This petition is not to change something but to keep something the same.  Most of you know that radical animal rights activists have been going after the carriage industry across the country for years now.  Unfortunately, the cities that have banned them caved into these bullies.  After the ARAs got what they wanted they couldn't care less what happened to the horses they put out of a job.  Banhorsecarriagescharleston is part of a larger organization that has been trying to ban horse carriages in different cities across the nation.  They have also been pushing to phase in the use of electric carriages in place of horse-drawn carriages.  This local group has started making a little more noise here in the last year or so.  They have been holding protests downtown and spreading misinformation.  Recently they started a petition to lower the temperature threshold to 85.  Currently it is 95.  While 85 might sound good on paper it is essentially a slow ban.  With Charleston's weather over 85 probably 2/3 of the year, having to close down tours would create a financial hardship and eventually put them out of business.  This is what this group wants.  It says it in their name and on their facebook group.  "BHCC is dedicated to banning inhumane and dangerous horse carriages in Charleston, and we will use multiple strategies to achieve this humane measure."  Multiple strategies like spreading misinformation and attempting to lower the temperature threshold.  

From the city website:

When either the ambient temperature reaches ninety-five (95) degrees Fahrenheit or the Heat Index reaches one hundred ten (110) degrees Fahrenheit, as determined by the department of livability and tourism or the police department after having received four (4) consecutive ambient temperature and/or heat index readings, which readings were taken at least fifteen (15) minutes apart that demonstrate that the ambient temperature and/or heat index equals or is above the stated ambient temperature or heat index as provided herein, the carriage company operators shall discontinue working their animals and remove them from the streets until the temperature decreases below the above-stated temperatures as authorized by the department of livability and tourism or the police department. When such a determination is made, the authorized city employee of the department of livability and tourism or the police department making the determination shall contact the medallion gate and the carriage operators of such determination and require that all carriage operations shall be discontinued until such time as the department of livability and tourism or the police department authorizes the carriages to return to the streets. The department of livability and tourism or the police department shall monitor the temperature and heat index and authorize the carriage operations to begin operating on the streets again after it is determined that the temperature is below ninety-five (95) degrees Fahrenheit and/or the heat index is below one hundred ten (110) degrees Fahrenheit for a period of thirty (30) minutes from the time of the first reading. However, if the temperature and/or heat index rises above the prescribed numbers at any time during the first thirty (30) minutes, the process starts over until the ambient temperature remains below ninety-five (95) degrees Fahrenheit and/or the heat index remains below one hundred ten (110) degrees Fahrenheit for thirty (30) consecutive minutes. At that time the authorized city employee of the department of livability and tourism or the police department making the determination shall notify the medallion gate and the carriage operators to advise that the medallion gate and carriage operators shall be permitted to resume the operation of the medallion gate and the working of their animals for tours on the streets.

Equine veterinarians were consulted when the heat ordinance was established. 

From the city website:

When the ambient temperature reaches or exceeds eighty-five (85) degrees Fahrenheit at any point during the carriage company's hours of operation, the carriage company operators shall implement a mandatory system of taking the rectal temperature of each working animal immediately after completing a tour. In the event an animal's temperature reaches one hundred three (103) degrees Fahrenheit or above, the animal's temperature shall be taken every fifteen (15) minutes until the animal's temperature falls below one hundred three (103) degrees Fahrenheit before the animal is allowed to return to work.

(3)

When the rectal temperature of an animal reaches between 103—103.9 degrees Fahrenheit, the carriage company operator shall require the animal to be removed from service and be cooled down to a temperature of 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit before returning them to engage in Work.

(4)

In the event that an animal's rectal temperature reaches 104 degrees Fahrenheit or above the animal shall be taken out of service for the day and cooled down.

(5)

In the event an animal can not be cooled down to a rectal temperature of 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit within two (2) hours of the first 103 degree Fahrenheit or above rectal temperature recording, a veterinarian shall be immediately contacted to inspect the animal.

(6)

At any time when an animal's rectal temperature reaches 105.0 or above, or if any animal shows signs of distress such as panting motions, thumping of the chest (synchronous diaphramic flutter), tying up, or stiffening of legs or back, muscle trembling, or colic, a veterinarian shall be immediately contacted to inspect the animal.

Carriage companies monitor their horses' temperatures year-round to ensure the health of each individual horse.

We are collecting signatures to send to the mayor and city council members asking not to make changes to the heat ordinance and to say no to the e-carriage.  Please sign and share!  Show your support for our carriage industry!