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Massachusetts Woman Fights to Keep Therapy Horse
2 Oct
Summary
- Woman denied license to keep miniature therapy horse, Clover.
- City cites large animal regulations for manure storage requirements.
- Woman plans court appeal after spending $100,000 on renovations.
Judy Hinchey of Newton, Massachusetts, is fighting a city decision denying her a license to keep her miniature horse, Clover, as a pet. The city classified Clover as a large animal, necessitating manure storage 100 feet from property lines, a rule Hinchey believes is unfairly applied to a miniature horse.
Hinchey has invested $100,000 in renovations to accommodate Clover, who she states is a trained therapy animal bringing comfort to hospital and nursing home patients. The Health and Human Services Department denied her license on September 28, citing regulations that do not differentiate miniature horses from larger equines.
The horse must be removed from the property within 21 days of the September 28 determination. Hinchey is preparing to appeal the ruling in Middlesex Superior Court, stating her belief that she followed all interpreted rules. A GoFundMe has been established to support her legal expenses, estimated between $50,000 and $75,000.
