§ 23-8. Requirements for animals in service.

Operating regulations . In addition to the business license imposed herein and by the business license ordinance, no license shall be permitted any carriage operator unless the operator complies with division II of the animal ordinance [Ch. 14] and the following regulations:

(1)

A licensed veterinarian shall certify, after due and proper inspection, the good health of each draft animal before it is placed into service. A minimum of two such health inspections shall be required for each animal each calendar year; to be performed during the months of January and July with copies submitted to the city risk management department.

(2)

No single animal shall pull a carriage holding more than ten people, including the driver. Two horses cannot pull more than the seating capacity of the carriage.

(3)

Animals shall wear properly attached and fitted blinders while pulling carriages.

(4)

Carriages shall not be pulled by stallions or pregnant mares.

(5)

Unless written approval is given by a licensed veterinarian, no animal having open sores or wounds or any disease or ailment shall be permitted to be in service on the streets of the city.

(6)

Each draft animal shall have its hooves properly trimmed and shod for street surfaces being maintained by a farrier at least every eight weeks, or as necessary. A record of farrier service shall be maintained for inspection.

(7)

Temporary shoes can only be used if the horse has thrown a shoe during a tour and then only to get the horse back to the barn to be shoed.

(8)

Each animal shall be groomed daily and not have fungus, dandruff or a dirty coat.

(9)

Flies and other insects must be controlled through general sanitation and other necessary means.

(10)

Harnesses shall be properly fitted, maintained and oiled so that no irritating material will come in direct contact with the animal.

(11)

No driver may use more than a light touch of the whip upon any animal, and no driver or other person may forcefully strike an animal, or make movements or noise intended to frighten or harm an animal. No animal shall be made to perform by means of any prod, stick, electrical shock, physical force, or by causing pain or discomfort.

(12)

No driver shall permit an animal to pull a carriage at a speed faster than a slow trot, except in emergency situations.

(13)

No animal shall be subject to any condition or treatment, whether in service or out of service, which will impair the good health and physical condition of that animal.

(14)

No animal shall be worked more than eight hours in any 24-hour period without ten minutes of rest for each 50 minutes of work and with a minimum of 12 consecutive hours of rest.

(15)

Animals shall not be overridden or driven to overheating or exhaustion.

(16)

The risk manager or his/her designee shall be empowered to inspect all stables and operating facilities of any carriage company without notices, and to examine operating practices of any carriage company to ensure continuous compliance with this article.

(17)

Any applicant who refuses or fails to comply with the requirements of this article shall not be issued a business license until proof of compliance is presented by the applicant and certified by the risk manager. The foregoing licensing requirements shall be ongoing as requirements for continuous operation.

(18)

The mayor may, upon recommendation of the risk manager or his/her designee, temporarily suspend a license or carriage company operation for violation of the provisions of this article, and may be subject to revocation action as provided by the business license ordinance.

(Ord. No. 2017-12 , 12-18-2017)