Where carriage horses live

Surely West Side Livery, one of five carriage horse stables in Manhattan, is one of the worst homes that a horse could have. Most New York City residents go about their daily business not thinking about where the carriage horses live, or perhaps imagining that they are housed in a bucolic setting somewhere in the park. An Animals' Angels investigation tells the real story: tie stalls, sand buckets for fire protection, horses tethered to feeding troughs. Read the report on the website of the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages. Then take a look at the interior of the stable, which is located at 538 W. 38th Street. (You really should see it for yourself.)
Related news: A New York City veterinarian detailed concerns about the multistory stable, including its complete lack of fire protection system, poor ventilation that compromises the horses' respiratory health, inadequate bedding and cramped standing stalls. Watch a news conference co-sponsored by the coalition, Friends of Animals, and Heart for Animal Rights.

No life for a horse

Animal suffering is not a tourist attraction
There are a number of similarities between the horse-drawn carriage industries in Charleston and New York City. Namely, both are politically entrenched, which further illustrates the sad divide between the way things are and the way things should be. Horse-drawn carriages should not be a political issue in these 21st-century cities.

"Earthvegan" blogger Vaishali is the latest to point out an uncivil and troubling disregard for animal suffering, coupled with an alarming cognitive dissonance that must be at work to enable these industries to exist. She writes of a visit to Charleston, where she witnessed the miserable spectacle of a carriage horse pulling 17 tourists around. She also calls out New York City, where the industry is fast gaining notoriety for its multistory stables and dangerous and inhumane working conditions. The one glimmer of hope in this story is that bad news travels as well as good news. Maybe even better.
Photo: From "If Horses Had Wishes"/earthvegan.blogspot.com
Related: "Horse-code violations" (The Post and Courier)
"Horse Pulling Carriage Falls" (The Post and Courier)
"Blinders," the award-winning documentary about NYC's carriage industry
Learn more: Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages-NYC

Apathy is the order of the day

Only 9% of registered Democrats turned out for Tuesday's primary. How sad. Great news for the crooks on the City Council, however, the same ones who conspired with Bloomberg to overturn term limits. Christine Quinn tops the list. Godspeed to the feds who are investigating the slush fund scandal.

San Gennaro story...

Mayoral candidate Tony Avella, sponsor of the bill that would ban horse-drawn carriages in New York City, was the man of the hour on Saturday during the feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy!

The welcome was especially warm at Caffe Palermo, home of world-famous pastries and other treats.
A little drizzle did not deter the enthusiastic crowds from stopping him to say hello. A few times the crowd cheered: "Tony! Tony! Tony!"

Get out the vote! The Democratic primary is Tuesday, September 15 and polls are open from 6 a.m. until 9 pm.
Also see: Suzannah B. Troy artist interview with Tony Avella from San Gennaro festival

A leader, not a follower

Mayoral candidate Tony Avella speaks out here on a subject dear to his heart: his strong record of animal-friendly legislation. He is the true leader in this arena, unlike others who say one thing and do another--or worse still, do nothing. As the author of the landmark legislation that would ban New York City's inhumane horse-drawn carriage industry, Tony Avella has distinguished himself by standing up for what is right. And he supports all manner of humane legislation, a rarity in the City Council.

This is the season of political posturing. Don't be misled by empty promises. Tony Avella is the real deal. If you vote and you care about animals as well as people, exercise your right and vote for Tony Avella on September 15 in the Democratic primary.
Those City Council members who secretly favor a ban on horse-drawn carriages but are too cowed by Christine Quinn to have the courage of their convictions are pretty well useless on any issue.
ACTION ALERT: Registered Democrats, vote for Tony Avella on Sept. 15 in the Democratic primary!
Video used courtesy of: Heart for Animal Rights Activists

Countdown to Democratic primary!

Vote for Tony Avella on September 15

Tony Avella introduced the landmark legislation that would ban New York City's inhumane horse-drawn carriage industry. He also has sponsored all manner of humane legislation, including the pets-in-housing bill (can you imagine not being able to have a pet?) Truly, he is the best friend that New York City animals have ever had.

Avella works tirelessly for our neighborhoods, something that surely can't be said of Bloomberg or Thompson. Their allegiances are to the real estate industry, not to the people of New York City. Avella is a fighter for small businesses that have been exploited mercilessly. He is a passionate advocate for fixing our broken education system, by empowering teachers and parents and by putting an end to "teaching to the test."

Do your neighbors know what Tony Avella has done for our city? Do the small businesses in your neighborhood? Now is the time to let them know that he has been championing their cause! Spread the word. People will likely be glad to hear from you that there is a meaningful choice. Make history on September 15. Vote in the Democratic primary for the progressive candidate, Tony Avella.

TAKE ACTION! Window and lawn signs are available from the Avella campaign! Request yours today. Contact Hema Patel, Field Director, Tony Avella for Mayor.
PHONE: 718-855-7035
EMAIL: action@tonyavellaformayor.com

Also see: Avella in the News (articles)
In Face-Off, Rivals Take on Bloomberg (NYTimes, Aug. 26, 2009; by David W. Chen)
Insurgent Candidate Fights Bloomberg (NYTimes, July 28, 2009; by David W. Chen)
Avella and Thompson Face Off in First NYC Mayoral Debate (Epoch Times; Aug. 27, 2009; by Joshua Philipp)
In his own words: Avella explains what separates him from Bloomberg
Can Thompson Overcome the Pension Fund Scandal Mess? (Daily News; Aug. 30, 2009; by Adam Lisberg)

Inhumane, dangerous, and irrelevant

Serious accidents, just waiting to happen
Substantial evidence has shown that when carriage horses spook, people are usually injured. No surprise, then, that the summer's news reports bear out these statistics. In a look at a few of the accidents involved horses who spooked, a full 80% of these accidents involved human injury. Spooking accidents are dangerous and sometimes deadly for horses and people. In Krakow, Poland, two accidents in two weeks involving terrified carriage horses left eight people injured, four of them seriously, including two teenage girls. Carriage driver Derek Heckler suffered a cracked skull and later died from his injuries resulting from a horse-spooking accident in San Francisco. In Santa Barbara, Calif., it was a snapped leather strap that apparently terrified a horse who then spooked and bolted during a parade, injuring numerous bystanders. A horse in San Antonio spooked twice in the same day, throwing a passenger from the carriage; no injuries were reported in that accident.
Photo: KrakowInformer.com
Related: Slow-moving conveyances are dangerous in rural areas and suburbs, too. In Clarion, Pa., an SUV smashed into a buggy, injuring 5 people and killing a horse; in Chester County, Pa., a car rear-ended a buggy, killing a woman and a horse and seriously injuring another person.