deals with horse-drawn carriages.

Tate the carriage horse now spends his days eating hay inside a small, quiet lot in Old Town.Until recently, the rugged draft horse was accustomed to a life of far more majesty and bustle. The 11-year-old Percheron was one of the regular carriage horses stationed on North Michigan Avenue, and he performed in equine shows in Old Town. But Tate has been out of work since last month, when his bosses at Noble Horse Carriages ceased operations."We are essentially closed," said Dan Sampson, the owner of Noble Horse Theatre. Until last month, Noble Horse staged equine performances inside its riding hall and ran carriage rides in downtown Chicago.Sampson blames the city—specifically the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection—for the way it has handled the carriage-staging rules since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. At that time, the city shuttered two prime locations on Michigan Avenue: at Pearson Street and Superior Street.

With those spots gone, the remaining five carriage businesses had to compete for three spots on Michigan Avenue. Without an "assigned parking" system on Magnificent Mile to distinguish the different companies, he and his competitors have had to scramble for locations, he said. Because of that, they have lost repeat customers and visibility, he said, adding that assigned spots are safer for horses because the animals crave familiarity.Norma Reyes, the commissioner of consumer services, said through her spokeswoman that the department responded to the industry by holding a lottery last season that designated permanent spots for the horse-drawn carriages.But the lottery was rejected by the carriage operators, city officials and the operators said."They weren't pleased with the results," said Efrat Stein, spokeswoman for the department.Sampson called the lottery a "preposterous" system that scattered the horse staging spots at "random spots that have no tourist value," including Buckingham Fountain and the Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St. He said people have come to expect the carriages on the Magnificent Mile.Stein said the department will review the parking issue for the next carriage season, which begins in the spring."Moving forward, we will need to assess the needs of the industry again and determine the best way to address this issue," she said.Sampson, a third-generation livery man, is calling for changes in the system as is at least one competitor.Antique Coach & Carriage has been conducting carriage rides downtown for 24 years, said Debbie Hay, Antique's owner. The current system makes it difficult for her to attract business, she said."I have to worry about establishing it as a place people know where to come," she said.The other carriage companies could not be reached for comment. One of them, JC Cutters, did not have its city license renewed this year after city inspectors found, among other problems, that the stables were not up to code, Stein said. JC Cutters is appealing the decision.To be sure, the staging areas aren't the only thing hurting carriage rides.The rides aren't cheap—generally about $70 an hour. And animal rights activists have long been hostile to horse carriage rides; some critics say forcing horses to work is inherently inhumane.Operators said business has been down in recent months, compared to the same period in past years. Hay blames the staging rules, the economy and the harsher than normal winter weather. City rules prohibit the horses from working if it's 15 degrees or colder, or if the roads are hazardous because of ice or snow. In summer, horses aren't allow to work if it's 90 degrees or hotter.Sampson said the damage wrought by the city's staging system has been fatal for his business. With $2 million in revenue lost from falling carriage ride sales over the last six years, Sampson said he can no longer keep either the carriage rides or the theater running. He stopped the carriage rides Jan. 1. Ten days later, he staged the last equine show.Tate the carriage horse, meanwhile, spends his days doing little more than eating and hanging out—something that saddens Sampson."If they can't go out and work, they get frustrated," he said.

BREAKING NEWS BY WGN: 6 STARVED CARRIAGE HORSES FOUND

2009-02-06T09:32:00.000-08:00

BREAKING NEWS. HAS SOMEONE FINALLY HEARD OUR PLEA???!!!!! ARE THE HORSES OF J.C. CUTTERS FINALLY SAVED? WE THINK SO. FOUND AT http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/02/up-to-7-horse-found-in-lincoln-park-field.html

6 starved carriage horses found
February 6, 2009 10:47 AM No Comments
A carriage operator neglected up to a half-dozen horses in West Town, Chicago police said this morning.
The horses are malnourished and were left in a vacant field in a tent, police said.

They could not provide further details of the incident, but said the horses were in the 1500 block of North Magnolia Avenue this morning.

