Description

Does the City have animal-welfare regulations that govern the operation of horse-drawn carriages? I know that elsewhere there are strictly enforced limitations on when they can operate in the summer based on high temperatures and humidity.

This afternoon (Sunday, July 2) I saw a carriage crossing State Street at the intersection of Spring Street, eastbound, at about 2:15 in the afternoon. It was white, and appeared to be made of heavy wood, driven by a woman with light-brown, curly hair. It wasn't one of the large carriages that I have seen; rather, it was of a size to accommodate two or four passengers, pulled by two horses, a matched brown pair. Its passengers were two massively obese people - probably close 600 pounds between them.

The temperature at the time was in the mid-80s, with blazing sun unrelieved by clouds. The humidity was high.

I cannot imagine that, under these weather conditions, pulling a heavy carriage with well more than a quarter-ton of human weight is conducive to the health and welfare of those carriage horses. What, if any, regulations does the City have to govern this, and how are they enforced?