Those eyes

"The horse pulling the carriage had really sad eyes," the young woman wrote in her blog post. "I just wanted to rescue him and set him free in some huge field."

Sounds as if she is regretting the ride she took, an uneasy realization that is reached by many tourists. Most every weekend, I speak with people who either avoid a carriage ride altogether--or pledge not to ever take another one. There are plenty of wholesome things to do in NYC.

Support a ban on New York City's horse-drawn carriage industry, a stance that is unanimously supported by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), Friends of Animals, In Defense of Animals, and dozens of other animal welfare organizations. New York City residents should contact their City Council representatives and ask them to support a ban on horse-drawn carriages. Non-New York City residents should contact the mayor (212-NEW-YORK) and make known their support of a ban on this inherently inhumane industry.