FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, September 23, 2021

Press inquiries: Allie Feldman Taylor, 908-370-2689

CAR SMASHES INTO CARRIAGE HORSE LEAVING BLOOD ON THE STREETS OF MANHATTAN

New York, NY – For decades, animal advocates have been calling on the City Council to ban horse drawn carriages in New York City. Today, another horse was badly injured when struck by a car at the intersection of 55th St & 8th Ave. A speeding car plowed directly into the carriage horse causing them to fall directly onto the car’s hood. Photos and video from the scene shows blood and pieces of the car laying in the street.

“How many more horses have to be killed, injured, and abused before the New York City Council finally takes actions to protect these innocent animals?” said Allie Feldman Taylor, President of Voters for Animal Rights. “Horses do not belong on the streets of New York City. Period.”

Every year, dozens of horses are injured while being forced to pull carriages on the dangerous streets of New York City. Recently, Chicago joined several other U.S. cities that have banned horse-drawn carriages, including Las Vegas, NV; Asheville, NC; Salt Lake City, UT; Biloxi, MS; Camden, NJ and the Florida cities of Key West, Palm Beach, Pompano Beach and Treasure Island. Other cities worldwide that have banned horse drawn carriages, according to the Associated Press, include Montreal (Canada), Amsterdam (Netherlands), Istanbul (Turkey), Barcelona (Spain), Cozumel and Guadalajara (Mexico), San Juan (Puerto Rico), Mumbai (India), and cities in Belgium, Chile, Egypt, Italy, and the Dominican Republic.

“The voters of New York City are sick and tired of watching innocent animals be abused at the hands of the carriage horse industry,” said Matthew Dominguez, Political Advisor for Voters For Animal Rights. “Today’s bloody scene is just another example of the City Council’s failure to do what the public demands: ban horse carriages.”

Facts on why horse carriages are animal cruelty:

• Horses are forced to work in extreme weather conditions. VFAR has caught horses being worked in snow, ice, during torrential downpours, and excessive heat and humidity during summer months.
• Horses spend most of their days exposed to heavy air and road pollution (oil, road salt, etc). Breathing in exhaust fumes causes respiratory conditions and other ailments.
• Horses are flight animals and easily spooked. Too many times horses have bolted through NYC traffic while pulling a carriage.
• Cars pose a threat to horses and injuries to horses and people are commonplace.
• Several horses have died after accidents, neglect, injury and sickness.
• Horses used in the NYC carriage industry have little to no access to water while working and have no access to pasture—a basic need for the mental and physical well-being of horses.
• The lifespan of a carriage horse is tragically short. Rarely do these animals have a chance at a life at a true sanctuary. Often, they are sold at auction for slaughter or euthanized after a major injury or accident.

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