Showing posts with label horse abuse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label horse abuse. Show all posts

Friday, February 6, 2009

J.C. Cutters UPDATES

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.
.

J.C. Cutters horses REMOVED BY AUTHORITIES!

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

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

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

Friday, January 30, 2009

Horse Health Tips for Extreme Cold Weather

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

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

Monday, December 15, 2008

Letter from Alderman of Ward 32

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.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

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

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

Friday, December 12, 2008

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

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.

.

Monday, December 1, 2008

"HOLD YOUR HORSES!"

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!"