Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages in Philadelphia!

I recently visited a sanctuary for abused farm animals. There I found cows, chickens, sheep and goats who had once been subjected to horrendous conditions, and were fortunate enough to be rescued and transported from hell to heaven.

The animals which affected me the most, though, were the horses. Never before had I seen horses running free in a field. They looked so alive, flowing in a setting that was natural for them; they were in their element.

When I returned to the city later that day, I again saw horses - but this time in a very different situation, drawing carriages full of people on a sweltering hot day. I looked at their heads hung low, their eyes full of sadness, their bodies full of pain. What I saw were broken spirits. There's nothing worse in life than a broken spirit, a living creature who has lost all hope.

No one - human or animal - should be subjected to living out a life of such pain. And why are they in this position, anyway? Because some people think of horse-drawn carriages as quaint, romantic. Because some people capitalize on this imagery and make big profits off of it.

We can't just stand by and allow this practice to continue. Please don't take horse-drawn carriage rides, don't add to the profits of cruel and exploitative carriage companies. E-mail City Councilman Mark Squilla today ([email protected]) and tell him and Philadelphia City Council to ban horse-draw carriages - for good.

Let's help these horses to live out the rest of their lives in a sanctuary where they, too, can run free in the fields.