HELP ABUSED CARRIAGE HORSES ON GILI ISLANDS
please sign petition and forward - not much time left
Gili Islands in Indonesia is a paradise for people but hell on earth for its carriage horses. Please click here to sign the petition Gili Islands - Tropical Paradise or Hell on Earth for Carriage horses? (answer - it is hell on earth)
This petition is created by tourists who have made the pledge not to visit these islands near Bali until the business leaders and the Minister of Tourism take this issue seriously, retire the horses to a sanctuary and replace them with PEDICABS.
We are working with Jakarta Animal Aid Network on this issue. Although JAAN would like to see the horses treated better, they love the idea of replacing them with pedicabs. They will be meeting with business and government leaders in mid July to discuss this. Please let's all try to grow the petition by that time.
These signatures will be used to pressure business leaders to take positive action. Because tourism will suffer, it may well be a great opportunity to help these horses. See the video on New Tang Dynasty Television.
Poor Treatment of Horses Threatens Tourism in Indonesia And please join the Facebook cause Help the Abused Carriage Horses of the Gili Islands.
THE PETITION
what people are saying
PLEASE SIGN IT. We have about 2 1/2 weeks until JAAN meets with the business leaders. Please let's try to give them 3,000 signatures by July 14th. We need your help - please send this to your friends, colleagues and lists. The Internet has brought the world closer and a victory here will help all the horses slaving in this trade. Let's stand in solidarity with each other for the animals.
This petition has been signed by Holly Cheever, DVM, world renowned equine veterinarian and specialist on urban carriage horses and Nedim Buyukmihci, founder of AVAR - Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights. This was Dr. Buyukmihci's comment: As a veterinarian experienced with horses, I strongly believe it is inappropriate to use horses to pull carriages. The history of such use is replete with numerous tragedies in which horses have been seriously injured or killed. Accidents involving motor vehicles or collapse due to heat stroke or other conditions are the major issues which plague these horses in general. Also, in an effort to keep costs down and maximize profits, some operators do not properly care for their horses. Some of the horses I have examined have been almost emaciated and had chronic leg injuries. The conditions under which the horses are forced to work are often arduous (high heat and humidity) particularly in an environment like the Gili Islands, leading to metabolic collapse. It is my fervent hope that community leaders will use their influence to ban the use of horses to pull carriages on the Islands. It would be the humane and compassionate thing to do.
Another comment from the petition : #711 wow, am I GLAD I FOUND THIS!!! I just came back from the Gili's and LOVED IT TO DEATH!!! BUT! the carriage horses were beaten for fun...the guys were whipping them and laughing, i NEVER NEVER NEVER saw any water for these poor horses! and it seriously felt like it was about, with the humidity, a good 115 degrees. It was horrible--ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE.
FREEDOM FOR HORSES!
4th of July demo for the horses - but on July 3rd
July 4th is a day for Americans to celebrate our freedom, specifically the freedom to govern ourselves. It commemorates the day in 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was signed, declaring independence from Great Britain. Let us renew our pledge to free NYC's carriage horses - to put an end to the horse-drawn carriage industry and place all of the horses in sanctuaries - to give them a "Declaration of Independence."
- When: July 3rd from 1-3 PM
- Where: Central Park South and Fifth Avenue - north/west corner
- Sponsor: Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages, Friends of Animals and Heart for Animals
- Special Note: We will be leaving the site by 1:30 - so please be there by then. Wear your walking shoes since we will be walking to other areas of importance to the horses
THE HEAT OF SUMMER AND CARRIAGE HORSES
the laws in NYC and Rome : humane or double speak?
Summers in Rome, Italy are very hot and humid - probably closer to Charleston's weather, but very similar to NYC. It becomes unbearable in NYC to be outside during the hottest time of the day because of the tall buildings that hold the heat; the scorched asphalt roadway, traffic, traffic and more traffic, subway grates spewing heat onto the sidewalks and limited greenery. But NYC is a 24/7 city. No one takes breaks. The Italians, as in many European countries, slow down during midday. Most stores close from 1-5PM throughout the year. The temperature averages one might find on line for any of these cities are just that. The reality is that June has already brought several days in the 90s to NYC - it has been very hot and humid.
