April 15, 2010
Treatment of New York City Carriage Horses not Trotting toward Improvement
HSUS NY state director issues statement on carriage fare increase
Patrick Kwan, The Humane Society of the United States' New York state director, issues the following statement in response to the New York City Council's passage of Int. 35, a bill that increases fares for carriage horse rides.
"It's disappointing that the New York City Council is rewarding an industry that puts the safety of pedestrians and drivers at risk and has repeatedly failed to provide adequate care to its horses. Int. 35 will not protect carriage horses from being sent to slaughter, and the horses will continue to be forced to work in dangerous traffic conditions every day, and often in harsh weather, where their lives and welfare are threatened. The Humane Society of the United States continues our support for Int. 92 for an immediate end to the inhumane treatment of horses. We also urge the City Council to support Int. 86 to create a more humane industry by phasing out the horse carriages and replacing them with eco-friendly antique show cars while creating better paying jobs and work conditions for New Yorkers."
Despite current laws, carriage horses often work in inhumane weather conditions, including sweltering hot and bitter cold temperatures. Horses often work in dangerous and slippery conditions, posing a hazard to the public and competing in traffic with emergency vehicles.
In 2007, the City Comptroller's Office released an independent audit documenting the inhumane conditions in which carriage horses live and work. The report states that horses are forced to stand in their own waste and lack adequate water and protection from the elements.
To watch The HSUS video, "Horse Drawn Carriage Cruelty – The Reality of The Horse Drawn Carriage," click here.
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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization — backed by 11 million Americans, or one of every 28. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty — On the Web at humanesociety.org.
