Fur-bearing animals need YOU!

(The following message comes from Julie O'Connor, who leads Caring Activists Against Fur. It speaks for itself.)

Dear Caring Activists Against Fur,

This weekend - the weekend before Christmas - is the LARGEST shopping weekend of the year. Fur Free Friday is super-important, but research shows that people wait for deals just before Christmas. So, this weekend is IT! We will be at TWO major shopping locations in the city. We need reinforcements. Remember our electrifying Fur Free Friday? Well, let's keep it going - get motivated to speak up for fur bearing animals this weekend & SAVE LIVES. Very few people can watch the videos or see our posters and find that buying fur is an acceptable choice.

Help change people's minds during this critical time!

Sat.,12-17--Bergdorf Goodman 754 Fifth Avenue (57th and 58th Streets) NYC 1 - 3 Note: We'll reach shoppers from Bergdorf, FAO Schwartz and the Apple Store at this major location. We're bringing out the HUGE video screen and we'll have a sound permit. All we need is YOU! Can't make it to NY? No problem - there is also a fur demo in Red Bank, NJ: http://www.meetup.com/FAUNNJ/events/33777132/

Sun., 12-18-- Macys 151 W. 34th St. NYC 1-3 --The LARGEST department store in the world, need I say more? (At the end of this demo, some activists will be attending the horse carriage protest.) Details below.

I know that life is busy, but please come to at least one event this weekend because you are the last line of defense these animals have. In a world filled with greed and insensitivity, ruled by those who stack the deck against these innocent creatures, you are literally the animals' only voice. Your presence breaks through the haze of indifference and selfishness and MAKES CHANGE. You can give that gift for animals - don't let them down.

Additional Event Sunday (Horse Carriage Protest):
http://www.meetup.com/FAUNNJ/events/44351552/

For the animals,
Julie (Caring Activists Against Fur)

P.S. Change is happening - animal rights activists are launching an anti-fur campaign in China this year (ActAsia - No Fur China Campaign)! It's wonderful news! We will prevail!

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Solidarity against horse-drawn carriages

Continuing the thread from the last post, about NY State Senator Tony Avella’s bill to prohibit horse-drawn cabs in NYC, the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages announces news of a related event. On Saturday, June 4 – also Horses Without Carriages International Day -- Coalition members and other advocates will hold a press conference.

Scheduled for noon, the event will take place on the north/east side of Central Park South and Fifth Ave. Senator Avella will formally announce the bill, joined by Representative Linda Rosenthal, its sponsor in the State Assembly.

The event is intended to be a time for solidarity, according to the Coalition notice, which encourages everyone against horse-drawn carriages to attend. Legislators need to see there’s strong support for the bill, and they need to hear the same message from their constituents.

Amending the NYC Administrative Code, S5013 is essentially the same as the historic bill that then-Council Member Avella had introduced into the City Council in 2007.

Besides hoping all those committed to this issue will attend the press conference, the Coalition’s also looking for an experienced, reliable person who will donate time to videotape the entire event. If interested, contact Elizabeth at coalition@banhdc.org for details.

June 4 also marks one of two times annually for Coalition members to stand in solidarity for the horses with activists in other countries. Founded in 2008, Horses Without Carriages International is “a global coalition” made up of activists “whose common goal is to expose the injustice, cruelty, and inhumanity in the horse-drawn carriage tourism trade.”
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A bill to end horse-drawn carriages in NYC

A New York State senator has introduced a bill – S5013 – to ban horse-drawn carriages in New York City. We can only hope that this bill will result in the elimination of the sight we see, and choke up over, near the Plaza Hotel, of poor, overworked horses (who shouldn’t be “worked” at all) waiting to pull carriages full of tourists.

How medieval, cruel and unnecessary.

According to a press release from Friends of Animals, “More than 200 horses are forced to pull carriages and tourists in New York City, but that could be stopped by a bill introduced by . . . Senator Tony Avella.

"Senator Avella has taken this initiative to the state level," said Edita Birnkrant, New York director of Friends of Animals. "We laud this step to make New York City a travel destination with safety and fairness in mind for all. “Bill S5013 would amend New York City's administrative code to prohibit horse-drawn cabs. It would also prevent current carriage horses from being sold off to killer buyers.

