NYC CARRIAGE HORSE RESCUED FROM SLAUGHTER AUCTION
collaborative effort brings horse to safety
Last Friday morning started out like any other day, but little did I know as I turned on the computer that a journey would begin that would end by saving a NYC carriage horse from slaughter. The industry sheds about 70 horses each year and it is very difficult to learn where they go. The law is on the side of the industry. We have always suspected that many go to auction, which often leads to slaughter. As a business person first, the owner needs to replace his old horse with a younger one and wants to recoup his investment. Simple business sense.
Through many e-mails and phone calls later with much collaboration, the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages and Friends of Animals bailed out a NYC carriage horse... and Equine Advocates agreed to take him in their sanctuary in Chatham, NY.
The horse, formerly called Billy, now named Bobby II, is approximately 18 years old according to Equine Advocates' veterinarian. Records show that he had been working since at least 2005 in the carriage industry. As of June 20th the records read "Retired." His left front hoof number clearly read 2873, which according to the Department of Health (DoH) records show him as being owned by someone associated with West Side Livery. This stable was the subject of Animals Angels recent Investigation. See Equine Advocates for his story.
Thanks so much to all of our supporters who have donated to our organization making it possible to save this horse from slaughter. You are all part of this rescue and you are the best!!
THE LAW & OTHER DETAILS
hooves
NYC carriage horses are required to have a 4-digit identification number on their left front hoof. We believe that some carriage drivers actually sand off the number so when the horse goes to auction, people like me will not be able to tell. Yet at the same time, it is a selling point to other carriage drivers from Boston or Philadelphia to get a horse who has "carriage horse" experience on his resume.
Unbelievably, the Department of Health wanted to eliminate these numbers and micro chip the horses. Fortunately, that suggestion went no where but would have been a disaster. What was the purpose of this microchip? Who would have a wand to determine the horse's identity - the kill buyer at the auction?; an ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement (HLE) officer? No one? Would anyone really care? It does not make sense and only adds more of a cover up to what is already going on. The 4-digit number ID number makes the most sense. It sometimes does give us an opportunity to identify sick horses or bad drivers. And in this case, to identify a NYC carriage horse.
The section of law that allows these horses to go to auction is � 17-329. It requires that a horse be "disposed of" humanely, without providing a definition. Sales records are required to be submitted to the DoH only if the sale was in NYC. If the sale is made outside NYC, sales records are not required.. However, it should be obvious to anyone that most horses will be sold outside NYC. Why does the City of NY, the DoH and the City Council enable this industry - letting them get away with murder? Why doesn't the ASPCA speak up? If they changed this small section of law to read the way Intro 658 and 92 reads in �17-3[29]30 , the industry would implode.
WOO HOO - I GET TO GIVE BOBBY A MIDDLE NAME
as his honored god parent
As the proud god mother of Bobby, I get to give him a middle name. If you would like to offer suggestions, please e-mail me at coalition@banhdc.org. Remember that his first name is now Bobby II. I am a bit stumped. It should be something that will reflect his new freedom and sound good with "Bobby."
FREEDOM FOR HORSES!
Fourth of July Demo -- on July 3rd
Our demo this year takes on new meaning. 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." This year will be very special because we will be celebrating Bobby's independence and freedom.
- 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
IS THE ASPCA HELPING TO SEND THE HORSES TO SLAUGHTER
by their inaction?????
I was actually aware of Billy, (now Bobby) the old carriage horse, and knew his driver was double shifting him as far back as February. I often get e-mails from people telling me about incidents they have seen - giving me horse numbers and license plates and all kinds of information. I have many spies and contacts everywhere and learned of this in addition to seeing it for myself. However, the HLE officers must see a violation personally before they ticket. I reported problems with Billy to them in February hoping they would do right by him. Yes, that's right - five months ago. If they had done what people expect of them, perhaps Billy could have been removed from his owner and not suffered the indignities of going to slaughter - being thrown away and used up. Perhaps the driver could have been fired.
Perhaps they could have made a fuss about this stable and gotten it shut down. But then that would not have been the ASPCA.
But none of this happened, of course. So you can imagine how shocked I was on Monday evening when I got the hoof number from Susan, checked my records and learned that this was the very same horse. This poor, sweet, elderly horse, quite lame on his right leg, with bad teeth that caused him pain - and worms. And let's not forget the marks on his body from some kind of equipment he was wearing.
The ASPCA is clearly not doing the job that we all expect them to do. They are not accountable to anyone. They are not advocating for the carriage horses. They are afraid to go to court to make a case, whether it is because they do not want to waste the time or because of incompetence. Or they are afraid of being sued. They do a liberal interpretation of the regulations that govern the carriage industry even though that is illegal in itself - allowing the drivers to get away with what ever they want to. They fought to keep their "inspection" status over the carriage industry and probably got a lot of you to sign the petition that is still going around even though it's moot. Then they hide behind the ruse saying that they are only "volunteers." I would like to know why they did not inspect Billy and see his lameness, bad teeth and big wormy belly. How did he fall through the cracks? How many others have?
But this is the worst. They should and could have removed Billy from his owner. Billy was sick. But instead they let him stay working; let him be double shifted. Let him be sent to slaughter.
How much longer are animal activists going to put up with this bloated top heavy organization that suffers from inertia and the will to do the right thing? You have given them the power by sending donations. And only you can take it back. If the ASPCA does not have the courage, ethics and gumption to do the job then they should be replaced. I would like to see the NY Police Department develop a division that does animal law enforcement. They would be accountable to the tax papers. The ASPCA is accountable to Cindy Adams.
(all pictures of Bobby are by Equine Advocates. Building is of West Side Livery Stable by Coalition to Ban HDC.)
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.
