A Massachusetts woman says a miniature horse she brought home to serve as a therapy animal is now at the center of a dispute with some of her neighbors in Newton.
Judy Hinchey says she got Clover as an emotional support animal to bring to schools and hospitals.
“Most of the neighborhood loves seeing her,” Hinchey said. “The kids come over, I get emails, and I bring kids over to see Clover.”
Hinchey said she purchased the animal a couple of weeks ago, after she says she got a verbal green light from the city to have a miniature horse on her property. She says she spent close to six figures between the cost of Clover, building a proper place for her to live and buying a new vehicle to transport her.
“In Florida, she went to nursing homes and all that, so she’s certified,” Hinchey said. “That’s my plan: Nursing homes, hospitals, schools.”
Clover is a 28-inch, 165-pound miniature horse. General guidelines from the state suggest at least 2 acres for one horse, but do not specify the size or type.
Newton’s website says domesticated large animals are handled on a case-by-case basis.
“She’s not peeing and pooping all over the place — less than a dog,” Hinchey said. “I always clean it up.”
The city told NBC10 Boston the matter is “under advisement” and referred us to a City Hall meeting held Wednesday, during which officials disclosed that Hinchey’s application had been denied on Aug. 25.
City officials said the denial was based on manure storage requirements, and that the property could not meet a rule requiring manure storage to be kept at least 100 feet from lot lines and 50 feet from any dwelling.
Hinchey says she just wants to keep Clover. She has one question for her neighbors.
“Why are they scared? That would be what I just want to know,” she said. “I can’t fix it. I can’t address it.”
City officials said some of the complaints have been about the smell of manure in the neighborhood. Hinchey said the manure is kept in a closed compost bin and picked up weekly.