--Beshanda Spencer

Winter Water

2009-01-31T15:37:00.000-08:00

ANOTHER ARTICLE FROM http://www.thehorse.com/

Editor's Note: This excerpt is from Chapter 7 of Care & Management of Horses by Heather Smith Thomas. The book is available from http://www.exclusivelyequine.com/ViewProduct.aspx?productID=B11-1086(BHP) .

Make sure horses have good access to water and are drinking. They drink less during cold or wet weather, but still need an adequate supply or they may become impacted. If water is quite cold or freezes and the horse isn’t drinking enough, he’ll eat less feed and may lose weight or be less able to keep warm. Horses will eat snow, nibbling a few bites of snow periodically while eating or grazing. A horse at pasture may get along fine if snow conditions are right for eating it easily (not hard and crusted), but there’s always some risk for impaction.

If his manure becomes firm and dry instead of soft and moist, the horse is not getting adequate water. He won’t eat all of his hay, though this clue may escape your notice if he’s in a group and the other horses eat the hay he leaves. If he is dehydrated and not eating enough, his flanks and abdomen will draw up and he’ll look gaunt.

Check the water twice daily to break ice if necessary. If horses are using a stream or pond they may be hesitant to step on ice to reach a water hole you’ve chopped. You may have to spread sand on the ice to give them safer footing. Water in a bucket can be warmed with a submersible bucket heater, but these are risky and can shock a horse if they don’t work properly or if a horse plays with the cord. Some buckets have built-in heating elements.

Horses drink more if the water is not ice-cold. Make sure a horse has an adequate amount in the mornings, since he will drink more during the warmer daylight hours. Many horses drink less at night if the weather is cold. Horses drink most of their daily water within three hours after being fed. If you supply them with hot tap water at night (not burning hot, but fairly warm) at feeding time, it won’t freeze before they drink it. In some situations, providing hot tap water twice a day is more convenient and safer than using an electrical heater in a water bucket.

Horse Health Tips for Extreme Cold Weather

2009-01-30T17:29:00.000-08:00

J.C CUTTERS HORSES ARE IN DANGER. THIS ARTICLE WAS FOUND AT WWW.THEHORSE.COM AND IS COURTESY OF MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. GET THOSE HORSES OUT OF THE TENT NOW. SOMEONE DO SOMETHING! THESE ANIMALS ARE BEING NEGLECTED AND ARE AT SERIOUS RISK OF DYING IF THIS IS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE. THE RULES CLEARLY STATE THAT J.C. CUTTER IS IN VIOLATION.

This winter has been unusually cold in some areas, with temperatures well below freezing for many days in a row. This extreme cold weather can be particularly dangerous to animals that live outdoors. The Michigan State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital is reporting an increase in the number of animals presenting with starvation and problems related to exposure.
During the winter it is imperative that you monitor your horses' body weight by putting your hand on them frequently! Furry coats make visual assessment of body condition impossible--the only way you can assess your animals' condition is by touch.

As temperatures continue to remain unusually cold it is also important to remember that your animals require more calories to maintain body temperature and body weight. Once an animal's body condition has deteriorated it might no longer be strong enough to eat enough food to survive. Remember, older animals with poor dentition (teeth) and young animals might require more feed, and might need to be fed separately from other horses to ensure adequate intake.

Points to remember
The average inactive horse needs to eat 1.5 to 2% of its body weight in food per day to just maintain weight without any other energy demands. In the winter, the amount needed will increase as the demand to keep warm will increase the amount of energy the horse expends. This means that the average 1,000 lb horse in good condition needs at least 20 lbs of hay during normal weather and might need as much as 35 to 40 lbs of hay and grain products during cold weather! If your horse is considered underweight the amount of feed should be calculated based on his ideal weight, not his current weight. While hay diets are ideal, certain animals will require grain, complete feeds, or fat supplements to maintain body weight.

