Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages in Chicago
In recent years, both horses and humans have been injured and killed within the horse-drawn carriage industry. Busy congested city streets are no place for these peaceful, slow-moving animals that tend to spook easily from loud noises.
Many other cities both in the U.S. and abroad have banned horse-drawn carriages because people that are knowledgeable about these animals understand that the chaotic, urban environment is not suitable.
In 2009, Chicago saw Animal Care & Control step in and seize horses because these carriages companies have demonstrated that the animals welfare are not their priority. Seven counts of criminal animal cruelty charges were handed out as a result of this. Since we see this industry as inherently flawed and not treating these animals with the care and respect they deserve, we feel Chicago should be the next city to take the progressive step and ban the carriage.
Acting as concerned and compassionate residents of Chicago, we wish to formally request of you a consideration to eliminate horse-drawn carriages in our city.
As you are surely aware, 2009 saw a disturbing sequence of events. Animal Care & Control intervened and relocated horses to an animal sanctuary due to carriage industry massive neglect.
In recent years, it has gone virtually unnoticed that the remaining carriage companies have racked up dozens of citations for abuse and neglect. If these were dogs or cats, everyone would be crying foul, but because of some antiquated notion that tourists love carriages rides, the city collectively turns a blind eye to these animals plight.
Many other cities have progressed and have decided that this outdated industry has no place in their community. Chicago needs to step up and prove itself and exemplify what it is to be a world class city. What once could be a romantic and charming endeavor has proved itself to be a dangerous to both horses and passengers.
How many horses have to die before we recognize what Paris, London, Toronto, and countless other cities have come to understand? Horses do not belong in a city. Each time a horse is struck by a bus, a horse drops dead from heat stroke, or a horse spooks from a police siren or car horn, we put both horses and people in harms way. Respect the horse; ban the carriage.
