CONGEST-O-RAMA IN CENTRAL PARK
Youtube video -- horses suffer on New Year's Eve
The carriages were out in force on New Year's Eve competing for customers. What made it worse for the horses is that Central Park South was blocked off because of the heavy snow left from the recent blizzard and police dividers had been set up to contain crowds that were expected to celebrate New Year's Eve. As a result, the carriages were all contained in the same area.
This is a video of stills made that day - it provides a very good idea of the congestion. The ASPCA officers were no where to be found. No one was watching to see that the horses got a 15 minute break or that they did not eat the filthy snow - or that there were no accidents since the cars and tour buses shared the same road coming out of Central Park.
The drivers all claim to "love" their horses. And they may -- in their own way. But the reality is that they make money off their backs and they push them to the limit. They become objects to exploit. The drivers project their own beliefs on the horses claiming that they "love their jobs." How could they say otherwise. These horses are clearly dispirited beings who have succumbed to their masters. They do what they are told. Look at the pictures of horses from Central New England Equine Rescue in the video. These horses (once exploited) now live the good life and get to actually play in the snow -- not slave.
Click here to see the Youtube video
PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION - IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO
save NYC carriage horses from the kill auctions
Thanks to all of you for signing this petition. If you have not already done so, please do it now. We are trying to get at least 2,000 signatures. For those who want to sign immediately and help the horses - please click here for the petition on Change.org. Please add your name to those who care about these horses.
THE PROBLEM: There are over 200 horses in the NYC carriage trade. The number varies but not by much. Approximately one third falls off the Department of Health registry every year. What does this mean? When an owner decides he wants to get rid of a horse, the existing NYC administrative code is very weak in regulating how this is done. It requires that sales or transfer records be submitted to the Department of Health but only if the transaction was made WITHIN NEW YORK CITY. While this would provide some information for where the horse ended up, it is ABSURD since most of the transactions are made outside the city. The horse auctions are in Pennsylvania and upstate New York.
NO ACCOUNTABILITY: In the last five years, well over 300 NYC carriage horses have disappeared from the Department of Health rolls. I know this because I have analyzed and compared information I requested from this city agency through the Freedom of Information Law. Homes were undoubtedly found for some of the horses -- the favorites. But for the vast majority, it is presumed that they went on to auction where there are many kill buyers waiting to buy horse flesh for the ride to the slaughter facilities in Canada. After all, this is the easiest and most feasible thing for an owner to do -- and the most devastating for the horse. This must be controlled by statute. The carriage owners must be held accountable for each and every horse they "dispose of". It is not enough for them to say they find homes for all of their horses. Where is the proof? I defy them to show me the good homes for the over 300 horses I mention above. In June 2010, we found Bobby at the kill auction in Pennsylvania. He was from West Side Livery stables. The ID number was still on his left front hoof - a number that is easily sanded off. WE NEED TO DO THIS NOW: We do not expect the electric car bill to move any time soon. It has been almost one year since the City Council hearing on Intro 86 and although discussed at the hearing, there is still not one model car for the people in power to consider. In the meantime, we need to shame the NYC council for supporting one of the sources for horse slaughter -- the NYC carriage industry. They can at least do the right thing now and get this bill in the works while they wait to decided what to do about an overall ban.
A NEW PROPOSAL - NOW: The language for this new bill is the language we had inserted into former Council Member Tony Avella's historic ban bill and the same language we asked to be inserted into Intro 86 to protect the horses. The original electric car bill unfortunately did not address this issue.
Advocates haven't stopped fighting for a ban, but in the meantime, the least we can do is ensure that the horses' lives have a better outcome than ending up on the kill floor of a slaughterhouse.
The Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages is asking the City Council to consider just that section on disposition -- �17-329 Disposition of licensed horse -- , with an amendment to the code, which would require horse owners to sell or donate their horses to private individuals who will keep them as companions or to an animal sanctuary. Carriage horse drivers and owners repeatedly insist that their horses are well cared for and loved. Here's their chance to prove it. Anyone who cares about an animal wouldn't be willing to put her through the torturous trip across the border to a brutal slaughterhouse. So, there's no excuse for opposing a bill that ensures these horses get a humane retirement. It's time to bring this dark side of the carriage horse industry out of the shadows. Ask the New York City Council to save carriage horses from slaughter. PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION.
SEE LAST WEEK'S NEWSLETTER - for the entire story from Change.org on this issue. Click here.
IF YOU SHOP ONLINE -- YOU CAN HELP THE HORSES
Through a free registration with iGive, when you buy merchandise on line, your purchase will help us. There are over 700 stores that include such popular ones as Amazon.com, Staples, Best Buy and Barnes & Nobles. Even Cafe Press is available if you purchase some of our merchandise. Click here to get started.
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.