Remember, during extremely cold weather, to provide extra (free choice) hay, as this will generate more energy and comfort than just increasing the grain (concentrate) portion of the diet. Just the physical aspect of moving and eating will make the horse more comfortable. The hay fermenting in the large intestinal tract will generate heat and finally, the horse will utilize the calories absorbed from the feed.

Separate young, old, or debilitated horses as the dominant horse will frequently eat most of the food provided resulting in some horses being healthy and others facing malnutrition.
Blankets and shelters will help decrease energy demands. However, remember that a blanket hides the body condition so it is important to place your hands under the blanket and remove it at least every week or so to assess body condition.
Old horses with poor dentition might require complete pelleted feeds that are easily broken down, as they might be unable to adequately chew hay. Determine the amount to feed based on the horse's ideal weight, and keep in mind that more will be needed if severe energy demands are present.
Water intake is also very important during the winter. Many horses will suffer from impaction colics due to inadequate water intake. Because they have sensitive teeth, older horses might require the water to not only be frost free, but warmed.

Body condition score
The body condition scoring (BCS) system is based on a 1 through 9 scale and is designed to assess a horses overall condition. Horses with a BCS less than a 4 are at increased risk of hypothermia and starvation, especially when the weather conditions cause an increase in energy demands just to maintain weight. If an individual is already thinner than desired (BCS < 4), they will not have adequate body mass (fat) to help with insulation from the cold or provide a supply of energy when the diet is lacking and demands are higher than expected.
To determine your horse's BCS you must touch your horse, especially in the winter as winter hair can hide a horse's true BCS, often until it is too late to successfully correct the weight loss. Feel over the ribs, neck, shoulder area, mid spine, hips, and tail head. If your horse's ribs over the widest part of the barrel are easily felt with little or no tissue between the skin and ribs, the BCS is below 4. This horse is suffering from malnutrition and is at a high risk of hypothermia when the temperature drops, particularly if the wind chill is high and little to no shelter is available.

For more information on body condition and feeding horses during the winter, please contact your veterinarian.
Article courtesy Judy Marteniuk, DVM, MS, equine extension veterinarian, and Elizabeth Carr, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, ACVECC, equine clinican, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University

Noble Horse calls it QUITS?!

2009-01-20T17:25:00.000-08:00

An article from the Chicago Reader:

"The Noble Horse Theatre and stable suspended operations last week after what director Dan Sampson describes as a six-year battle with the city over “simple things.” The January 10 performance of The Nutcracker on Horseback was “our last,” Sampson says. Classes in the company’s 138-year-old, two-story stable have halted, as have Noble Horse carriage rides in Streeterville. The main issue, according to Sampson, is the city’s refusal to reopen two Mag Mile carriage parking and pickup locations, closed in the aftermath of 9/11—one on Pearson east of Michigan and the other on the southwest corner of Michigan and Superior. Without them or comparable new spots, five carriage companies’ rigs have to crowd into the three remaining locations, reducing revenues for everybody.Carriage rides generate half of the Noble Horse’s income, Sampson says, and make it possible for him to maintain the building, which is “the only riding hall left in the city of Chicago and the oldest active riding hall in North America.”“After 30 years of running carriages and 25 years of trying to save a historic asset, we’re going to have to close because the Department of Consumer Services doesn’t understand our business,” Sampson says. “I’ve drawn my line in the sand.”Consumer Services commissioner Norma Reyes says she’s “tried to work with the [carriage] industry, but Mag Mile has changed a great deal” and is “much denser” now than it once was. “This is a public safety issue. You can’t have that much foot and car traffic and horses all in one area.” She maintains that there are other locations the 29 licensed carriages in the city could use, such as the area around Millennium Park."

Blizzard Warning in effect for Chicago! Cops promise to ticket!

2009-01-12T14:23:00.000-08:00

Chicago is under a BLIZZARD WARNING! We're excited to play in the snow! What we are not excited about is the thought of Chicago's carriage horses working in the extreme temperatures and on slick Chicago streets.

