Hanif questions DOHMH on oversight authority and violation counts

Thank you, Chair.

I just want to begin by talking to the Mahajan family.

Thank you for being here.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

And thank you for trusting the council with Romanta's story.

I'm thinking of you and your family.

And passing this piece of legislation is the most important thing that must come out of today's hearing.

And we're grateful that the speaker and our mayor are supportive.

I'd like to know what oversight does DOHMH currently have over the health and welfare of carriage horses?

And what are the limits of that authority?

And if you could keep it brief.

It's a big question.

The Ant Code is quite specific in the role, in setting out the role of the health department and what we can require from the industry.

So there is, as I mentioned in my testimony, that's highlighting some of the key areas.

The horse owners are required to have veterinary exams every four to eight months and to submit certifications of those exams to us.

We are reviewing those.

They require to submit documentation showing proof of vacation furlough five weeks a year at a place where there is a pasture opportunity for turnout.

The license is renewable.

So there's all of those things that we are checking.

Got it.

And then is there a standardized criteria for determining when a horse is not fit?

We have a form, we have a certification form that a veterinarian licensed in New York State signs off on, and our equine veterinarian reviews those.

How frequently are vets checking horses'health?

So the owner's vets?

Is there a DOHMH vet and then an owner's vet?

And what's the frequency?

So the administrative code requires a veterinarian check.

Every four to eight months, the owners have veterinarians who check their horses.

We have veterinarians who review those certifications.

A veterinarian would also, we also, as I noted earlier, when we have reason to think that there's need for an assessment

of a horse because of our observation or something referred to us by NYPD or we are observing based on a complaint, we will also direct the owner to have the veterinarian, its veterinarian, assess the horse.

And are you able to share how many violations do HMH issued over the last five years for noncompliance?

Or adherence to the many forms and check-ins?

I have 2023 through April 2026.

So for lacking a record of a medical exam or the exam not within the timeframe, we've issued 17 summonses.

Missing proof of five weeks of furlough.

We have 12.

I'll come back for a second round.

Okay, thank you.

Councilmember Wong.

Thank you, Chair.