Feb 6, 2009 6:12 pm US/Central
Horses Found Neglected In Carriage Company Tent
Animal Care And Control Crews Rescue 6 Horses
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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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.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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