Being the caring and concerned folks that we are, we have put in a few calls and sent a few e-mails to various city departments. They assure us that they will be ticketing any and all carriages who attempt to work a carriage horse in temperatures that are to cold or snow. Car travel is a pain in a blizzard, throw a carriage into the mix and there is potential for terrible accidents!

Special thanks to all those in a position of power who actually care about the horses! We wish some of the owners would give their horses the same regard.

MORE bad weather for Chicago carriage horses to endure.

2008-12-20T14:43:00.000-08:00

Chicago weather is expected to be terrible the next several days. Very low temperatures and wind chills. We've made the appropriate calls in order to insure the horses won't be working in the frigid temperatures. Heck, we've gotten e-mails from CURRENT CHICAGO CARRIAGE DRIVERS begging us to do something so THEY don't have to work in the cold. It's not only cruel to the horses but the the people who drive them. It seems some of the drivers out there DO have a heart and DO hear what we are saying. While we're sure they don't want a ban on their industry, we're sure that some want to see the horses they drive receive better care.

We've gotten so many letters from unnamed drivers telling us stories of neglectful owners and how there were times when there wasn't any hay or the drivers have brought their horses home to filthy stalls to sleep in for the night. It's inhumane and carriage drivers KNOW IT.

Noble Horse carriage horse escapes (April 2008)

2008-12-19T14:44:00.000-08:00

Yet another reason it's just not safe to have horses in the city. Lucky for owner, Dan Sampson AND the horse that she didn't get to North Avenue or Division Street. This isn't the first time horses have escaped from the Old Town stable.

Here's a video from ABC 7 here in Chicago

Community Media Workshop article by Curtis Black

2008-12-17T19:29:00.000-08:00

This Newstip edited by Curtis BlackContact: 312-344-7783 fax 312-344-6404 curtis@newstips.org

Carriage Companies Challenged Newstip Date: 12-17-2008

Animal rights activists shut down horse carriage traffic on Michigan Avenue last Friday -- the first time a city ordinance banning carriage operations when temperatures drop below 15 degrees has been enforced, they say -- and the city is responding to complaints by shutting down one horse carriage company as of January 1.

A network of animal rights activists from a number of groups, gathered around the open web forum Ban The Carriage, has been holding weekly protests at North Michigan Avenue carriage stands since December 6, calling for a complete ban on the industry. This month regular protests are being held on Saturdays starting at noon; unannounced protests are being held at other times, said activist Marcos Alcozer.

Last Friday temperatures reached 13 degrees and protesters called police repeatedly, Alcozer said. When they arrived they were unfamiliar with the ordinance, "but they verified it and checked the weather conditions and ordered the carriages to go home," he said.

The following Monday, with more frigid temperatures, activists emailed police and the Department of Consumer Services, and when they checked that evening, a Consumer Services inspector was on site to enforce the ordinance, Alcozer said.

Meanwhile, Kerri Stojack of Ald. Scott Waguespack's 32nd Ward office said the Department of Consumer Services is not renewing the business license of JC Cutters Ltd, one of four carriage companies with stands on North Michigan.

The company houses its horses in an unpermitted tent on the Chicago River which lacks electricity and running water, and it has racked up numerous complaints from the city's Animal Care and Control Commission for inadequate shelter and unsanitary conditions, with horse's hay mixed with manure and urine. It was the subject of a WMAQ-TV investigation in October (video).

"It's a big victory," said Alcozer, "but it was an easy target."

His group maintains that the horse carriage industry is inhumane, exposing horses to exhaustion, oversized loads, extreme temperatures, and leg and hoof ailments, as well as the dangers of city traffic. And the city doesn't have the resources to ensure that horses are well kept and not overworked.

"We've met a lot of police officers in the 18th District, and they're all great guys, but they have a lot on their hands," Alcozer said. "Hopefully we can take this off their plate."

The protesters also talk with prospective carriage customers, and many end up deciding not to hire a carriage and sign a petition to ban the industry, he said."It's impossible to make horse-drawn carriages humane," Alcozer said. "The only solution is a permanent ban." Until that's in place, he said, protesters intend to be out there.

