|
HORSE SENSE
Periodic updates about issues and actions concerning New York City's Carriage Horses +
Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages
www.banhdc.org
Horses Without Carriages International
www.horseswithoutcarriages.org
PLEASE FORWARD TO LISTS, FRIENDS & COLLEAGUES - ** snow storm ** ASPCA fails the horses and makes excuses ** Valentine's ad ** Pegasus ** Valentine's Day demo **
19" OF SNOW IN NYC LAST THURSDAY
carriage horses out working
SNOW EMERGENCY: Mayor Bloomberg called it a snow emergency and asked people not to take their cars out. Buses were suspended, schools were closed, subways were questionable. The priority was that the streets had to be cleaned and emergency vehicles had to be able to get through. But several of the carriage drivers took their horses out to Central Park. This was illegal. It is particularly dangerous when there is so much snow on the road. Horses love the snow -- but they love to play in it; to roll and run and get frisky. They never get a chance to do this in NYC as they are bound to the carriage they pull. With their vision hindered by blinders and their heads held by check reins, all they see is the messy and dangerous road in front of them. Very sad.
ASPCA MISSING IN ACTION: The ASPCA officers should have been at the hack line early in the morning making sure that the carriages were not out. Instead, they called a suspension in the early afternoon and manipulated their double speak to fool many people into thinking that they "suspended" the carriages from the outset. We question why they were not out at the hack line in the early morning to make sure the drivers were not there.
This is all the more reason why this industry needs to be abolished. It is out of control. The drivers do not obey the law and the ASPCA cannot enforce it. Thanks to all of you who contacted the ASPCA on Thursday to complain about this and then to send me your responses. I am just wading through the BS now.
SNOW TUESDAY: We are expecting an icy snow storm tomorrow - Tuesday, February 1st. Please call the ASPCA Humane Law division at 212-876-7700 x 4450. Also e-mail Pam Corey - the ASPCA vet. pamelac@aspca.org (we hope she does not change her e-mail as Ed Sayres did several times.) See our home page for more information about the weather restrictions.
GOTHAMIST
reports on the drivers working illegally
Donny Moss, director of "Blinders: the Truth Behind the Tradition", went to Central Park South on Thursday and captured the conditions. See the story in Gothamist.
Read the comments especially that of one of the drivers -- "And it was "essential" for the drivers to work in order to put food on their families' tables, just as it was "essential" for taxis and deliveries to be out on the roads. This is proof to me that they do whatever they want. If they wanted to work - they did, regardless of whether or not it was illegal. Also read my comments - ElizabethNYC, Edita's, Bob P's and Donny's. Good going guys!!
Carriage Horses Spotted Working Illegally During "Weather Emergency". Photo is of snowed over water trough.
PEGASUS AND THE FLAME
a book about fantasy, Olympus and the carriage industry
Pegasus and the Flame by Kate O'Hearn is a lovely book for young teens. Pegasus, the mythical, majestic winged stallion, crashes on the roof of young Emily's apartment building in the middle of a storm. Herein begins a remarkable odyssey as Emily helps Pegasus to go back to Olympus. On the way, they visit a NYC horse carriage stable.
The author is clearly against the carriage industry as she speaks through the voices of her characters. One of them mentions the group that wants to shut down the industry because it is so cruel. (that's us) This section of the book definitely makes it a must read for all adults who care about this issue. O'Hearn lives in England and we hope that she will get a publisher in the states. For now, the book is available through Amazon.
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 as many signatures as possible. 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 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. Some of you have received a response from Council Member Jessica Lappin who does not understand the proposal. She says it is not possible, but she also says she is supporting Intro 86, which contains this exact clause - the one we originally formulated. Lappin has gotten it wrong before.
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.
VALENTINE'S DAY DEMO
Have a heart for the horses
Join the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages, Friends of Animals and Heart for Animals at a demo on Valentine's Day.
- WHEN: Monday, February 14th - from 5:30 to 7:30 PM
- WHERE: north west corner of Central Park South and Fifth Avenue (look for us - we will be there)
This is our new ad in City Guide, which will run for the month of February. The magazine is given out at hotels and tourist attractions.
FLOWERS FOR VALENTINE'S DAY?
Buy online through iGive and help us
iGive makes available over 834 stores where you can buy on line and they give us a percentage of the sales. Stores like 1-800 Flowers, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Dell, HSN, QVC - to name a few. This is the list. See message below about signing up with iGive and help our campaign.
DO YOU LIKE TO WRITE
and do you know this issue well?
We are looking for people who would like to join us in writing on several of our blogs. This requires someone who writes well and knows the issue. Samples requested. You could write commentary as often as you like, but it must be at least once a week. Please contact coalition@banhdc.org if you are interested.
A DAY AT THE FARM.
at Windy Bleu Acres in Massachusetts
It's been a difficult January for me personally and my soul needed some uplifting. This was just the right medicine - good friends, good conversation, good food, laughter, a wonderful mix of dogs, one cat, chickens and and HORSES -- in the snow, having a good time. I generally do not like to post personal pictures but i loved this one because my heart belongs to Monty - who is a 25 year old rescued, former Boston carriage horse. See Central New England Equine Rescue.
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.
|
|
|
 |
Thank you for caring about the horses,
Elizabeth Forel - Coalition to Ban
Horse-Drawn Carriages - a standing committee
of The Coalition for New York City Animals,
Inc.
Please DONATE
to our campaign to ban
the inhumane and unsafe carriage horse industry.
|
|
|
