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 - In this issue: ** carriage accidents from NYPD incident reports ** Telephone Tuesday call the City Council ** report 311 to report cruelty ** Horse collapses in Rome
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NYC HORSE CARRIAGES INVOLVED IN 25 ACCIDENTS SINCE 2010
from NYPD
The investigation in which Animal Legal Defense Fund and the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages have been collaborating for years has yielded evidence that may shock some: more than a dozen hit-and-run NYC carriage accidents that went unreported in the past 5 years. In one accident, a young girl was thrown from a carriage and run over by a carriage wheel. This is the presentation made by Chris Green / ALDF. Click Here.
The ALDF, along with Senator Tony Avella, held a news conference in December 2013 announcing a lawsuit against the NYPD, which was ordered earlier this year by the Courts to turn over its records about carriage accidents. ALDF contends that the carriage industry suffers from gross under-regulation,and notes evidence-from the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages-of a pattern of industry violations that disregard regulations designed to protect horse welfare and safety.
The NYPD had claimed that it had "no records," which would indicate either: a) they're lying or b) they're incompetent. The judge called them on it and ordered the NYPD to turn over the records. Obviously, without police reports, the accidents might as well never have happened.
We have always said that if the ASPCA released its reports, we would learn that there were many more accidents than appeared in the media. But the ASPCA is not subject to the Freedom of Information Law. (FOIL) The NYPD is notorious for not releasing FOIL records. Were they protecting the carriage industry??
DON'T FORGET: TELEPHONE TUESDAY - November 4th
Please take a few minutes to call your Council Member
Tuesday happens to also be election day but it should not deter you from calling your Council Member. Telephone Tuesday is our initiative to help you remember to make your call. On Tuesday (or any day) please take a few minutes to call your Council Member -- if you have not yet done so. Thanks to all of you who have made the calls -- particularly those who called from outside NYC. Thanks for caring so much.
Your participation is the only way to make a difference -- not standing on the side lines and expecting someone else to do it. If you do not make the small effort to call your Council Member, how do you expect they will know your views?
Ten months into the deBlasio administration and we are no closer to shutting down the inhumane and unsafe carriage trade than we were one year ago. Please contact your council member and ask him or her to support a bill to ban horse-drawn carriages. CALL THEM. Do not e-mail or fax. These methods of communication are more likely to be ignored.
- NYC RESIDENTS: www.council.nyc.gov -- Call your Council Member.
- OUTSIDE NYC: Call Speaker Melissa Mark Viverito's office. 212-828-9800
deleted. Calls have much more impact and a
Instructions
- http://www.council.nyc.gov/html/members/members.shtml
- Plug in your address to find out who your Council Member is.
- Look for the telephone number for the District Office.
- SUGGESTED SCRIPT - YOU: Good morning, my name is [your name] and I am a constituent. I live on [your address] I support an unconditional ban on horse-drawn carriages and I would like to know what [your Council Member's name] position is on this issue. You might also tell them it is a public safety issue and it is inhumane. If you live outside of NYC, call Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito's office and tell them were you live.
- COUNCIL OFFICE: the person who answers the phone may transfer you to someone else or suggest you call the Legislative Office or actually take the message.
- YOU: If they support a ban - thank them; If they are on the fence ask them why and if they would be open to receiving some links to articles. If they are against the ban - ask them why and if they would be open to receiving some links to articles.They might say that there a bill had not yet been introduced. Tell them that the Mayor has said a bill will be introduced soon and you want to know in general whether they would support a ban or not.
- IMPORTANT: If they say they would be willing to receive some information, ask them for the e-mail address of a specific person - maybe the Chief of Staff, maybe the Legislative Aide. Do not agree to send it to their office e-mail. You can say that you want to be sure someone receives it.
- Note: If the Council Office is not able to give you an answer, tell them that you will follow up in a week. Tell them this is a very important issue and you would like an answer. And follow up.
THESE ARE THE ARTICLE LINKS:
RESULT OF PHONE CALL: Please let us know what happened - e-mail us at coalition@banhdc.org
HOW TO REPORT ANIMAL CRUELTY TO 311
NYC: It remains a mystery just how the NYPD has taken over for the ASPCA to enforce anti cruelty laws and the carriage horse regulations, which means that the industry is out of control as usual. We continue to try to find out. But eleven months later, we still do not have any answers. The deBlasio administration has ignored this issue although we have tried to get them to take responsibility.
If you see anything involving animals that you want to report -- and it is not an emergency - please go on line to 311. If it is about a carriage horse, please remember to get the license plate number on the back of the carriage and a description of the horse and if possible, the 4-digit engraved number on the left front hoof.
Please note that even if you report something directly to the NYPD, use this system as a a back up.
- DIRECTIONS:
- go to this link http://www1.nyc.gov/311/index.page
- Click on "Make a Complaint"
- Select: Get Help with - "Public Health and Safety"
- Specifically "Animal Abuse"
- Click on "Report the neglect or abuse of an animal."
- User Alert page comes up next
- Note: Dial 911 if an emergency response is required
- Click on "Start" at the bottom
- Follow the instructions and submit.
Print out a copy and take a reference number if available.
CARRIAGE HORSE COLLAPSES IN ROME
From Roma Today. This was translated by our friend Helen from Rome. When an accident happens again it's no longer an accident" words from the Anti-vivisection Leagues President Gianluca . The accident happened in one of the busy streets in Rome in front of tourists Romans and the Police. A horse named Faith collapsed. The police were shouted at by the carriage drivers who called the vet services (also the carriage drivers "friends") the horse then went back to the stables. This is the second "accident" in the centre in just over a month, the last time was in the evening and the carriage driver left without seeking veterinary help for the horse. Two local politicians Nathalie and Marco had yet again condemned the use of horses in Rome." We are told the horses is OK.
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"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.