More Info:
Marcos Alcozar at Ban The Carriage, 312-218-7834
Karri Stojack at 32nd Ward Office, 773-248-1330

Update

2008-12-15T19:08:00.000-08:00

As we stated earlier, we spoke with Ms. Reyes about the carriages working tonight. She assured us that no one would and from what we saw, NONE DID! We arrived at The Water Tower at 6 P.M. and were happy to find that there weren't any carriages. So what's better than that? There was an officer from Consumer Services waiting to see if anyone was out. He was in his car but also traveled on foot.

We asked him if he was specifically looking for carriages and he said, "Yes." We asked him if he had heard of Ms. Reyes's decision to not renew J.C. Cutters and he said he was not surprised in the least. He told us that most of the barns where carriage horses were kept were bad. As bad as some may be, none are as bad as the tent. We also asked him if he'd be happy when there wasn't a carriage industry anymore and he said, "There will always be cabs to chase around." We'll take that as a yes.

Letter from Alderman of Ward 32

2008-12-15T14:08:00.000-08:00

We at Exposed Truths were happy to do our part to write the alderman's office today as part of the week long call in/write in. This is the response we received.

Thank you for your email. We appreciate your concern for the horses at
JC Cutters. We have heard word from the Dept. of Consumer Services that
they are not renewing JC Cutters business license for next year. We
also will not be signing the permit for the permanent tent. Technically
speaking, they do not have to have the Alderman’s signature, but we
have contacted the Building Department to let them that we disapprove,
as well as to tell them that the license is not being renewed, in hope
that this will have an impact.

Dec 15 - 19th: Week long call in for the horses! Say, "NO" to J.C. Cutters tent!

2008-12-14T12:08:00.000-08:00

JC Cutters currently has an application pending to obtain a permit for the tent they already have built in the 32nd Ward. They are already housing their horses in this tent even though they do not have a permit to do so. The tent also has no running water and no electricity. This tent is illegal in every way according to the rules set forth by Consumer Services! They have clear guidelines for how carraige horses should be kept and THIS TENT IS NOT IT!

The application has not gone through yet because it is waiting for the Alderman of that ward to approve it and he has not decided whether he will deny or approve their application.
We are organizing a call in and email campaign to tell the 32nd ward alderman Scott Waguespack to deny JC Cutters application for a permit to house their horses in the structure they currently have set up. The horses should not be kept in these horrible conditions!

Please take some time this week to call in and email.

The 32nd Ward's Alderman is Scott Waguespack
His phone number is 773-248-1330
His email address is ward32@cityofchicago.org
Office location is: 2657 N. Clybourn, 60614

Here is a picture that was taken Sunday Morning (12-14-08) of the current conditions.

Thank you ahead of time!!

xoxo

Exposed Truths

Basic needs? Hay, check! Water, check! Turn out! check Heated barn, no thanks!

2008-12-12T10:10:00.000-08:00

Here is an e-mail we received from an upscale stable here in Illinois when asked about horses and heated barns. They lawyer from J.C. Cutters will try to make everyone believe that we want heat for these animals, which is NOT true. What we want is to see them living in conditions that are consistent with traditional equine husbandry practices. Tents are fine for horse shows because they're TEMPORARY. 15 years, however, is 16 years too long.

We do not have heat in our barn other than the tack room and feed room. Horses are unlike people and do not have to be kept as warm as we would like to think they need to be. If horses are provided with proper feed - hay especially, they will maintain a good body temp. with their coats. And of course, they need shelter to get out of the wind and cold rain. There have been many articles written in regards to horses being healthier when allowed full turnout - not only for their lungs and bones, but mentally.

In regards to heating a barn - it is ok if an indoor arena is heated to just above freezing not only for the comfort of the riders, but for a horse in full training or working hard, the temp. should be above freezing for their lungs. Other than that horses should not live in a heated barn as when they go outside it is too much of a change for them. This change as well as the humidity of living in a heated barn creates lung problems and illness.

