Health officials confiscate 19 horses from arabbers (US)

Cross-posted from the Baltimore Sun

Arabber Juan Shearin calls out his wares as he walks along Pitcher Street in West Baltimore, leading horse Jughead. Arabbers are Baltimore street vendors who sell fruits and vegetables from horse-drawn wagons. The tradition dates to the 1800s. Shearin followed the path of his grandfather and uncles, who also were arabbers. (Sun photo by Amy Davis / July 16, 2004)

By JAQUES KELLY

Baltimore officials confiscated 19 horses Tuesday owned by arabbers, the street vendors who sell produce from horse-drawn carts in the city, saying their animals were living in “unsafe and inhumane” conditions in tents under the Monroe Street bridge.

The horses, the last of what had once been dozens of horses that carted produce through the city, were being taken to a farm in Howard County, officials said.

Three trailers from the Humane Society of the United States and a horse rescue organization lined up to take the horses from the facility at 650 S. Fulton Ave. in South Baltimore where they have been kept for the past two years, when the city closed the last arabber stable on Retreat Street. At that time, the city promised to help keep alive the arabber tradition, which has been a fixture on Baltimore streets since the 19th century.

The latest action comes after health inspectors last week found standing water, mud and unsanitary conditions in the stables. Animal control officers also found rat infestations, lack of proper bedding for the animals, trash and debris, officials said in a news release.

“Conditions at these stables are deplorable, leaving us little choice but to remove the animals,” said interim health commissioner Olivia V. Farrow.

On Monday, city officials served a search warrant on the arabbers, citing violations of the health code for “unlicensed and unvaccinated animals.” Read full story >>