BUS DRIVER SUSPENDED IN CARRIAGE ACCIDENT
carriage driver gets away with it -- so far
On Wednesday, November 3rd at 5:30 PM at 53rd -54th St and 7th avenue, a horse-drawn carriage collided with a NYC bus. The bus hit the horse and the rear wheel of the carriage. The horse was very upset, spooky and terrified. The drivers both stopped to exchange information. The eye witness made a point to tell me that the driver ignored the horse - did not comfort him. The horse was obviously in distress. The Gothamist ran the story.
Horse drawn carriages are not allowed in this area -- between 57th St. and 42nd St - and between 7th and 9th Avenue before 11:30 PM at night. The law is very clear on this -- WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A PASSENGER. We learned that the bus driver was suspended for not reporting the accident. This was a big mistake on his part even though he was there legally. The carriage driver had no right to be there but appears to have gotten away with this unscathed. There may not be any mechanism in place requiring carriage drivers to report an accident to the overseeing agencies. Representatives of the Department of Health told me that they were not aware of the accident. The Department of Consumer Affairs has not responded.
We are on the case and hope to have a resolution soon.
ASPCA: HORSE HAS NO PROBLEMS
back to work he goes
The ASPCA vet reported to the eye witness that the horse in question was examined and determined to have no problems associated with the incident. He was allowed to continue working -- not even a day off to rest.
Most of us have had accidents in our lives that resulted in soft tissue soreness and pain. A day's rest generally helped. So I asked an equine massage therapist for her view and this is what she said, prefacing it by stating that she had not examined the horse and is not a veterinarian so is not able to diagnose.
"In my opinion, this sort of impact would cause pain lasting longer than 24 hours. Have you ever been impacted by a bus, car or even a bicycle - or been kicked or fallen from a horse? Think of the force of that impact on the soft and hard tissues and how long that area felt sore, tight and achy. I would say much longer than one day and probably much longer than that." Horses are no different.
INSTITUTIONAL CRUELTY
in the carriage horse trade -- Our New Video
The carriage horse industry in NYC likes to "brag" that the ASPCA has never issued a violation for animal cruelty. By that, they mean a violation of either the misdemeanor or felony statute Section 353 and 353A of the NYS code. PLEASE: Take that with a HUGE grain of salt.
Please take a look at my new video Institutional cruelty in the carriage industry.
WHAT YOU CAN DO IF YOU SEE AN ACCIDENT
or anything questionable
Please take pictures of the incident. This should include a picture of the carriage, horse, driver and anything else that was involved. If possible, note the 4-digit engraved number on the left front hoof of the horse. Note the license plate number on the back of the carriage. If you do not have a camera, record descriptions. Note the exact location and time. This is very important.
Please contact us first. This is also very important. Depending on what it is, we can try to get media attention and contact the appropriate authorities and the City Council. Our e-mail is coalition@banhdc.org. If you just contact the ASPCA, the complaint may disappear. WE want to rid NYC of the horse-drawn carriage trade in NYC, not enable them. Any thing you can do to move that along will be much appreciated.
COZUMEL, MEXICO
sign petition to ban horse-drawn carriages
Cozumel, Mexico is a member of Horses Without Carriages International. It is a beautiful island well known for its beaches. Unfortunately, it also has carriage horses - yet another place where horses are treated badly, with disdain. Activists in Cozumel are trying hard to shut down this industry. Please help this cause by signing a petition to ban carriage horses in Cozumel. Click here.
If you are on Facebook, please join their page. No Calesas En Cozumel
HOLIDAY SCHEDULE FOR THE HORSES
from Thanksgiving to New Year's
Please save the date - Saturday December 4th - we will be having a rally/protest standing in solidarity with other activists around the globe who want to ban horse-drawn carriages in their communities. This is Horses Without Carriages International day - a coalition we started in 2008.
We are also planning other events between Thanksgiving and New Year's. These will not be traditional demos and will require that activists not interact with the drivers. This is very difficult to do. But if you think that you will be able to do it , please contact me at coalitionbanhdc@gmail.com
JOIN US ON FACE BOOK & SIGN ONLINE PETITION
See our Facebook page called No Walk in the Park. And while you are there, please join another anti carriage horse page by a colleague called 212HorsePower
"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.