.

Thoughts about today's hearing

2008-12-12T01:50:00.000-08:00

A summary by Marcos from ADL.

The court hearing was not the immediate action that would be ideal,
but progress was definitely made. The attorney for JC Cutters, John
Robeznieks, tried his hardest to convince Chicago building inspector,
Julio Montilla, that the tent JC Cutters has erected could be a
permanent and last 15 years. Montilla would not hear it and mentioned
numerous times that the tent can be nothing, but temporary. We found
out something interesting today too; we found out JC Cutters does not
have a permit for their tent. They submitted an application for their
permit, but the alderman of that ward, Scott Waguespack, has yet to
approve it. He has been approached by NBC and PETA, and has started
discovering the poor conditions these horses live in. If Alderman
Waguespack rejects the application permit we would win a huge battle
in our fight against Cutters. It is pressure time and we will soon
know the outcome.

Alderman Waguespack, please hear our plea. Do not approve the tent structure. It is NOT what is considered acceptable by the city that you serve. The rules are the rules and these people have deliberately disobeyed them by erecting a tent with NO PERMIT in YOUR ward! Your voice is for the horses that have none.

And the verdict is.

2008-12-11T15:41:00.000-08:00

Here are notes from today's court hearing. No permit, huh, Cutters. Not so good. We certainly have some of our own thoughts to add to this and will do so in a seperate post in the very near future. Very near. Thanks to Marcos for taking the time to attend the court hearing! There is also another hearing next week! Cutters will be addressing all of the animal care and control tickets they've recieved. More to come!

JC Cutters Building Violations Hearing

12/11/08, 11:00 am, Room 1103

Case 08-M1-401274

City of Chicago vs. (JC Cutters)

Court Judge Daniel Joseph Lynch

John (Rubesnick?) - defendant's attorney

Julio Montilla - buildings inspector, City of Chicago

Carrie (Stojack?)- sent to represent 32nd Ward Alderman Scott Waguespack,

32nd Ward Office:

Address: 2657 N. Clybourn

Chicago, IL 60614

E-mail: ward32@cityofchicago.org

Telephone: 773-248-1330

Building code case:

Inspector Montilla had identified structural defects in the west wall of the east building on the south end of the lot. It is likely "going to collapse", is "bowed" and had a large gap. On later inspections it was seen that the gap had been filled, but the wall not repaired. Motilla also mentioned "holes in the foundation". Motilla was last out there 12/10/2008

The previous stable was deemed unsafe, and horses were relocated to a "temporary stable". They were ordered to obtain permits for this structure, and applied on June 12th, but the permit was never granted. The hold is with the alderman's office, who has been receiving complaints from "PETA and NBC", and been receiving 311 complaints. They are concerned that the stables do not comply with rules and regulations of horse stables, and for the treatment of the horses.

There were additional complaints filed about the cleanliness of the temporary stable (including at least one $200 penalty), its hay storage and lack of screens in the windows, for which permits to repair were obtained September 10th. Cutters stated they have put up screens and covered the hay. Montilla last inspected on 12/10, and will be having more frequent inspections in the future. The temporary stables do not have electricity of running water. However, the defendants' attorney states that "heat is not required" and "the shelter itself is one that could last many winters... 15 years", and states that as long as they're dry and out of the elements, once horses are accustomed to the cold it is detrimental to give them heating or blankets." He stated "these people care about the animals, but they're work animals..." "these are working animals that don't really have any other purpose other than to be working". And if they were no longer belonging to JC Cutters, he states "If they don't go to Amish farms they're going to go to Canada to be slaughtered... They're work horses." Many complaints were referenced "about the animals' treatment," but those charges were not specified, and will be detailed in the December 15th administrative hearing. Animal care and control agents have been present at all previous hearings, but was not here to present those allegations.

