{"id":14071,"date":"2017-12-21T15:15:36","date_gmt":"2017-12-21T23:15:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/associatednews.info\/content\/philadelphia-horse-drawn-carriage-company-shuts-down-after-abuse-allegations\/"},"modified":"2017-12-21T15:15:36","modified_gmt":"2017-12-21T23:15:36","slug":"philadelphia-horse-drawn-carriage-company-shuts-down-after-abuse-allegations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/associatednews.info\/content\/philadelphia-horse-drawn-carriage-company-shuts-down-after-abuse-allegations\/","title":{"rendered":"Philadelphia Horse-Drawn Carriage Company Shuts Down After Abuse Allegations"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Camila Domonoske<\/a><\/span> <\/p>\n

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\n A tour guide on a horse-drawn carriage points outside of Independence Hall in Philadelphia in 2007. One of the city’s two horse-drawn carriage companies is closing down and transferring its animals to the city.<\/p>\n

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George Widman\/AP<\/p>\n

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George Widman\/AP<\/p>\n

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A horse-drawn carriage company in Philadelphia is shutting down at the behest of city officials, after inspectors found the company was violating building codes and animal welfare laws.<\/p>\n

The Philadelphia Carriage Co.’s horses will be handed over to the city and ultimately sent to a sanctuary, The Associated Press reports. The company’s closure means one company continues to offer horse-drawn carriage tours in the historic section of the city.<\/p>\n

The city has spent six months attempting to get control of the horses, the AP writes.<\/p>\n

The agreement was finalized on Thursday, The Philadelphia Inquirer<\/em>reports<\/a>. In June, building and animal welfare inspectors found problems with the company’s stable \u2014 for one thing, a lot previously used to give the horses exercise and fresh air had been used to build condos, and the stables no longer had access to mandated amounts of outdoor space.<\/p>\n

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Inspectors also determined “that the stable was poorly ventilated and dirty, that stalls were far too small, and that horses often appeared malnourished, and were found lying in feces and urine,” the Inquirer<\/em> reports.<\/p>\n

Company lawyer Barry Penn told the newspaper there was no malice involved, notes the Inquirer<\/em>: “Penn described Philadelphia Carriage Co. owner Han Hee Yoo as well-meaning but perhaps over her head. ‘She’s been operating since 1977, so it’s been a long time. And since her husband died in 2009, she’s been running it herself, and it’s not been easy. She’s done her best,’ he said. ‘I think [the settlement is] a good solution for everybody.’ “<\/p>\n