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.
