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Amending Chapter 10-100 (“Animals”) of The Philadelphia Code to restrict the operation of carriage horse businesses and to provide for penalties for violations, all under certain terms and conditions.
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THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. Title 10 of The Philadelphia Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
TITLE 10. REGULATION OF INDIVIDUAL CONDUCT AND ACTIVITY
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CHAPTER 10-100. ANIMALS
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§ 10-101. Definitions.
In this Chapter the following definitions apply:
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[Carriage Horse. Shall mean any horse which is used by its owner or other person to pull any vehicle, carriage, sled, sleigh, wagon or other device. A horse rented or leased by its owner to another for any of the foregoing purposes shall be deemed a carriage horse for the purposes of this Chapter.]
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§ 10-108. Rental [and Carriage] Horses.
(1) Rental [and Carriage] Horse Licenses.
(a) No person shall use or offer the use of any horse in a rental riding [or carriage horse] business unless such horse shall be licensed by the Department of Licenses and Inspections. The Animal Control Agency in conjunction with the Department of Licenses and Inspection shall promulgate regulations for the licensing of rental [and carriage] horses, which regulations may from time to time revise the annual license or renewal fee to reflect the costs incurred by the City in regulating rental [and carriage] horses under this Section. Unless otherwise provided by regulation, the annual fee for a license or renewal of a license shall be twenty-five dollars ($25) per horse. No license shall be transferable. All applications for a license or the renewal of a license shall be accompanied by a health certificate signed and dated by the examining veterinarian.
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(c) Each horse licensed pursuant to this Section shall be assigned an official identification number by the [Department of Licenses and Inspections] Animal Control Agency. The identification number shall be displayed on the horse, in a manner provided by regulation, at all times the horse is being worked.
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(2) Working Conditions.
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(c) [Carriage horses shall not be in harness for more than nine (9) hours in any continuous twenty-four (24) hour period.] Riding horses shall not be at work for more than ten (10) hours in any continuous twenty-four (24) hour period. Riding horses shall be rested a minimum of fifteen (15) minutes for every riding hour. [Carriage horses shall be rested a minimum of fifteen (15) minutes for every pulling hour.] Daily records shall be maintained as prescribed by regulation of the Animal Control Agency, indicating the time and daily activity of a rental horse and shall be available for inspection by animal control officers or others authorized by the Animal Control Agency.
[(d) Carriage horses shall not be driven at a pace faster than a trot.]
(e)(d) Saddles, blankets, harness, bridles and bits and any other equipment shall be properly fitted and kept in good repair. Blankets, bridles and bits shall not be used by another horse unless first disinfected.
(f) (e)A rental horse [or carriage horse] which suffers from any physical disability may be ordered to be removed from work until such time as deemed appropriate by a veterinarian authorized or retained by the Animal Control Agency.
(g) (f) Horses shall not be left untethered or unattended except when confined in a stable or other enclosure.
(3) Medical Care.
(a) Every horse required to be licensed under this Section shall be examined by a veterinarian prior to its use in a rental horse [or carriage] business and thereafter at intervals of not less than once a year. The horse shall be examined and treated for internal parasites; for its general physical condition, which is to include inspection of teeth, hoofs, and shoes; and for its physical ability to perform the work or duties required of it. The examination shall also include a record of any injury, disease, or deficiency observed by the veterinarian at the time, together with any prescription or humane correction or disposition of same. A health certificate provided by the Animal Control Agency and signed by a veterinarian shall be maintained at the stable premises at which such horse is located, and shall contain the identification number, age and condition of the horse, as well as the maximum number of hours a day that, in the opinion of the veterinarian said horse should work. A copy of said certificate shall be filed with the Animal Control Agency.
(b) Horses shall be kept clean and in an ectoparasite control program. [Carriage horses shall be trimmed or shod as often as necessary or appropriate.]
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(5) Further Regulations to be Promulgated. The Animal Control Agency shall promulgate such further regulations which may be required to carry out the intent of this Section, or to further safeguard the health and humane treatment of rental [and carriage] horses.
§ 10-108.1. Carriage Horse Businesses.
(1) No person shall offer the commercial services of a horse for rent or for hire for the purpose of pulling any carriage, sled, sleigh, wagon, or other similar vehicle.
(2) A violation of this Section shall be punishable by a fine of $300 per day that the violation occurs or continues.
SECTION 2. This Ordinance shall take effect 30 days after becoming law.
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