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Wild Citydom Roundup: Horses, Pigeons and Parrots
By
Jen Chung
Published Oct 5, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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By
Jen Chung
Published Oct 5, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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- There's a sad story about the upstate horse farm where NYPD police mounted horses go when they are retire. The city is suing the farm's operator because many of the horses are "grossly underweight, had difficulty chewing and were kept in stalls without straw bedding," according to Newsday. It's a complicated matter, because when the farm was sold, part of the agreement was for the new owner to continue caring for the horses "until the death of the last horse or 10 years after the city disbanded the mounted unit." The farm was bought by Ernest Green who wanted to start a biotech company which then failed, leaving "little money to feed the horses." Enter concerned neighbors, who told the NYPD about the horses, though Green complains that he had asked the city to start a non-profit to help pay for the horses' care. The city has since moved some horses to other farms and is looking for new horse retirement communities; the city and Green are also discussing settlements.
- Residents and business owners in Woodside are excited about a pigeon-zapper that's been installed at the 52nd Street subway station on the 7 line. Before, pigeons would convene and poop on everything (there's a nasty picture of a poop-covered sign in the Daily News). But, now, they will be given a slight shock and find somewhere else to file. The MTA will be installing "Shock Track" at other locations in Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx.
- And Brooklyn residents are worried that poachers are behind disappearing wild monk parrots. Steve Baldwin, who gives monk parrot tours (the next one is October 14th), of Brooklyn Parrots says that Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz's office contacted him to work on a plan to involve more people in watching out for poachers. In a sidebar, apparently monk parrots like to build their nests on Con Ed transformers (spokesman says, "They don't build nests; they build condos.").
Top photograph taken during the NYPD Police Horse Parade by Jimmy Legs; thumbnail photograph of pigeons by S.D.
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Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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