NYC- Council Member Avella's Call to Ban Horse-Drawn Vehicles

Posted September 5, 2008 · September 5, 2008

In a way, it's kind of a blessing in disguise (as long as the horses weren't hurt); not sure if the horse hit the pole or the buggy). Maybe this will wake up the idiots on the council and get this barbaric and archaic "tradition" banned once and for all.--- On Fri, 9/5/08, Priscilla Feral <feral wrote:

Priscilla Feral <feral[AR-News] NYC- Council Member Avella's Call to Ban Horse-Drawn Vehiclesar-news (AT) googl (DOT) comDate: Friday, September 5, 2008, 12:53 PM

September 5, 2008

Press Release

For more information please call Tony Avella: 718-747-2137; 917-723-3289

Brooklyn Accident Demonstrates the Need for a Citywide Ban on Horse-Drawn Carriages

Today, Council Member Tony Avella highlighted once again the need for a ban on the operation of horse-drawn carriages in New York City (Intro. #658) in light of yet another horse-drawn carriage accident. The latest mishap occurred in Brooklyn this past weekend when two horses pulling a wedding buggy became startled and proceeded to run wildly through the street, propelling the driver onto the windshield of a parked vehicle, stopping only after hitting a traffic pole.

“This latest accident serves as a prime example that horses are easily excited by everyday occurrences in city life. It is absolutely clear that the time has come to ban horse-drawn cabs in the city of New York . We can no longer justify the risk of serious injury or death to these animals or to the public at large,” stated Avella.

Edita Birnkrant, NYC Campaign Coordinator for Friends of Animals said, “This latest accident in Brooklyn stresses the fact that Tony Avella’s pending bill to ban the horse-drawn carriage industry in New York City should be enacted immediately. We need not wait for another avoidable tragedy to realize that horses should no longer be pulling carriages as a form of entertainment. New Yorkers of all kinds, tourists from around the world, and the animal advocacy community all recognize this as a common sense and humane solution. Now it’s time for the City Council to do what’s long overdue: retire this industry, once and for all.”

Elizabeth Forel, from the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages, stated, “Horses do not belong on the streets of New York City . Because they scare easily, at 2,000 pounds, they are unwitting but terrifying weapons as they run amok after being spooked. It is only a matter of time before someone is killed as has happened in other cities.”

“Allowing this industry to continue will only result in more accidents, more horses being killed or injured, and the public will continue to be put at risk,” concluded Avella.

In the past two years there have been approximately 8 accidents involving horse driven carriages. As a result, 3 horses have died and 6 people have been injured.