Thank you Lord !!!!! Finally something is being done about this. These poor horses... Why don't you people stop ragging on the ASPCA thank God for them and the other shelters and the people who make a difference in this world instead of haters like you.

I would think you would have more pressing issues, such as dog fighting, animal neglect, etc, to spend your supporters' money on. I think the ASPCA and its directors have a more financially (for theASPCA) viable alternative to the horse & carriage in Central Park - NYCLASS and its "green" cars. You just keep propagating lies to scam the public and advance your own causes.

I am not thrilled at the idea of this. Near where I live, there are Amish communities. They use horses to get around. I have even seen them drive into the town. I know it's not a city, but you know, there is a just as equal chance something could happen to the horse pulling that carriage. It could easily spook from a car just like in New York City. Or it could run into traffic. If we take away carriage horses from everywhere, it would really affect the Amish. Just because the town they live nearby is not a city doesn't mean it will have a less likely chance of getting into an accident. Besides, don't you think carriage horses are safer for the environment? They don't need gasoline.

I used to ride horses and handeled them in shows, and i know that heat is BAD for them. End this business NOW.

ban this business. and have all the horses rescued from this line of work. naturally the horse riders should be helped to get another line of work at the same time.

There should be no horse-drawn carriages allowed on the streets and avenues of New York City. In the heart of Summer, it is cruelty, animal abuse and insanity in action. There should be an uproar of objections from all the people who visit or live or work there -- most especially the most ''brainy and powerful'' with supreme media access: Mrs Meredith Vieja, Mr. Charlie Rose and Mr Bloomberg.

And how many of you people even bother to contact your city council member. Did you call and tell him to sponser the bill. Did you ask your neighbors to call and ask him to sponser the bill

If passed, bill Intro 86, sponsored by Councilmember Melissa Mark-Viverito, will phase out all horse-drawn carriages in New York City within three years and replace them with environmentally friendly vintage cars. This exciting piece of legislation would allow the horses used in this antiquated industry to retire, preserve jobs for the current carriage operators, and please tourists and residents alike. We are asking those of you who live in the following City Council districts to please call and/or e-mail your councilmember and ask him or her to support this bill. Personalized letters work best, but we have included a sample draft below. Each of the councilmembers have received ample information on bill Intro 86, but they need some encouragement. If you are unsure of which City Council district you reside in, please check here. Dist. Borough Name District Office # E-Mail 1 Manhattan Margaret Chin 212-587-3159 chin@council.nyc.gov 14 Bronx Fernando Cabrera 718-590-2878 fcabrera@council.nyc.gov 20 Queens Peter Koo 718-888-8747 pkoo@council.nyc.gov 39 Brooklyn Brad Lander 718-499-1090 lander@council.nyc.gov 33 Brooklyn Stephen Levin 718-875-5200 slevin@council.nyc.gov 49 Staten Island Deborah Rose 718-556-7370 32 Queens Eric Ulrich 718-318-6411 13 Bronx James Vacca 718-931-1721 jvacca@council.nyc.gov 22 Queens Peter Vallone Jr. 718-274-4500 vallonejr@council.nyc.gov 26 Queens James Van Bramer 718-383-9566 jvanbramer@council.nyc.gov 23 Queens Mark Weprin 718-468-0137 mweprin@council.nyc.gov 45 Brooklyn Jumaane Williams 718-629-2900 jwilliams@council.nyc.go Thank you in advance for contacting your councilmember and for your support of placing horse-drawn carriages with green cars in New York City! Yours truly, Gemma Vaughan Animals in Entertainment Specialist People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Sample letter: Dear Councilmember (Name): As a constituent, I am writing to ask you to support bill Intro 86, which would replace horse-drawn carriages with green cars in our city. This legislation would benefit all: The horses used in the antiquated carriage industry could retire, current carriage operators would retain jobs as green-car drivers, and tourists and residents alike could enjoy our beautiful city without being subjected to the messes and odors, slowed traffic, and accidents caused by the carriage industry. Given the history of horse-drawn carriage incidents in the city, the difficulty that our government faces in preventing them, and the cruelty to horses inherent in forcing them to work in heavy city traffic in all weather extremes, it is clearly time for New York to leave horse-drawn carriages in the past. Please support the timely and humane Intro 86. Thank you for considering my comments.

the carriage trade does not need protection this is heading in the wrong direction the horses are the ones that need us so as they dodge buses, cars and people on the go horses are not hardwired to be forms of urban travel it is time to make the carriage trade industry unravel

@Animal Activist: The ASPCA is working with NYCLASS to replace the carriage horse industry in NYC with a more humane alternative. The mayor made some false statements regarding the ASPCA's position on the issue, which has lead to some confusion, but check out this webpage for a rundown of what the ASPCA is doing to help carriage horses in NYC: http://www.aspca.org/fight-animal-cruelty/animal-precinct/nyc-carriage-horse-industry.html

The ASPCA is the ONLY one that enforces the law and does it voluntarilly. Why don't you people also complain to the Dept of Health and Consumer affairs that are MANDATED to enforce the law but DON'T do anything. And ALL you BIG mouths didn't even bother to show up at the city council hearing to fight against INTRO 35. All you do is bitch but don't even take the time to go and speak for the horses at city hall. There were only 6 people at city hall who spoke in front of Mayor Bloomberg against Intro 35. it is so easy to scream and accuse others. How about helping the horses? Anyone who didn't bother to show up at the hearing HAS no right to criticize the ASPCA. how the hell do you expect them to take a hard stance when NO one shows up at the hearings???

So, What is ASPCA doing to end this evil industry?

You say" "As the de facto enforcer of New York City’s carriage horse laws," So why DeFacto -- this in one of the most important cities in the world. The NYPD should be responsible for enforcement -- not a volunteer group that is not able to do it adequately but still holds on to the myth.

why are you in a job when you really know nothing about the business or about horses??

Uh . . . I was there more than once when the temperature was well over 90, the horses were out and the ASPCA not only wasn't picking up the phones but the voice mail was full!

Were the drivers the ASPCA found breaking the law fined or reprimanded in any way? If not, the ASPCA is enabling the industry to break the law, in a way, by just "sending the horses back," without punishing the industry for law-breaking. Why is the ASPCA the "defacto" enforcer of the laws while our city agencies are not enforcing the law? What is going on here? Our tax dollars fund these agencies, yet a non-profit organization is the only enforcer of the laws? This is a disgrace, and we all need to cause a big stink about it. NYC MUST do it's job in enforcing the laws that protect the horses.

A few questions & suggestions to help end this industry. Are summonses issued by your agents to the drivers who constantly break the law or do they just make them leave the park? A summons would discourage them from continuing. No repercussions, they will keep it up. In bad weather perhaps make sure they don't even leave the stables rather than waiting until they trek to the park. The ASPCA is usually not in the park or streets monitoring in the evenings when drivers sneak out in 90+ degree or freezing, storming weather or venture into areas like TImes Square which during certain hours are not legally alowed or when they take too many passengers? Your hotline is usually full by then & NYPD will not go on the complaint calls. If you support a ban, perhaps showing up at press conferences to state your objection or meet with the Mayor? These are important issues the ASPCA needs to address in order to make a difference in this cruel and inhumane industry. Your members wish to see change, not the same old.

i do agree it is cruel