6-11/245- March 13, 2011
 
 

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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 - ** What really happens to the carriage horses** Sign the petition to help NYC carriage horses ** AFS Conference ** Volunteer ** St. Pat's parade ** Our newsletter archives ** Hands Around the Lake **

NYC CARRIAGE HORSES: IT'S NOT WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THEM IF THERE IS A BAN
It's what is happening to them NOW!!
horse slaughter NYC CARRIAGE HORSES - it is not what will happen to them if there is a ban. It is what is happening NOW! I have to admit that I am very tired of this question - what will happen to the horses if the carriage industry is banned? If you are new to the issue, I can understand the question. But if you are not, it means you are not reading the proposed legislation that has been out for almost four years - first Intro 658 and then Intro 86! This is important if you are to be fully educated about this issue.

HISTORY: In 2006, the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages began the campaign to put an end to this inhumane, unsafe and frivolous carriage trade in NYC. But one would think that we went into this without any thought to the horses, considering some of the questions we get. This is the only reason we are involved in this issue at all. It was and remains our desire to save the horses. Period.

NEW DISPOSITION LANGUAGE: In 2007, we worked with former Council Member and present NYS Senator Tony Avella to introduce Intro 658. This bill was historic, the first ever bill to ban the carriage industry. The language to deal with "horse disposition" as it is referred to, was considered very carefully by the City Council's attorneys because the horses are privately owned. The "A" section addressed horse disposition. For those of you who have never read this section of the bill, it is included below. Continued. --

PLEASE continue reading this blog by clicking here. It is very important to understand that NYC is a conduit for horses going to the slaughter auctions. We can no longer afford to be naive about this issue. Horse slaughter is ugly and it is big business. We want accountability now. We do not want to wait until we get a new mayor to hope that he or she may be sympathetic to the horses. These horses slave nine hours a day, seven days a week between the shafts of their carriages making money for their owners. When no longer wanted, they are cast aside - often to the kill auctions. This is where we found Bobby II Freedom.

SAVE THE DATE FOR THE ANIMAL ISSUES CONFERENCE
June 25th and June 26th in Virginia
The Anti-Fur Society is planning a conference on June 25th and June 26th in Alexandria, Virginia. I will be on a panel that discusses horse issues along with Susan Wagner and Laura Allen. Please look at their web site for more information and other speakers. Click here for a list of speakers.

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.

CARRIAGE HORSE TO LEAD ST. PAT'S PARADE
City allows it -- an accident waiting to happen
St. Patrick's Day is Thursday and will be celebrated by the traditional parade. This year the grand marshal is Mary Higgins Clark, who will lead the parade riding in a carriage. OMG - what was the city thinking giving their stamp of approval to this danger?

Read Be Safe, Paddy from the blog HorseWatchNYC about other recent accidents around the country in which parade horses have spooked resulting in the deaths of parade goers.

VIEW OUR OLD NEWSLETTERS
on our web site
If you missed a newsletter, you can access them by going to our web site under newsletters. Click here.

VOLUNTEER WITH US
tabling to start soon
We will soon begin our tabling efforts near the hack line. The purpose will be to hand out literature to educate the public about the horse-drawn carriage industry and why a ban is the only solution. It will most likely be on a Saturday afternoon. If you are interested, please contact Paola, our volunteer coordinator, at [email protected].

STAND UP FOR NYC'S GEESE
Saturday March 26th - Prospect Park
Prospect Park, Brooklyn - the site of last year's horrific geese massacre. Please come out and support the geese. Participate in Hands Around the Lake.Starts at 12:30.

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.

PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION - IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO
We have surpassed our goal of 2,500 signatures
taped blinders This petition is directly related to our blog about what happens to the carriage horses NOW. Please click here to sign it if you have not done so already. The City Council has been non responsive to the issue of preventing the carriage horses from going to the slaughter auctions. They apparently do not care if the carriage horses die on the job or later at the slaughter house. They are our publicly financed legislators.

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.

Please click HERE to sign the petition.

IF YOU SHOP ONLINE -- YOU CAN HELP THE HORSES
igive 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
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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.