NEWSDAY - December 18, 2006
It is good news that the City of New York will do the right thing by
providing for the retirement of its police horses, soon to be transferred to new
pastures ["Off to greener pasture," News, Dec. 8].
But, while the city does not have a legal responsibility for its carriage
horses because they are privately owned, it certainly has a moral one, which it
chooses to ignore. Given every break by the city, including the use of
city-owned stables and allowing a cash-only business to exist, this industry
gets rid of horses when they are no longer useful - too slow, too old or too
sick. Some may be fortunate enough to retire to a farm - but most go to the
auctions, where they are exposed to kill buyers. More than 100,000 horses are
slaughtered in the United States each year - and this number includes former
carriage horses.
Elizabeth Forel
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