Urge New York City To Pass Legislation After Yet Another Horse Collapses While Pulling A Carriage

Photo from NYCLASS

Another horse became the latest victim of the cruelty endured by animals that are forced to work and pull carriages in NYC.

The heartbreaking incident took place yesterday when a distressed horse fell on a busy downtown street in New York City while pulling a carriage. This incident has animal advocates around the world outraged.

“We strongly urge the Health Department to investigate the condition of this horse, and make sure that he or she is not put back out on the streets,” Edita Birnkrant, executive director of NYCLASS, said in a statement, further explaining that a witness sent the nonprofit a video and photos of the horse while the driver and others were ‘pulling and dragging’ it for several minutes. “This latest incident highlights the desperate need for reform legislation to be passed as soon as possible by the City Council.”

As per the organization, the exploitation of these carriage horses includes being forced to work through brutal conditions during snowstorms, torrential downpour, and heatwaves.

Birnkrant also pointed to the death of two horses last month who died of colic in their tiny stables where they lacked any access to pasture or turnout areas as another indicator of the need to pass legislation to help other animals who are tragically kept in unacceptable conditions.

NYCLASS, which stands for New Yorkers for Clean, Livable, and Safe Streets, was founded a decade ago to save NYC carriage horses, enact animal rights legislation into law, and elect pro-animal candidates to office.

Currently, the nonprofit organization is working on a new bill that will keep carriage horses out of the chaotic Times Square, Rockefeller Center, and Lincoln Square. It will also guarantee them a safe retirement, increase stall sizes, and many other commonsense reforms that will drastically improve their conditions.

If you live in the five boroughs of NYC, please call your council member today and urge them to support the new NYCLASS bill. A list of relevant council members is available HERE!