“Last summer, Friends of Animals facilitated the rescue of Bobby, a New York City carriage horse, from a slaughter auction in New Holland, Pennsylvania. "Advocates can't spot and rescue every industry-worn horse," said Birnkrant. "Thank goodness Bobby is safe. But only a ban will end the cycle."

According to the release, “Senator Tony Avella (D), representing the 11th New York State Senate district, served on the New York City Council until 2009, and supported the effort to ban horse-drawn carriages consistently. The senator worked closely with Friends of Animals to create the landmark ban bill introduced into the Council in 2007.

“New Yorkers have seen several horrific accidents involving frightened horses,” the release continued.

“In September 2007 a 12-year old mare named Smoothie, left unattended, bolted; one of her legs became entangled in a carriage wheel as she crashed into a tree, went into shock and died. In 2009, an accident at Central Park ended in hospitalizations of a cab driver and a carriage driver. Motorcyclists and pedestrians have been hit, sustaining bone breaks. Cars have been smashed. Buggies have tumbled. Horses have broken free and run through the streets of Manhattan. From time to time the media announce deaths of horses: Nickels, Spotty, Juliet; the list goes on. A horse called Jackie was shocked to death by an electrical line in the rain.

“Not a single one of these tragedies needed to happen," said Birnkrant. "New York City is a lovely place for walking. For tourists wanting to take a ride, pedicabs offer tours through Central Park."

(Note: although this post deals with a bill in New York, the image shows a carriage horse in Philadelphia.)
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2 worthy weekend ops for animal lovers

News about the two Valentine's weekend protests detailed below comes from CAAFgroup.com.

What better way to celebrate Valentine's weekend than to show love and compassion for animals by participating in either or both of 2 upcoming events -- 1 this Saturday, the 2nd on Valentine's Day (Monday). We need you there to make an impact. Remind couples you know that showing love to a partner should not involve buying tortured and murdered animals to wear or being pulled around Central Park by a neglected, abused sentient being!

#1 -- Have a Heart Don't Buy Fur -- march & protest
WHEN: Saturday, February 12
TIME: 1-3 pm

(1:30-3: protest at Bergdorf Goodman, 5th Avenue between 57th & 58th Streets)
Gather in front of the Time Warner shopping center stores at Columbus Circle (West 58th & Broadway) from 1-1:15 pm. At 1:15, we'll march down Central Park South, past exclusive hotels and residences, to Bergdorf Goodman, where we'll stage our protest (with widescreen video and sound)! And se'll have buttons and sweatshirts to purchase.

(Note: After the protest, a few people are heading down to a Vegan Bake Sale at MooShoes, 78 Orchard Street, NYC, to benefit the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Please come along.)

Sponsored by: Caring Activists Against Fur - http://www.meetup.com/Animals/events/15863211/ -- www.CAAFGroup.com or email information@caafgroup.com. (The faux raccoon coat shown in the image is being worn by an anti-fur activist.)

#2 -- Protest ABUSE in the Horse-Drawn Carriage Industry in NYC
WHEN: Monday, February 14
TIME: 5:30-7:30 pm
LOCATION: Grand Army Plaza area Central Park South and 5th Avenue (59th St. Northwest corner), NYC

Questions? Edita Birnkrant, NY Director, Friends of Animals; Mobile: 917.940.2725
(The horse and driver shown in the image were both at another demonstration, in Philadelphia.)

Sponsored by: Heart for Animals, http://www.meetup.com/HeartforAnimals/
The Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages, http://www.banhdc.org Friends of Animals, http://www.friendsofanimals.org/news/2010/june/-new-york-city-carri.html
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A sure attention getter

The subject of horse-drawn carriages has come up twice, maybe three times, in this blog. Invariably, as soon as those posts appeared, comments began rolling in. I know if I want to get readers/stir the pot/prompt comments, all I have to do is use the words "horse-drawn carriages" -- and the network supporting it gets to work.

It amazes me how the backers of horse-drawn carriages claim the horses work for a living and not only that, they want to work for a living (when of course (1) the horses haven't said a word on this subject; (2) their mode of work is determined by . . . ta-da! their owners. Gee, what a surprise).

