Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages

NEW YORK STATE SENATOR TONY AVELLA INTRODUCES BILL TO BAN HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES IN NYC   
May 11, 2011

S 17-326.1 CARRIAGE RIDES PROHIBITED. IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL TO OFFER RIDES TO THE PUBLIC ON A VEHICLE DRAWN OR PULLED BY A CARRIAGE HORSE.    

 The  line above is from a new bill just introduced by New York State Senator Tony Avella to ban horse-drawn carriages in NYC. Sounds good?  Well we want to make this law and we can with your help!!     

 The bill is similar to the one then-Council Member Avella introduced at the end of 2007 in that it amends the existing NYC Administrative code. The Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages had been working on this issue since early 2006, lobbying NYC council members to sponsor a ban bill, when a horrific spooking accident took the life of a young mare named Smoothie. Council Member Avella called me and said that he planned to introduce a bill to ban the industry – the only Council Member with the courage and intelligence to take on this issue. Smoothie was the third horse death in two years.   

 The Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages worked very closely with Senator Avella to develop this bill and particularly the “A” (or "horse disposition") section, which prevents the horses from falling through the cracks on the way to the slaughter auctions.

 That bill, Intro 658, was historic but did not move forward in the council. Instead, it died in committee at the end of 2009 to be replaced by Intro 86, the electric car bill.

The Coalition also worked closely with Senator Avella's office on the new state bill, which is very similar to the original and we are thrilled that it has been introduced.

 The bill's name and number are:   

S5013 -- PROHIBITS THE OPERATION OF HORSE DRAWN CABS IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK. 

 WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Please write to your Senators and ask them to sign on to the bill. Go to the NY State Senate  web site -- click here.  

A matching bill must also be introduced into the State Assembly. We do not yet know who will introduce the bill.

A big thank you to Senator Tony Avella for once again coming through for the horses. 

In memory of
Monty
Rescued former Boston carriage horse R.I.P. July 20, 2013

To honor
Bobby II Freedom
former NYC carriage horse previously known as Billy ID# 2873 rescued by the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages and Equine Advocates on June 25, 2010 from the New Holland auctions.

In memory of
Lilly Rose O'Reilly
former NYC carriage horse previously known as Dada ID# 2711 R.I.P.August, 2007