Philadelphia Officially Bans Horse-Drawn Carriages In Historic Victory For Horses
In a landmark victory for animal welfare, Philadelphia has officially approved legislation banning horse-drawn carriages, ensuring the controversial industry can no longer return to the city.
The measure, sponsored by Councilmember Mark Squilla, amends Chapter 10-100 (“Animals”) of The Philadelphia Code to prohibit the operation of carriage horse businesses and establish penalties for violations.
Although Philadelphia’s last horse-drawn carriage company ceased operations several years ago, advocates have continued working to ensure the practice could never be revived. The newly approved legislation solidifies that victory and marks the culmination of a long-running campaign by local animal welfare organizations.
Among those celebrating the decision is Revolution Philadelphia, which has fought for years to remove horse-drawn carriages from city streets.
“We can hardly believe it, but it finally happened after years and years of persistence.
“We hope this historic legislation for horses in Philadelphia creates a domino effect in other cities, starting with New York. Horse carriages are OVER!” the organization stated.
For years, advocates argued that forcing horses to pull heavy carriages through congested city streets exposed them to dangerous conditions, including traffic, noise, extreme weather, and air pollution.
“The bottomline is we live in the 21st century and do not need to use horses for entertainment anymore. Horse drawn carriages are cruel and dangerous.
“Horses are prey animals and get spooked easily. They run into oncoming traffic. Imagine you or a loved one are in the carriage when the horse is spooked. It’s an accident waiting to happen,” Revolution Philadelphia stated.
The passage of the legislation places Philadelphia among a growing number of cities that have moved away from horse-drawn carriage operations amid concerns about animal welfare and public safety.
“It’s plain and simple: Horses do not belong on city streets. It’s time for Philadelphia to usher in eco-tourism with electric carriages,” Revolution Philadelphia stated.
