There are over 200 horses in the NYC carriage trade. The number varies but not by much. Approximately one third falls off the Department of Health registry every year. What does this mean? When an owner decides he wants to get rid of a horse, the existing NYC administrative code is very weak in regulating how this is done.
In the last five years, well over 300 NYC carriage horses have disappeared from the Department of Health rolls.
The Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages is asking the City Council to consider just that section on disposition -- §17-329 Disposition of licensed horse -- , with an amendment to the code, which would require horse owners to sell or donate their horses to private individuals who will keep them as companions or to an animal sanctuary. Carriage horse drivers and owners repeatedly insist that their horses are well cared for and loved. Here's their chance to prove it. Anyone who cares about an animal wouldn't be willing to put her through the torturous trip across the border to a brutal slaughterhouse. So, there's no excuse for opposing a bill that ensures these horses get a humane retirement. It's time to bring this dark side of the carriage horse industry out of the shadows. Ask the New York City Council to save carriage horses from slaughter. Please sign the petition.
http://animals.change.org/blog/view/save_new_york_citys_carriage_horses_from_slaughter
Once you’ve clicked on the above link…You have to click on ‘Sign petition’ to sign it. Thank you!
Here you can read the entire story:
http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs054/1101376025369/archive/1104217205066.html
