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Griffith Park Pony Rides and Petting Zoo in Los Angeles is continuing its track record of neglecting elderly ponies, horses, and farmed animals in its care. After a large public outcry, the City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks still decided to renew the Griffith Park Pony Ride and Petting Zoo's concession contract for another year.

Please send letters and make calls to urge Los Angeles City Council to eliminate pony ride concession contracts in the city due to ongoing mistreatment at Griffith Park Pony Ride and Petting Zoo, send all of the animals to a sanctuary, and replace the park with a non-animal model.

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 or periods of rest, elderly ponies being prodded for several hours to provide rides to children when they refuse to move any further, a sheep in distress, and rabbits sitting in the hot sun with no shade or water in the petting zoo over the summer.
 

Due to public pressure, the City of Los Angeles assigned a third-party equine veterinarian to report on the well-being of the ponies and horses at Griffith Park Pony Rides earlier this year. The veterinarian reported ponies with saddle sores, hoof issues, lameness, and dental problems. Based on dental examinations, the vet found many of the ponies to be between 20 and 30 years old.

Because the concessions contract for Griffith Park Pony Rides and Petting Zoo was renewed, despite over 1,000 In Defense of Animals supporters urging otherwise, and the animals there are still forced to work despite challenges from advanced age and medical ailments, we are urging Los Angeles city councilmembers to shut this concession down, send all of the animals to sanctuary, and eliminate pony ride contracts in the city so this abuse will not happen elsewhere. There are boundless options for educational models to replace this concession, allowing all of the animals at Griffith Park Pony Rides and Petting Zoo to retire from this business that does not have their best interests in mind.

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