Los Angeles Alliance for Animals has documented footage of elderly ponies on the turnstile not receiving water for almost seven hours, elderly ponies being overworked with no protection against hot temperatures, elderly ponies being hit for several hours to provide rides to children, rabbits sitting in the hot sun with no shade, and activist documented no water in the petting zoo over the summer.
Due to large public outcry and concern, the Department of Recreation and Parks assigned a third-party equine expert to report on the well being of the ponies and horses at Griffith Park and Pony Ride. The owner Stephen Weeks did not provide Veterinarian records, rather expense reports.
Based on a third-party equine expert report ponies reportedly have been working with saddle sores, hoof ailments, lameness, no identification method for any of the animals, no windbreaks with poor drainage during the winter months of rain, and dental problems as the owners did not provide preventative dental care for the animals. However, many of these animals have been and still are forced to work for almost 7 hours without proper rest, even in 90 F plus degree weather conditions.
This concession has not only proven to disregard animal welfare but also poses a risk to the children that visit this park. Last year a child was reportedly dragged by a pony after her saddle slipped, and the pony continued dragging her body because the pony was spooked. This was a traumatic experience for everyone involved and has not only proven if this can happen but rather when this can happen again.
Elderly horses and ponies continue to be overworked at this park, and recently a sheep was seen dealing with heat stress on a hot day. Equine experts have also confirmed that the animals at this park have depression.
During the Recreation and Park meeting to discuss the well being of the animals at Griffith Park and Pony Ride, Commissioners Bayne and Commissioners Chase listened to hours of public comment from the community urging the Commissioners to shut down this park down.
Right now the contract is up for renewal, and has been placed on a month to month basis, until ongoing inspections occur. While the inspection is being conducted ponies are working in heat waves, a sheep in the petting zoo is dealing with heat stress, and the horses and ponies have depression.
Please sign my petition urging General Manager Michael Shull, Commissioner Bayne, and Commissioner Chase to eliminate this contract, replace the park with a non-animal model, urge the City of Los Angeles to retire all of the animals to a sanctuary, and then for the Recreation and Parks to advise the Los Angeles City Council to author a ban on pony rides so that these atrocities never happen again.
Then please send a polite email to the contacts below, and express the same message. Thank you for your support!
1.) Mayor Eric Garcetti:
Mayor.helpdesk@lacity.org;
2.) Recreation and Park Commissioners:
Tafarau Bayne, Commissioner
Nicole Chase, Commisioners
Rap.commissioners@lacity.org;
3.) General Manager, Michael Shull:
Michael.a.shull@lacity.org;
4.) Concessions Manager, Rachel Ramos:
Rachel.ramos@lacity.org
5.) Assistant General Manager, Matthew Rudnick:
Matthew.rudnick@lacity.org
