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 FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES **
ANIMALS MATTER: OUR BLUE PRINT FOR CHANGE
Please attend - Next Saturday December 7th at Steps of City Hall in NYC
Animal issues have been largely ignored during the last 20 years in this great city and well before that. Animals are suffering as a result of our failure to enact policies and legislation that would protect them and, in so doing, add enrichment to our own lives. Mayor-Elect de Blasio's mayoral election platform called for a humane city for New York's animals - recognizing that we need to do more to ensure that animals receive humane treatment.
Because of these long term injustices, there are many animal issues that need to be addressed.
These are the priorities that need attention in the first critical days and months of the new administration.
- Ban horse-drawn carriages - pure unqualified shut down - not dependent on the success of any private industry
- Reform and restructure the municipal animal shelter system including new shelters in the Bronx and Queens
- End the slaughter of Canada geese
- Ban animals in circuses
- Companion animals - end sale in pet shops; pets in housing; increased spay/neuter
- Enforce animal cruelty laws - ASPCA no longer involved as of January 1st.
- WHEN: Saturday December 7, 2013 - 11:00 am to 12 noon
- WHERE: Steps of City Hall - NYC - (City Hall between Broadway and Park Row - entrances on both sides)
- WHO: Compassion for Animals Coalition -- an ad hoc group formed for this purpose
Note: this will be held rain or shine! If it rains - bring umbrellas.
Please join us on this important day and stand in solidarity with others who care about animals. Participating will be Elizabeth Forel / Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages; Donny Moss - film maker - Blinders: the Truth Behind the Tradition; Edita Birnkrant / Friends of Animals; Zelda Penzel / SOS: Save our Shelter Animals ; Mary Beth Purdy-Artz / In Defense of Animals; Lisa Weisberg / Attorney; Christine MacMurray / Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages; Peter Muller - League of Humane Voters.; Mary Culpepper / Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages; Roberto Bonelli
Please attend and take the opportunity to let our elected officials know that people care about these issues.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
- Come to this historical event and bring a friend
- Share this newsletter with friends and acquaintances
- See our Event on Facebook and sign up.
- Like our Facebook page Animals Matter NYC
- Visit our web site ( work in progress) www.animalsmatternyc.com
- Sign up as a supporter by e-mailing us at NYCanimalsmatter@gmail.com - put your name in the subject line
- SPREAD THE WORD!
PLEASE NOTE: December 7th is Horses Without Carriages International Day - started in 2008. On the first Saturday in June and the first Saturday in December, we have had demos standing in solidarity with activists around the world. This year, we have decided to replace it with our Animals Matter message at City Hall. However we hope other groups around the country and world will continue to do the HWCI protests.
WE ARE RUNNING NYC BUS ADS
Starting December 1st in Manhattan
This month, we are running ads on the backs of 75 public transit buses in Manhattan, spending just about all of our funds. But after all - this is why we raise money. This past year, because of your generosity, we were able to run ads for several months in local papers. Many people contacted us because of these ads -- it was very apparent in the increase in "likes" on our Facebook page - No Walk in the Park.
Please consider donating to our ban horse-drawn carriage campaign to help us continue to do things like this. We are all volunteer and do not pay any salaries. Every donation received goes into the organization for our newsletter, posters, flyers and advertising. We also like to be able to donate to horse rescues who are supportive of a ban on NYC's horse-drawn carriages and special equine need cases. Click here to donate.
LIES AND DESPERATION - THE NYC CARRIAGE TRADE
new blog by Elizabeth Forel
LIES AND DESPERATION - the NYC horse-carriage trade - exposes the lies and deception put out by the NYC Carriage trade. In their desperation to keep their abusive, inhumane and unsafe business, they have contacted media all over the country who have picked up stories that contain these lies.
Please help get the truth out about this business by sharing this article.
GILI ISLANDS - TAKE ACTION TO HELP THE CARRIAGE PONIES
Please sign the petition and forward it
Please sign this petition to support changes in the Gili Islands. Click here. We are working with activists in Indonesia and in NYC on this campaign. We are hoping to get some interest in the Tuk Tuk - a solar powered vehicle that could easily substitute for the ponies that are used on the islands to transport tourists and building materials. It is pictured within the petition. Yes - these are in fact ponies and not horses. It is beyond cruel.
The petition is targeted to businesses and government on the island. We are hoping that with an economic threat against their business, they will finally take the horse abuse seriously. The Tuk Tuks - the solar powered vehicles - already exist and are inexpensive. With all the building going on in the Gili Islands, we know the money exists for these businesses and government to do the right thing and to stop exploiting these ponies. Please boycott the islands until this happens and spread the word.
The solution to this injustice and inhumanity is there for the taking. Please help us to grow this petition.
LOOKING FOR INTERESTING GIFTS?
shop at our four Cafe Press stores
Please take a look at our Merchandise page from our web site. Three of our stores are listed plus beautiful art work from Teresa Vecere.
In addition, we have a fourth store on Cafe Press. We are now offering great looking t-shirts based on our successful ad campaign - Carriage Horses Suffer - thanks to Roberto, the Nomadic Cat -for the Ts and Jane Denny - for the original art work. Click here.
OUR DEMOS - mark your calendars for December
yes - that is a "water" trough
Thanks to everyone who came out yesterday for our last demo of November. Several people actually drove in from Ohio to attend. Big thanks to all of you - much appreciated! Besides our press conference for Animals Matter next Saturday December 7th, our next two anti carriage trade demos are Saturday December 14th and Sunday December 22nd. Please put this on your calendar. It is only for a few hours.
Please - let's continue our presence
This is the busiest time of year when tourists line up to take rides and the horses are worked to exhaustion. No water for them! Remember - these are not "working" horses in the traditional sense of the word. They are "entertainment" horses - enslaved to make money for their owners while pulling uneducated tourists around the park. There is nothing noble about what they do. It is a frivolous and unnecessary practice and we can't wait until it is shut down.
The drivers are supposed to give their horses a 15 minute break every two hours - this according to law - but they do not. If there is a choice of taking another ride or giving their horses a rest, the drivers will take the money. And to make it worse, neither the NYPD, nor the ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement officers were at the hack line. It was a free for all. As of January 1st, the ASPCA is giving up humane law enforcement, turning over the responsibility to the NYPD. Once again, the troughs are filthy without water. Picture by Mary Xanthos 12-1-13
PLEASE JOIN US ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS
Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Google Blog & Flickr
HELP OUR ORGANIZATION BY SHOPPING ON LINE
Also check out Cafe Press to purchase CBHDC merchandise
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 & Noble. Even Cafe Press is available if you purchase some of our merchandise. Click here to get started.
On iGive - the name of our organization is "The Coalition for NYC Animals, Inc." We also have three stores on Cafe Press with great t-shirts, bags, hats, mugs, mouse pads, etc. Purchasing this merchandise helps our organization. Click here.
"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.
