Last Chance for Animals
(LCA)
November 2015
Last Chance for Animals investigated the New York City carriage horse industry and exposed routine violations of the laws and regulations that protect both horses and people. The undercover video, narrated by Emmy award-winning actress Edie Falco, reveals carriage horses operating in dangerous traffic conditions, deprived of access to water, and forced to work while injured.
Watch Edie Falco narrate LCA video here, watch LCA's B-Roll video here.
During his 2013 election campaign, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio pledged to finally end the cruel carriage horse industry. Intro 573, a proposed ban on horse-drawn carriages, was introduced in December 2014, but New York City Council has yet to vote on the bill and Mayor de Blasio has given up the fight. Now, it’s up to the public to pressure the mayor and council members to pass the carriage ban.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
LCA’s undercover footage reveals:
LCA has filed complaints with the Department of Mental Health and Hygiene, Department of Transportation, Department of Consumer Affairs and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, all of which are responsible for enforcing New York City's carriage horse laws and regulations.
Dr. Holly Cheever, DVM and Vice President of the New York State Humane Association, reviewed the investigation video and concluded, “LCA’s analysis of New York’s carriage horse trade as detailed in its petition is completely accurate in its discussion of the hazards, cruelty, and the many violations of NYC Codes and Rules. Given the overall condition of the animals, quality of the ancient stabling, and hazards of their urban lives makes this tourist industry inherently cruel, in my professional opinion.”
Carriage Horse Injuries and Fatalities
Since 2009, there have been over 30 documented incidents of horse carriage-related accidents in New York City, including serious injuries sustained by drivers, horses, customers, and passers-by. These include a child falling out of a carriage and run over by the wheel, a horse collapsing and dying in the street, and numerous cases of carriage drivers fleeing the scenes of accidents. Many of these drivers are never identified, and thus never held accountable.
In St. Petersburg, Russia, in 2007, five-year-old Valeriya Kolodyazhnaya – the daughter of the mayor of Sochi – was killed in a horrific horse-drawn carriage accident. A car collided with the carriage, causing Valeriya to fall onto the road; she was admitted to the hospital with severe injuries, and later died.
Thank you for everything you do for animals!
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