Image: Ron Adar / shutterstock.com
“The time to ban horse-drawn carriage rides is overdue. Laws regulating the carriage trade have long failed horses, many of whom have suffered and died.”
Ricky Gervais and Kendall Jenner are among a slew of Hollywood A-listers backing PETA’s call for a total ban on horse-drawn carriages following the collapse of yet another horse on a busy New York City street.
Other celebrities raising their voices on the issue include Kaley Cuoco, Joey King, Taryn Manning, Nikki Glaser, Heather Rae El Moussa and Saint Hoax.
The push comes after stars were all moved by footage of a horse who collapsed in the middle of the street only to be slapped, whipped, and screamed at by the carriage driver.
‘Stop this now’
In response to the heartbreaking clip Gervais wrote, “So [expletive] sad” to PETA on Twitter.
Jenner also shared the footage of the tragedy with her 255 million Instagram followers alongside the caption: “Stop this now.”
Meanwhile Cuoco wrote: “We are better than this. You are better than this.”
‘The law has long failed horses’
According to PETA, “the time to ban horse-drawn carriage rides is overdue. Laws regulating the carriage trade have long failed horses, many of whom have suffered and died.”
The charity added: “New York City’s police and health departments don’t have the resources or inclination to monitor the conditions under which the horses are made to work on a routine basis or make sure regulations are being followed.
“Meanwhile, carriage operators fight and flout every rule put in place to protect the horses and the public.”
PETA has joined other organizations including New Yorkers for Clean, Livable, and Safe Streets (NYCLASS) and other local advocates to urge the city to put an end to the ‘speciesist mindset’ that treats horses like machines.
The charity has also launched a petition to urge New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams to lead the council to ban horse-drawn carriages without delay.
You can sign the petition here.
Story: Ricky Gervais, Kendall Jenner and other celebrities call for ban on horse-drawn carriages