Oregon Public Broadcasting

An animal rights group has written to Portland’s city council to ask it to ban horse-drawn carriages on the streets. Kristian Foden-Vencil reports.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent the letter after a horse pulling a newlywed couple collapsed and died on the weekend.

PETA spokeswoman, Desiree Acholla, says the 23-year-old horse, Balatour, suffered a heart attack because of the 90 degree temperatures.

Desiree Acholla: “Horses, you know they live in herds, they run in fields. They’re not meant to plod concussive city streets. It’s certainly a tragedy and we do want to work with Portland to prevent it from happening again.”

The group is conducting a nationwide campaign to ban the horse-drawn carriages.

PETA says accidents have occurred in nearly every city in which the carriages are permitted.

Calls to Mayor Sam Adams were not immediately returned.

Several municipalities including Biloxi, Mississippi; Reno Nevada; and Santa Fe New Mexico have instituted bans.