In Rome, the carriage horses, or Botticelle, are not allowed to work during these afternoon hours, from June 1st through September 15th. This is the hottest time of the day. The fact that many cheat and work anyway is another issue. This is actually a law that seems to makes sense. But does it?! The reality of this situation according to an activist in Rome is this: The drivers don't give the horses a break, they don't take them back to the stables, they leave them ATTACHED to their carriages for 4 hours in the shade. No water is supplied, nor is food. Sometimes they even leave them in the sun. So technically, they are NOT working, but they are still attached to a heavy load and unable to move. This means most horses are hooked up to a carriage for at least 12 hours a day.
The United States does not share that same tradition of a mid day break and consequently, horses in NYC are allowed to work all day. According to the law, the Humane Law Officers of the ASPCA send the horses back to the stables when it reaches 90 degrees. There is no consideration for humidity. The reality of this law is that the carriages then make the trek back to the stables, which range from 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 miles away -- over blazing hot asphalt roads, during the hottest time of the day in bad traffic congested streets. When they get back to their stables, the drivers may not even remove the horses' tack. When the temperature begins to drop, the ASPCA notifies the stables that it is OK to bring the horses out again. So off they go, back to the park, back along the same scorching hot streets. It is an absurd law, but is seemingly all that can be done to prevent the horses from working when it is very hot. This is exactly what happened on Saturday. The horses were sent back to their stables about 2:30 PM, only to return a couple of hours later when the temperature dropped to 89. Back and forth - how exhausting.
There is no way to operate this industry humanely in NYC. The law was written years ago by the industry via their friends in the City Council. A really humane law for both Rome and NYC would have been to allow the drivers to work in the summer months, but only from 5PM on. The industry will never go for compromises or more humane conditions that will affect their bottom line. This is a business after all. And of course, a truly humane law for both Rome and NYC would be to ban these out of control trades all together and save the horses.
The city should never have allowed 68 medallions to be issued back in the 1940s. It was very bad judgment and all about cronyism. There are far too many carriages, many operated by drivers who know little about horses. Drivers hired before this spring are not even required to have a NYS driver's license. Consequently, they can talk and text on their cell phone with impunity. The industry is simply out of control.
WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS
the horses get drenched and the ASPCA looks the other way (see videos below)
There is a Department of Health regulation that is mostly ignored by the ASPCA' s HLE officers. It is part of TITLE 24. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE CHAPTER 4. HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF RENTAL HORSES. It is under Section 4-05 b: Adverse weather conditions shall include but not be restricted to snow, ice, heavy rain or other
slippery conditions. A horse being worked when such conditions develop shall be returned to the stable by the most direct route as soon as practicable. The direct route is not through Times Square. :-) The ruling is also part of NYC's Administrative Code.
Heavy rain means just that HEAVY RAIN and this regulation is not open to interpretation. The other day, a colleague called to tell me the horses were out on Central Park South and it was pouring. She told the drivers that they could not be outside and that she would call the ASPCA. They laughed and said -- "call the ASPCA -- they don't care." I actually called the A's HLE department and left a message. I followed it up with an e-mail, and included this regulation. I never got a return phone call or a response to my e-mail.
Although the intent of this regulation was well meaning, the reality is somewhat different. If the horses actually went back to the stables, it would be during the down pour. There is no shade or protection for the horses on the hack line -- so they get drenched while waiting for passengers.
The ASPCA enjoys the designation of being the official Humane Law Officers of NYS. They love the prestige, are the stars of Animal Planet and sometimes actually do some good. But the carriage industry is out of control and the A's oversight of it is grossly inadequate. They have been part of the problem and the institutional inertia for years. Their inaction has enabled the industry to continue. It is not enough to be in favor of a ban. The A should use their clout to tell the mayor that this industry is not manageable and they cannot take the responsibility any more of trying to enforce laws that are not workable or are ignored. But what they should not be doing is their own interpretation. This inherently inhumane industry simply does not work -- no matter what laws are passed.
A much better solution would be for the NYPD to create a humane law enforcement division, which would be accountable to the tax payers. The ASPCA is not accountable and thumbs its nose at anyone who disagrees with them or points out their short comings. See this video on Youtube of the drivers violating the law while it is pouring rain. And while on Youtube, see this video by Donny Moss on the ASPCA and the carriage industry. Moss is the director of the award winning Blinders: the Truth Behind the Tradition.
JOIN US ON FACE BOOK & SIGN ONLINE PETITION
"Never doubt that a small group of
thoughtful, committed citizens can change the
world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever
has." Margaret Mead.
