Residents urge St. Augustine to investigate alleged horse abuse and consider electric carriages
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Summary
Multiple public commenters presented video and police-report evidence alleging abuse and neglect of horses operated by a city franchisee and urged the commission to hold the franchisee accountable or transition to electric carriages; the commission did not take an immediate enforcement action at this meeting.
During the public-comment period on Nov. 11 several speakers asked the City Commission to take action regarding animal welfare and the horse-drawn carriage franchisee known as Country Carriages. Commenters presented video excerpts and said a police report included audio and other evidence that, they alleged, show a company owner striking a small horse.
Catherine Zoda said a public-records request showed the city did not conduct an internal review and she urged disciplinary action against the franchisee. Patricia Ramos and others called for replacing animal-drawn carriages with electric alternatives during high‑tourism events such as Nights of Lights, citing safety risks when intoxicated drivers are on the street and the horses are exposed.
Speakers acknowledged the city's limited enforcement authority over criminal matters — which remain with law enforcement — but argued that franchises operating under city authority should be separately reviewed by staff. Officials at the meeting did not announce a new internal inquiry; staff and the commission noted that police reports and special-magnate or code-enforcement processes are part of the record and that separate franchise-review options remain available.
Why it matters: The carriage business is both a tourism tradition and a public-safety and animal-welfare concern for residents. Calls for an immediate policy review and alternatives such as electric carriages are likely to resurface if staff does not provide a follow-up report.
What comes next: Commenters requested that the commission examine franchise oversight and consider disciplinary or policy-level responses; no vote or formal direction was recorded on this item during the meeting.