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 -- Investigation into death of Tickles ** Buy your Tickles dog tag ** Interview W. 42nd St. magazine ** Blinders screening on 4/12 ** Carriage bullies try to shut it down.
NOTE: the best way to receive this newsletter is to subscribe directly. Although I post it on other lists, sometimes (for reasons unknown) they do not approve it - so you are subject to their whims. PLEASE CLICK HERE to subscribe directly. If you want to see past newsletters - CLICK HERE for our archive.
WE ASK FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO TICKLES' DEATH.
Mayor's Office and Department of Health need to be accountable
I recently wrote about Tickles, the NYC carriage horse who was euthanized at his stable because the vet determined he was cast in his stall. Was he? Maybe. Maybe not. The vet in question, Dennis Farrell, is a consultant for the Department of Health and has testified on behalf of the carriage trade at Council hearings. Did he make the assumption that the horse was cast in his stall, because it would have been the most expedient way to handle this?
The Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages recently sent a letter to the Administration and Department of Health asking them to conduct this investigation. We hope they do not ignore us. This is a link to the article in theDodo - with a link at the top to the letter.
ASIDE: Dr. Farrell is paid by the Department of Health to provide veterinary services for the NYC carriage horses, which are part of a private business. Why is this? It is another perk that the Administration gives to the trade and is wrong. Private businesses should pay their own way. Maybe all the many NYC private cat and dog rescues should start sending their veterinary bills to the DoH.
DONATE & GET A TICKLES HORSE TAG
Wearing a Tickles tag will show that you support a ban on horse-drawn carriages and that you understand Tickles represents all the horses who went before him and disappeared into oblivion.
The image here is of a tag that is no longer available. This tag will be similar and say the following:
- TICKLES
- 2-13-15 R.I.P
- NEW YORK CITY
- CARRIAGE HORSE
- WWW.BANHDC.ORG
The tag is $15. Please go to this page and either send us a check or use PayPal. We are an all volunteer, grass roots organization that is in it to win it. But we need your support. Your donation will allow us to continue getting the truth out. It will help pay for these newsletters, flyers and posters.
ARTICLE IN W. 42ND ST. MAGAZINE
Elizabeth Forel interviewed
This is a link to the article recently published in W. 42nd. St magazine in which I and a carriage driver are interviewed.
Click on the link. Then click on the arrow on the right side. Go to P. 15. Click to enlarge.
SCREENING OF BLINDERS: THE TRUTH BEHIND THE TRADITION
Sunday April 12th
Please come to a screening of Blinders, sponsored by Sophie Tseng. Blinders is an award winning documentary about the horse carriage trade in NYC.
- WHEN: Sunday April 12, 2015 - 12:30 to 2:00 pm
- WHERE: Metropolitan Community Church - 446 W. 36th St. between 9th and 10th Avenues
- GUEST SPEAKER: Donny Moss - film maker
- FOOD: Beyond Sushi and Terri Bakery will donate vegan food for the event
This is a must see for those who have never seen this documentary - and a gentle reminder for all those who have. Plus - a nice social event. Thank you Sophie for doing this.
CARRIAGE DRIVERS TRY TO SHUT DOWN THE SCREENING
Bullies! What are they afraid of?
Once the carriage drivers and their supporters found out about the screening of Blinders, they tried to take over the Facebook Event page. Then they called the church on a daily basis demanding it be canceled or to be able to speak at the event. They have threatened to protest outside. The church refused their requests. There is precedent to their bullying.
- In 2008 when Blinders was first screened at Lincoln Center, the carriage drivers told the City Council Members not to attend. None did.
- Around that time, we had organized a fund raiser at an Irish bar in midtown. The owner knew full well what it was about and agreed with us. But the drivers called and threatened him and he canceled.
- When I was invited to speak at Equine Advocates' conference in 2013, the carriage trolls went ballistic. They harassed the EA office with calls, called the board members and pressured the speakers - even visiting one vet in NJ. They wanted equal time or for me not to speak. The conference was about horse laughter, horse abuses and the BLM. It was no place for a for-profit horse, exploitative carriage business. EA had to hire extra security.
The carriage drivers operate by bullying and intimidation.
CALL THE CITY COUNCIL. THIS WEEK IT IS: JIMMY VAN BRAMER
New Yorkers and non New Yorkers - please call
Please put this on your agenda this week. One call to Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer who is on the Transportation Committee. Ask him to support the bill to ban horse-drawn carriages - Intro 573.
HELP OUR ORGANIZATION BY SHOPPING ONLINE - iGIVE
If you buy online, you can help the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages
Through a free registration with iGive, when you buy merchandise on line, your purchase will help us. Many organizations give a percentage of the sale to not for profit organizations at no cost to you. There are more than 1500 stores that include such popular ones as Amazon.com, Staples, Best Buy and Barnes & Noble. Click here to get started.
On iGive - the name of our organization is "The Coalition for NYC Animals, Inc." Click here to begin.
PLEASE JOIN US ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS
Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Google Blog & Flickr
"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.
