PETA Calls for Revocation of Salt Lake City Horse-Drawn Carriage Operator’s License

Records Indicate Company Failed to Report Five Accidents Since 2011, a Direct Violation of City Law

For Immediate Release:
October 23, 2013

Contact:
Allison Lakomski 202-483-7382

Salt Lake City — As reported in today’s Salt Lake City Tribune, PETA has filed a formal complaint with Don Porter, acting division director of Salt Lake County Animal Services, urging him to launch an investigation into Carriage for Hire (CFH), the only horse-drawn carriage company that operates in Salt Lake City. According to Animal Services documents and Salt Lake City Police Department traffic accident reports, CFH carriages have been involved in eight accidents over the past four years, but in apparent direct violation of city law, only three of them were reported to Animal Services. Some of the unreported accidents reportedly resulted in significant bodily injury and thousands of dollars in property damage.

“In addition to forcing horses to pull heavy loads through the streets of Salt Lake City, Carriage for Hire also seems to be playing fast and loose with city law,” says PETA spokesperson and Salt Lake City resident Jeremy Beckham. “If the company failed to report five accidents in clear violation of the law, there’s really no choice: Its license must be revoked.” 

According to reports, some of the accidents involving CFH have put people in the hospital, including a 2-year-old child whose leg was run over by a carriage wheel after she was thrown to the street. Because there were three unreported accidents within a 12-month period, city law requires Animal Services to refer CFH to the city’s business licensing division for possible suspension or revocation of the company’s license.

PETA is also asking that the Animal Services officer normally assigned to horse- drawn carriage matters, Teresa Sas, have no involvement in the investigation of PETA’s complaint. Last month, during the controversial collapse and death of a horse named Jerry, Sas posted publicly visible comments in support of Carriage for Hire on her Facebook page, which identifies her as a county employee. 

For more information, please visit PETA.org.