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Carriage Horse, Billy, found dead in his stall amid NYC’s record heatwave

From The Fund for Horses
July 2022

Last week during New York City’s record heatwave, a carriage horse named Billy was found dead in his stall, according to the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene (the “Department”).

Have you see this already? It is brutal; sickening. They say it “might have” been colic. One Green Plant reports:

Last week during New York City’s record heatwave, a carriage horse named Billy was found dead in his stall, according to the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene (the “Department”).

This is just the latest incident that highlights the dangers of this industry. Although there is a law that horses must be removed from the streets when temperatures reach 90 degrees, it is not always upheld.

The Department reported that the 14-year-old Belgian draft horse died “apparently from colic” on July 20, when temperatures reached a high of 96 degrees in Manhattan, with temperatures exceeding 90 degrees by 11 AM.

“The fact that this horse likely died a long, painful death without receiving proper medical care is inexcusable. Like many carriage horses in New York City, Billy died as he lived – in extreme heat, under terrible conditions, isolated in a tiny stall, neglected and alone. Many questions remain, but one thing is clear: the city must initiate a thorough and independent investigation into the circumstances of this horse’s death,” said Edita Birnkrant, NYCLASS Executive Director.

NYCLASS is calling for the NYPD to conduct a review through the animal cruelty unit as well as an independent veterinarian. They say that the following questions must be answered by an independent investigation.

• Given the extreme symptoms of colic, was the horse previously examined by a veterinarian?
• Colic is not followed by instant death. How could this horse have simply dropped dead from an agonizing condition without anyone detecting a problem?
• Why did heat suspensions only go into effect at 2 PM on the day of and before Billy’s death despite 90+ temperatures recorded hours earlier?
• What, if any, oversight measures are currently in place to ensure these rules are followed and enforced?

A new bipartisan bill would replace horse carriages with modern electric carriages. This would not only reduce horse deaths but also make the streets safer for New Yorkers.

Source: One Green Planet. Featured Image: Manhattan Sideways.

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