A meeting will be set to plan an inspection with Arie Golan (owner of the land), Julio Montilla (city buildings inspector) and a structural engineer of Cutters' for an early January inspection after which the defendant will file an engineer's report by February 11th 2009. There will then be an additional hearing for this building code issue on February 26th, 2009 at 11:00 am.

Attorney representing City of Chicago mentioned numerous time that the city does not want the tent to be a long term shelter, but the attorney from Cutters continued to mention it would be a fine shelter for 15 years.

Mantilla continually mentioned the horses need a permanent structure and they tent is not the answer.

"HOLD YOUR HORSES!"

2008-12-01T01:27:00.000-08:00

Maybe the city needs to make/enforce another rule that should go without saying. "Driver must always be within arm's length of the horse's reins or have a lead rope attached to the horse's bridle." Had that rule been created, a driver from J.C. Cutters would not have a broken collar bone today! Big Kahuna reports:

NEWS ALERT!!! (18th police district)
On Thanksgiving Day, a horse(Arthur) bolted from J.C. Cutter's carriage stand. Witnesses reported the horse was left unattended by the driver and it ran off. Fortunately, the horse did not suffer any injuries when captured a few blocks away. The driver of the carriage was not as lucky as he suffered a broken collar bone while attempting to rein in the horse from the ground as it was running off. The owner of the horse (Betty) declined to comment.

We certainly wish a speedy recovery to the driver.

This gives a whole new meaning to "Hold your horses!"

From the Archives

2008-10-08T23:30:00.000-07:00

N E I G H B O R H O O D N E W S
Pooped Out/David Fremon, Ward Reporter
Carriage horses and their by-products are driving the Kinzie industrial corridor buggy.

Author: Ben Joravsky Date: August 20, 1999 Appeared in Section 1 Word count: 1725

