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June 6th - Vigil for Philadelphia's Carriage Horses
May 26, 2009, 8:43PM MT
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Please join us for a peaceful protest / vigil on June 6th from 11:00 am to 12:30.
Please join us for a peaceful protest / vigil on June 6th from 11:00 am to 12:30. Come out and support our campaign to ban horse-drawn carriages in Philadelphia. We will be joining many cities throughout the world with one message: stop this exploitative industry.
Brandon Gittelman
After the vigil, we will be attending the Fab Rat Festival in South Philly to support the rescue of domesticated rats -- refugees of various exploit ative animal breeding industries.
For information on where to meet for the vigil or how to get involved in this important local campaign, please e-mail philly@friendsofanimals.org.
WHY IS A BAN OF HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES NECESSARY?
1. Exploitative Industry
In order to generate a profit and provide entertainment for tourists, the horses are enslaved and forced into a brutal existence. They are obliged to work on hard pavement in dangerous, unhealthful, and unnatural conditions. This is an injustice to horses, who are social beings, and who are nat urally born to live with other animals and run free.
2. Public Safety
Horse-drawn carriages are a danger to people in vehicles, pedestrians, and bike-riders in Philadelphia, one of the most congested cities in the U.S. The carriages impede the flow of traffic, including emergency vehicles. Accidents are inevitable, as horses are easily frightened by loud, sudden noises and seemingly light impacts (even the jolt of the harness), which are a frequent occurrence in Philadelphia. The natural instinct of horses is to run when they are frightened, resulting in many serious accidents, as demonstrated throughout the world.
3. Current or Modified Regulations Will Not Solve the Problem
There is no way to eliminate the degradation that these horses endure every day without a permanent ban.
QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE PROPOSED BAN OF HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES
1. Will a Horse-Drawn Carriage Ban Affect Tourism in Philadelphia?
There is an abundance of attractions for tourists in our great city including Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, Walnut Street Theater, National Constitution Center, Franklin Square, art galleries, wonderful restaurants, and Ride the Ducks’ amazing sightseeing tours of historic Philadelphia. Philadelphia has much more to offer tourists than an out-dated, falsely romanticized perception which further exploits domesticated animals (and produces minimal revenue for the city).
2. Will a Horse-Drawn Carriage Ban Result In Significant Job Loss?
As part of the proposed legislation, drivers who a re affected by the ban on horse-drawn carriages will be given preference for open positions in other vehicle tourist industries.
3. What Will Happen to the Horses When the Proposed Ban is Implemented?
As part of the proposed legislation, all of the horses will be put into sanctuaries so that they can enjoy some of the freedoms that they have been denied for their entire lives. We believe that many of the horses who are part of this unjust industry end up in slaughterhouses, once they are physically (and mentally) shattered and their owners can no longer generate a profit. A ban will help to put an end to this vicious cycle.
4. Aren’t Horse-Drawn Carriages Romantic and Part of Tradition?
Horse-drawn carriages are a dangerous tradition that is exploitative and unnecessary in the 21st century. There is absolutely nothing romantic about animal exploitation.
Pictured above: Horses living in natural conditions on their own terms - how it should be.
Reprinted with permission
Image courtesy of Friends of Animals
Posted by, Sherry, PA Forums Moderator