The outrage over the Birmingham City Council permitting a horse-drawn carriage company to operate is growing in the Magic City.

Birmingham resident Sara Bush launched a Change.org petition hours after the council's Tuesday vote asking the city to ban the "dangerous and cruel" practice of horse-drawn carriage rides. It has received more than 4,200 signatures as of Friday afternoon.

"I was pretty shocked when I saw the council passed this without any public comment or discussion on it," she said. "This is something that is really concerning to me and other citizens as well."

Bush contends that Birmingham's regulations on horse-drawn carriages are "antiquated and out of date." She said the city's ordinance doesn't have many protections for animals and the carriage drivers.

Read the ordinance here.

The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday approved permits that would allow Magic Tours to operate in the city. Horse-drawn carriages are allowed under city law. The city, though, hasn't released what streets the carriages would be allowed to operate on.

While council members didn't discuss the permits on Tuesday, Magic Tours was discussed at a meeting of the council's transportation committee.

Mayor Randall Woodfin has up to 10 days to sign or veto any item passed by the city council on Tuesday.

Woodfin's office hasn't commented on whether the mayor supports horse-drawn carriages.

Magic Tours owner Frank Tate said he planned to begin operations in the second or third week of May. He said the business will start with four or five carriages.

Birmingham City Councilor Darrell O'Quinn said he didn't think the city could revoke Magic Tours license to operate unless there is adequate justification to do so. He said people are condemning the business without even giving them a chance to start.

"I don't think there is adequate justification that we shouldn't have carriage businesses in the city of Birmingham," he said.

Despite that, O'Quinn said he is willing to hear suggestions on how the city's ordinance can be amended.

O'Quinn is the chair of the council's transportation committee, which first reviewed Magic Tours permit to operate. O'Quinn is also a veterinarian and formerly worked as a clinical veterinarian for University of Alabama at Birmingham.

"The fact is that these horses have been bred for this purpose," he said. "Horses have been pulling things since the dawn of civilization. Just because we have other forms of transportation doesn't mean we should rule this out as an option."

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) issued a statement condemning the council's action and urging Woodfin to reject horse-drawn carriages.

"Birmingham's city council should never allow any business that would force skittish horses to haul heavy carriages on chaotic city streets day in and day out," PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman said in a statement. "Today's kind public wants nothing to do with businesses that exploit animals, and PETA is calling on Birmingham to join Palm Beach, Florida; Salt Lake City; and the many other cities across the country that have banned these cruel and archaic operations."

PETA also said it sent a letter to Woodfin's office.

Bush said the city is making steps to be more progressive, but now it is taking a step back by allowing horse-drawn carriages.

She said pulling a carriage can be dangerous for horses in Alabama's high summer temperatures, and there's no limit on the temperatures that the horses will have to work in.

"They can be working in Alabama heat for 10 hours a day," she said, adding that giving water to the horses is up to the discretion of the operators.

Birmingham's ordinance states: Adequate water shall be provided in the stables at all times and in the working areas as often as needed, as climate and working conditions require.

Bush said the massive carriages will also obstruct traffic on the city's always congested roadways. She was also concerned if any Birmingham police officers were trained to enforce the laws on the carriages and conditions of the horses.

Updated Friday at 1:38 p.m. to include updated number of signatures on the Change.org petition.