Help Protect the Working Horses of New York City

Theanimalrescuesite.com is urging all citizens to sign an online petition as soon as possible to oppose Intro. 653, a bill that they say puts the health safety of New York City's carriage horses at risk by eliminating the authority of the departments of Health and Mental Hygiene and Consumer Affairs, the NYC Police Department, ASPCA, (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), and Humane Law Enforcement to inspect carriage horse stables.

"The language in the bill is very vague, calling for the inspection of the stables by 'a single entity that has veterinary training in the care of horses,'" states a press release. "New York City's carriage horses are subjected to living and working in poor conditions, necessitating more effective enforcement, not less."

The statement goes on to say that without access to the stables, the ASPCA cannot monitor the conditions of the horses or their living environment and can't ensure that failures to comply with the law are addressed.

"Throughout history, horses have been trusted companions and a significant part of American culture," the Animal Rescue site states. "A carriage ride through New York City's Central Park is a romantic time-honored tradition but what many passengers don't know is that these working horses are often subjected to inadequate food, care, and living conditions."

The agency also says that "Though Americans do not eat horsemeat, each year more than 100,000 American horses are shipped to Canada or Mexico to be cruelly slaughtered for sale in the European and Asian markets."

The petition, being sponsored by the ASPCA, states that "These horses work for their living and deserve to have clean stalls and bedding, proper food, and appropriate care."

To sign the document, access http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/campaign.faces?siteId=3&campaign=CarriageHorses&ThirdPartyClicks=EEA_030110_CarriageHorses_m.

In unrelated animal news, in just a few weeks, delegates from 175 countries that have signed the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) will meet to discuss more than 40 proposals to increase or decrease protection for internationally-traded animal and plant species. (Source: Humane Society International).

"For the fourth time, the United States is proposing to remove CITES protection for bobcats," reveals a mass email. "The bobcat, one of only two iconic American wild cat species, is the most heavily traded cat species in the world."

Bobcats were first listed on CITES Appendix II because their skins cannot be distinguished from those of other lynx species, some of which are critically endangered.

"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is once again bowing to pressure from trappers who want to sell bobcat skins internationally without any federal or international regulation," the email goes on to say.

To sign the petition, look up https://secure.humanesociety.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=4375&autologin=true&JServSessionIdr004=3gsbtbitv1.app305a.