SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Animal Rights Coalition announced they will hold a vigil Tuesday night for a Salt Lake City carriage horse that collapsed and eventually died.
The “Justice for Jerry” vigil will begin at 5 p.m. on the northwest corner of the City-County Building at 451 South State Street.
FOX 13 News first became aware of Jerry the horse when a viewer submitted several photos of the animal lying on the street.
The animal’s condition raised concerns among animal activists and others in the community.
Charlie Luke, Salt Lake City Councilman, said the owner of the Carriages for Hire told him that the horse had died on Friday. In a statement on his Facebook page, Luke said the horse’s death does not end the city’s interest in the broader horse carriage issue.
Luke said he will continue to work with city staff, horse experts, large animal veterinarians, animal advocates and Carriages for Hire regarding best practices.
The UARC said they are calling for a complete ban of horse carriages on the streets of Salt Lake City. They said horses forced to pull carriages in the downtown area are overworked in miserable weather extremes, subjected to the dangers of congested traffic, and forced to walk on asphalt for several hours each day.
The UARC announced that during the Tuesday night vigil, they will walk into the Salt Lake City Council meeting to present a petition and offer input during the public comment time.
