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 ** lawlessness & recklessness in the carriage
trade ** driver uses 911 as private
security force ** January 17th - animal
protection issue forum - save the date **
our ban horse-drawn carriages bus ad **
LAWLESSNESS & RECKLESSNESS IN THE LAST DAYS
of the inhumane, abusive and unsafe carriage trade
The year 2013 goes out the same way it came in: with carriage drivers behaving badly, endangering the public safety, and thinking they are above the law. Those days are coming to an end. These pictures were taken at the hack line on Sunday December 22nd. Although the drivers are supposed to give their horse a 15 minute break every two hours, they were working them non stop for hours and hours. Drivers behaving badly include:
- drivers not paying attention to the road - reading, using their cell phone; turning around; taking pictures
- horses with wet and dirty legs - we hope they were dried off and cared for later
- drivers leaving their horse unattended - standing away from the horse so that if he/she spooks, it would be difficult to control
- drivers standing up - this is very bad horsemanship. If the carriage should be hit, the driver will lose control and go flying.
- illegal u-turns
- white washed license plates so the number is not obvious if someone wants to report them
- unclean and dangerous food conditions - pigeons sharing the bucket of food with the horse
- drivers manhandling their horses - pushing and shoving, pulling by the bit
The ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement officers were not at the hack line. They will no longer be doing law enforcement after December 31st. If this was anything like what to expect, the horses are in for a lot of abuse.
These pictures are on our Facebook page - No Walk in the Park. Sorry, but this is the only way to view them at this time. You will need a Facebook account. (this picture depicts a whitewashed license plate -- obviously done to evade the law. )
DRIVERS USE 911 AS THEIR OWN PRIVATE SECURITY FORCE
Shame on these lawless carriage drivers
NYC carriage drivers think they have a right to do what ever they want and that includes breaking the law and otherwise behaving badly. And now they are using 911 as their own private security force. No one enforces the regulations governing the carriage trade and this can be said after many of us have spent countless hours observing this trade in operation. A few of us were at the hack line on Sunday December 22nd photographing the carriages - a quiet activity that is not at all unusual or disruptive. Remember - NO ONE is enforcing the law and the best activists can do is to document the abuse. One of the drivers - who happens to be a part owner of the carriage driven by Saverio Colarusso, the driver accused of animal cruelty - yelled out threats to us. This driver is also a known bully and can be seen in the documentary "Blinders:the truth behind the tradition" with a bandana wrapped over his face (presumably as a disguise) while he curses and knocks two Peta activists to the ground - this happened several years ago.
As this driver passed by in his carriage, he yelled out "when this is over, I'm coming for you." among other choice words. He also yelled out that he had called 911 because it was illegal to photograph for longer than 25 minutes. This, of course, is not true and is beyond absurd.
A police officer arrived just as we were leaving and said he got a call about an unlawful "protest." We said there would have been nothing unlawful about a protest if we were having one. Taking pictures is not a crime. We suggested that instead he should charge the driver with making a frivolous 911 call and selfishly using NYPD resources for his own benefit. This officer was totally out of his comfort zone and did not know the law regulating the carriage trade, which he readily admitted. While he was talking to us, he got a radio call about some activity in the Ramble - a secluded area in Central Park that has been the site of many crimes over the years. He immediately responded to this call.
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What are we to expect in the next few months while Mayor-Elect deBlasio works on shutting down this inhumane and unsafe trade? The ASPCA humane law enforcement will be no longer. The NYPD is supposed to pick up the slack but we do not have much hope of this. Yet - we are encouraged by the appointment of Bill Bratton as NYPD Commissioner. When he was police commissioner under Giuliani, he was not favorably disposed to the carriage horse trade. Another incident that stands out is when charges were made against two NYPD officers who beat their station dog almost to death. Bratton made sure they were fired. (picture of driver standing up in carriage - very dangerous.
WE ARE RUNNING NYC BUS ADS
Please DONATE to our campaign
Throughout December, we are running ads on the backs of 80 public transit buses in Manhattan, spending just about all of our funds. The ads began on December 1st. This is a recent picture sent to us. Because of your generosity, this past year 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 LET US KNOW IF YOU SEE THE AD AND SNAP A PICTURE FOR US - coalition@banhdc.org
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 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.
PUBLIC FORUM ON ANIMAL PROTECTION ISSUES
January 17th - save the date
Senator Tony Avella is hosting a public forum in January to discuss animal protection issues. Senator Avella says "the forum will be an opportunity to hear from animal protection advocates about the many ways we are failing to protect animals in this state and to discuss real solutions that will result in actual changes that impact these animals' lives."
- WHEN: January 17, 2014 at 10:30 am
- WHERE: Senate Hearing Room - 250 Broadway - 19th floor
If you would like to testify at the Forum please contact Senator Avella's Legislative
Counsel, Rebecca A. Sheehan, at 718-357-3094. Please note that you should limit your testimony to 3 minutes and please bring 10 copies of your
testimony with you on January 17th. Please make arrangements now to take time off from work to attend this very important session. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
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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.