Pooped Out
Carriage horses and their by-products are driving the Kinzie industrial corridor buggy.
By Ben Joravsky
No one complains when trucks rumble through the Kinzie industrial corridor spewing fumes. But a few horses have the neighborhood in an uproar.
Well, it's not so much the horses as what they leave behind. "The manure's awful," says Denis Vulich, vice president of Chicago Lift Truck Company at 322 N. Leavitt. "In the summer there's this constant stench blowing through the open windows and horseflies as big as bumblebees. I mean, these are big, tough flies--no matter how many you kill they keep popping up. It's disgusting."
The horse-stench saga's a new twist on an old tale regarding the conflicting demands placed on industrial zones. Typically, the loudest complaints come from residents who move into converted lofts next to factories and then whine about noise and dust and dirt.
This time the factory owners are complaining. They're upset about the horses kept in a barn in the 2000 block of West Carroll Avenue by J.C. Cutters, which operates carriage rides on the Gold Coast.
To their credit, the industrialists recognize the irony in their lament. "I know this is an industrial corridor, and there are other businesses that produce--how do I say this?--aromatic elements that are less than pleasing," says Vulich. "But say what you will about factories and whatever noise or dirt they make--no one else is leaving horse shit in the street!"
Most of the industrialists say they're thriving in the Kinzie corridor, which is roughly bounded by Halsted on the east, Kedzie on the west, Grand on the north, and Madison on the south. It's home to 515 companies that employ about 12,000 workers, according to the Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago, a local trade association. The companies have felt particularly secure since the city passed a restrictive zoning code last spring limiting residential and commercial conversions.
"The neighborhood's become so interesting," says Vulich. "You have manufacturers that are 100 years old and you have cutting-edge Internet software designers that are just starting up. There's also a lot of movie-production and theatrical-set designers. The diversity's amazing.
"Then, right in the middle of it all, you have the clippity-clop of horses and horseflies and horse droppings in the street as high as you can pile it. It's just doesn't make sense."
J.C. Cutters moved its stables into an abandoned building about three years ago. In the winter the operation gets along with its neighbors. But come summer, some of those neighbors contend, the stench is unbearable. "The worst part is from 4 to 5:30 in the afternoon, when they take the horses out of the barn and put them in their carriages," says Patrick Spatz, who owns Panelglide Exhibit Systems across the street from the barn. "Once the horses take off for Michigan Avenue they have bags on their rear ends to catch the droppings. But there's that crucial moment before they put the bags on when they first take them into the street. That's when the droppings fall."
In the last few months the council and its members have been asking the carriage handlers to be more diligent about cleaning up. "As far as I can tell they're a nice bunch of dedicated people who work very hard," says Vulich. "They did a better job of cleaning up after we complained. But they can't get it all."
"For what it's worth," responds Larry Hermelee, president of J.C. Cutters, "before we moved in here there were flies because you had a scavenger and a garbageman across the street. They have now left. But a block and a half west of Damen you have National Scavenger, a whole garbage institution." And that's the source of the fly problem, plus any vermin that might be scurrying around, Hermelee maintains. "I'm not going to say the flies don't come here. But are we the originator? No. Have we escalated the problem? Probably not. Flies are mobile. The environment is not necessarily simple."
Cutter's lease runs until next March, and landlord William Kritt sees no reason to evict the stable. "I've never really noticed the smell that much. Of course, I don't go over there every day," says Kritt. "I did do some soul-searching before I brought them in as tenants, because this is not a common usage of space and I care very much about this area--I'm on the council and I own a lot of property around here. I even had a clause in the lease that if there were any complaints during the first year the lease could be terminated. Obviously, there weren't any complaints. I ended up thinking it was a quaint use of space with the carriages and the horses and the young people grooming them."
The horse barn's neighbors, however, say the smell recently got so bad they called the Health Department, which sent in inspectors who examined the piles and told the horse handlers to clean them up. But the horses are prolific. "I see it every day," says Roger Romanelli, executive director of the Industrial Council, which is located near the barn. "I've got flies buzzing around my office right now. They're the size of my fingertips. They come here once they're done feasting in the street--it's a smorgasbord for flies."
Romanelli wants the city to get tough. "If the city wants the horses as entertainment they should help them find an appropriate location closer to downtown," he says. "It's not just the flies, it's everything. We have 18-wheelers coming through this corridor to make deliveries and they're getting blocked by a small 19th-century horse barn. We're trying to develop and run a modern industrial corridor and we have 15 to 20 horses clopping along our streets."
Spatz suggests the city move the barn to the Lincoln Park Zoo. "You could put it in the petting zoo," he says. "That way you can kill two birds with one stone. You would put it where the kids can pet the horses, and you would get it out of here."
The stables hold 11 horses, says Hermelee. And when asked if his men can scoop up all the manure those horses drop, he replies, "I get 98 percent. We're out here trying as hard as we can." That's why he invited his neighbors to an open house this Wednesday, so they could get to know him and see what a clean operation he runs. And that's why about a month ago he applied for membership in the Industrial Council, which he says had left him alone until Romanelli took over as executive director a few months ago. "I thought it might be better if they knew who I was. We're all entrepreneurs, all small businessmen."
The application apparently is in limbo. "I have had no response and no communication from them," says Hermelee, "and they haven't cashed my check."
David Fremon, Ward Reporter

"Unstable Situation"

2008-10-07T12:51:00.001-07:00

Here's the story that was on NBC 5 Chicago last night, October 6, 2008. We'll be updating everyone later tonight or tomorrow on the animal abuse case that they were in court for today.

Updates and Save the Dates!!!!

2008-08-28T15:56:00.001-07:00

NEWS ALERT!!!!! (Building Case)
Court case rulings of August 21, 2008.
1. J.C. Cutters has 60 days to submit permits for fixing main building.
2. Screens must be installed on the tent.
3. Ordered to clean and remove manure.
4. Must properly store horse feed.

The next court date is December 11, at 11am, Room 1103. This is the Building case.

NEWS ALERT!!! (Animal Control case)
Court date is October 7, 2008, at 400 W. Superior, Room 101. 1:00 pm.
This hearing will address the citations they received for not cleaning stalls.

Please note that we will post the outcome of this trial as well! Let's hope the judge has regard and respect for animals!