In addition to this lovely piece showcasing "Broadway Bobby," the Times Union published a piece about the issue focusing on our organization. Click here to read it - called the Horse-Drawn Carriages.

The comment at the end of the TV piece mentions that the "reputable" carriage drivers do send their horses to retirement. That must be challenged. Approximately 70 horses disappear off the rolls of the Department of Health every year and I doubt that homes are found for all of them. Besides, it is easier and more lucrative to sell the horse at sales such as New Holland or Unadilla - both kill auctions, meaning that kill buyers frequent these facilities looking for horses to buy for meat.

If the City Council passed a stand alone bill that amended the Administrative Code to require that disposed of horses get adopted to good homes or sanctuaries, then I could believe that the horses are adopted. But this will probably not happen because it cuts into the freedom the industry has of instant horse disposal.

This conference focuses on grass roots activists and their work. Rosa Close, the head of the Anti-Fur Society and the organizer of this conference, says that grassroots activists are carrying the burden of making change for animals and are the most valuable assets in this fight.

Please sign up soon. Besides the two day conference, one of the highlights will be a four hour sunset cruise on the Potomac on Saturday night with a three course vegan dinner, dancing and speakers.

from the blog: Think about it -- 9 years -- approximately 70 carriage horses disappear off the rolls of the Department of Health per year x 9 -- that's a minimum of 630 horses unaccounted for; 9 years -- a minimum of 205,390 cats and dogs killed at Animal Care and Control. [these numbers are taken from the web site of Animal Care & Control of NYC.

Join Animal groups, NY politicians, and wildlife advocates, joining hands around the perimeter of the lake to speak out against the slaughter of Canada geese in NYC parks, to demand protection for all urban wildlife in our city and an end to the city's kill contract with the USDA targeting geese. Press conference to follow.

For those of you who have not signed this petition, this is a synopsis: 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.

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