Horses Found Neglected In Carriage Company Tent On Near Northwest Side cbs2chicago com

Horses Found Neglected In Carriage Company Tent
Animal Care And Control Crews Rescue 6 HorsesCHICAGO (CBS) ― A horse is rescued from a carriage company tent on the city's Near Northwest Side near Goose Island. A Chicago carriage company is suspected of neglecting six of horses who had little protection during weeks of sub-freezing temperatures.

The six horses are all adults about 3-4 years old and "three were a little underweight,'' according to Chicago Police Sgt. Mark George.

Chopper 2 HD was overhead as the horses were removed from a tent near the Chicago River by the Humane Society, police officers, and Animal Control on Friday. One by one, the horses were led into a waiting trailer after City Animal Care & Control responded to a complaint of animal neglect at 1501 N. Magnolia Ave. The rescues began around 1 p.m., and 40 minutes later, six horses had been taken away from the tent.

The horses were taken 60 miles west of Chicago to Flanery Farms in Maple Park, Ill.

Horses that should have been paraded with flowing manes and shiny coats were instead covered in mud and around their legs and hooves were clumps of what smelled like manure. It was enough to anger animal lovers and activists who have strongly opposed using horses to draw carriages.

Keeping the animals in the sub-zero temperatures was the just the latest complaint filed against the owner of the carriage company. City officials say they're in the process of revoking J.C. Cutter's license. The company has racked up numerous violations and even more complaints, including operating carriages with at least one wounded horse and employing unlicensed carriage drivers.

Officials say the horses were removed from unsanitary conditions, where the horses had little water, insufficient food and were living in dirty stalls. But it was the cold that bothered Debbie Hay, who owns another carriage company.

"We've had a brutal winter. They shouldn't be on the outside. They're animals that live--this is just not good for them," said Hay.

"The horses weren't working in a barn. It's actually quite warm in there," said an owner of one of the horses.

But officials say there was no heat in the makeshift barn.

According to trainers, horses can be in the cold, but not for days at a time. For weeks, the horses have lived in the tent during the frigid temperatures.

Police have been in contact with the owner of J.C. Cutters, he said.

She hadn't been cited or arrested as of 3:30 p.m. and has told authorities that she takes care of the horses. But she acknowledged that she has had "some issues" with the city regarding the horses, which are her livelihood, according to George.

Beth DuPont, a carriage driver for J.C. Cutters, said there was nothing wrong with the horses. "They're not being mistreated. There's nothing wrong with the way they're being kept. They're fine."

A representative of the company accused the city of targeting carriage companies for closure. She said the horses are well fed and cared for, and said the structure was temporary and legal.

"We love our horses very much," said the representative, who declined to be identified. "This is ripping me up."

CBS 2's Kris Habermehl and Dorothy Tucker and the STNG Wire contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Carriage
• Horses
• Found
• Neglected

[countryfuntime]

That is one of the issues with the AR movement most people dont see.They have twisted the laws so once they walk off with your loving pets (guilty or not) They are gone ! You have no right to get them back...The laws are badly written and People need to help get them STOPPED !

[Sheepinwolfgarb]

The owners have sued the rescue to STOP the adoptions, but one was already adopted out. Stupid move by the rescue, it'll look really bad in court that they disregarded the owners rights.

Now the rescue is charging $10 a day PER HORSE board and is passive aggressively trying to prevent the owners' visits. I think if the owners are paying board, they have the right to take their horses elsewhere.

[teampenit]

so now the horses are 'happy to be out running around instead of being cooped up in that tent"

in the snow. *roll eyes* you think they might get a little 'cold' out there in the snow? shouldn't they be tucked into a warm bed with an electric blanket and a cup of warm cocoa?

this reporter doesnt' even realize how stupid she sounds...

[JulesKelworan]

Of all the horrific cases out there... that are -so- hard to get action on in some places, these are the ones seized, and to end up God knows where in the end. Anyone who really cares about their horses knows how hard it is to find a good home that won't turn fickle and sell the animal for cheap to God knows who on Craigslist, or worse.

[JulesKelworan]

This case/news report/ignorance, all of it still scares the shit out of me as a horse owner. I have to laugh at the 29 degree barn comment, and the shiny coats thing (the hair shafts should always have a sheen, but horses -do- grow winter coats, and they -do- love mud). But it's a nervous laugh. The horses are clearly in great shape, nice and fat for winter... The care they were given clearly shows that this lady probably truly did love them and care for them. *shudder*

[circusboy90210]

@sockses an unheated barn is not cruel either.

[circusboy90210]

@downhomesunset don't forget florida horsees who need to cool off in the summer.ar people are the unwitting tools of a shadow gov that wants all soverieingty removed, this is just another issue amongst many .

[circusboy90210]

@userbc44 just like circus animals they are easy target's for people that don't know anything past what they are told to think by their extremist orginizations. no room for self thought & nobody checks the facts. horses on the farm are out doors 9/10 in not all the time . nothing wrong with that they are genetically suited to being outddoors they are wild animals.

[SkyHigh796]

OMG, these people are complete idiots. What in the hell were people doing before cars were invented? Those animals were beautiful, fat, healthy and well cared for. What in the hell were they suppose to do, build a barn in the middle of Chicago? There are only so many locations in Chicago where horses are legal. Most of those companies have the horses standing in industrial buildings. Nothing like pulling at the heart strings with a bunch of bullshit.

[7466309change]

Domestic horse is differnt then wild.Wild can roam away from mudd so hooves not get thrush.Domestic can,t so we need to clean the hooves to keep thrush away.As long as rain and wind is off them and they are dry they will stay healthy.Where they able to lay on dry beds?

[thehappyhoof]

And WHY would you want "electricity" in a tent???? The horses were fat and not in bad shape at all, they didn't even have that much mud on them, this whole deal is over kill on minor issues.

[KelleeAndBuck]

these horses were fine!