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Carriage Horse Bill Gets Public Hearing
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jan 30, 2009
Modified Jan 30, 2009
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Jan 30, 2009
Modified Jan 30, 2009
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The carriage horse battle lines were drawn long ago in a war that seems to be never ending. Today the NY Post reports on the two sides: those in support of Tony Avella's bill to put an end to the industry, and those who are adamantly against it (including Liam Neeson). At a public hearing today Avella will pitch his plan, and Patrick Kwan, New York state director for The Humane Society, tells us why it's an important one.
"Carriage horses often work in oppressive and inhumane weather conditions, including in the sweltering heat and extreme cold. The horses were forced to work - despite the bitter cold, despite the icy, dangerous and slippery conditions, and despite current laws that say they should not have been out on the streets working and competing in the traffic with emergency vehicles."
Kwan also recalls that a year and a half ago "City Comptroller Bill Thompson released an independent audit documenting the inhumane conditions carriage horses live and work in, yet the abuse continues. The report found horses are not provided with enough water, risk overheating on hot asphalt and are forced to stand in their own waste because of inadequate drainage in stables." This was around the time one Central Park horse died after being spooked. As Jon Stewart recently did, the organization "supports efforts to improve the conditions of the horses, and we again urge the City of New York to take immediate action on the Comptroller’s recommendations that these horses be provided with adequate amounts of water and protection from the elements."
From the other side of the battle line, 26-year-old esus Rojaf (one voice behind the nearly 300 people who would lose their job if the bill were to pass) told the Post, "I struggle to make $20,000 a year. I grew up with horses, I love to be around them, and I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't do this."
Tagged
animal cruelty
carriage horses
humane society
tony avella
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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