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.
Showing posts with label carriage ban. Show all posts
Showing posts with label carriage ban. Show all posts
Monday, January 12, 2009
Friday, December 19, 2008
Noble Horse carriage horse escapes (April 2008)
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
Here's a video from ABC 7 here in Chicago
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Community Media Workshop article by Curtis Black
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
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
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