Further, the advocates of horse-drawn carriages never refer to snow and ice-rutted city streets where horses must pull the carriages in winter weather; they never mention car and truck exhaust the horses must inhale. They cite temperature guidelines determining when horses can work or not as if they're always, religiously adhered to and as if they're humane to begin with -- when neither "as if" is necessarily true.

It's about money. And the horses happen to be able to do the thing that makes money for the carriage drivers/horse owners. That's it.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Earlier today, in Old City, Philadelphia, a horse pulling a carriage was attacked by a pit bull. Just an occupational hazard, the drivers might be saying; these things happen. The sad thing is that the pit bull was him/herself a rescue animal, who reportedly was overwhelmed by the noise, traffic and nearby horse -- and attacked the horse. At this point, there's no word about either animal's condition; though there were passengers in the carriage, they were unhurt.

Horses shouldn't be pulling carriages on city streets. Period.
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Their day will come

Last Saturday was International Day for Horses without Carriages, a global movement to end the abusive and dangerous horse-drawn carriage industry. To mark it, vigils and demonstrations were held in Philadelphia and NYC – among many other cities -- where horse-drawn carriages are still a prominent and painful part of the cityscape.

The profit motive is everywhere.

Lee Hall, a lawyer and author* with Friends of Animals, reports that a Philadelphia carriage driver told her to stop taking pictures, shouting, "Not with my horse, you don't! Don't you exploit my horse!" (See photo with FoA member in foreground; objecting driver behind her.)

On the brighter side, visitors from the Philippines joined the Philadelphia vigil and promised to spread the word about the campaign when they returned home.

Last year, Friends of Animals sent a proposed bill to ban horse-drawn vehicles in Philadelphia to the mayor and every council member. The PA chapter of Friends of Animals is raising funds to make this issue as public as we can: Donations can be sent to Friends of Animals, 777 Post road, Darien CT 06820 with a note that they are for the carriage horse campaign in Philly. (Donations are tax-deductible; Friends of Animals is a 501 c 3.)
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* Hall’s new book, On Their Own Terms: Bringing Animal Rights Philosophy Down to Earth, is now available. Her earlier book, Capers in the Churchyard, can also be purchased at a buy-now price from Friends of Animals – www.FriendsofAnimals.org.

Here's to horseless carriages, flying or not!

This horse-drawn carriage issue won't go away! It has attracted more comments, both here and in response to a newspaper story I wrote, than most other subjects. Without knowing it, I'd written about it during the same month, and now the same week, as a national convention -- in Philadelphia of all places -- of horse-drawn carriage businesses in North America. (www.CONA.org)

That, plus speaking by phone with a woman who owns such a business and who seemed reluctant to acknowledge any inhumane treatment of the horses involved -- anywhere, any time. The anonymous comments have focused in particular on how the founders of our country got around by horse-drawn carriages and they weren't held back from doing the great things they did, so why do I and other protesters complain.

Hello?! Did Ben Franklin's horse(s) have to contend with paved roads, with skazillions of fume-belching cars, trucks and buses, with a crowd of different people climbing in and out for rides? And how about temperatures and extreme weather? It was probably much easier to stable and feed a few horses comfortably in those days than it is to humanely board all the horses in, say, New York City.

Far as I'm concerned, whether today's carriage horses are treated like royalty or not, they were not made to serve humans by pulling carriages -- especially centuries after the time when they may really have been needed! There's nothing quaint or romantic (as in wedding parties in horse-drawn carriages) -- or humane -- about involuntary labor by a creature who ought to be running free.
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Rally for horses in Philly too

If Philadelphia is a more convenient demo site than New York City, consider joining the protest planned there on Sunday, Valentine's day.

Participants demonstrating against horse-drawn carriages will meet at the NW corner of 5th and Chestnut Streets at 2 pm for "a peaceful protest" that will end at 5 pm. Those involved will hold signs and distribute flyers (to be provided) to passersby.

Think about spending all or part of those three hours letting people know that horses should not be pulling carriages in 2010 and suggesting to would-be carriage riders that this is a cruel and very UN-romantic thing to do. We're supposed to know better by now -- so have a heart for the horses: come out against horse-drawn carriages.
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