Diane Petruzzelli (SPCA volunteer) testifies supporting ban
Diane Petruzzelli, a former SPCA volunteer, testifies about horses being forced to pull tourists through the busiest city in the world, asks council members to imagine if this were their own pet, and urges passage.
My name is Diane Petruzzelli.
I've worked with the SPCA for many years in animal adoption and humane education.
For years, I've signed petitions, written letters, hoped someone would finally end the suffering of New York City's carriage horses.
But after witnessing tragedy after tragedy, I realized these horses need more than our sympathy.
They need our voices.
Imagine spending every day surrounded by blaring horns, sirens, traffic, exhaust fumes, scorching heat, freezing temperatures, and miles of unforgiving pavement.
Imagine never having a choice, never being able to say, I'm tired, I'm hurt, I'm afraid.
That is the life of a New York City carriage horse.
These beautiful animals were never meant to spend their lives pulling tourists through the busiest city in the world.
Horses are meant to run through open fields, graze beside other horses, and simply be horses.
Instead, they spend their entire lives walking on pavement, surrounded by noise and traffic, living a life
They never chose nor would ever choose.
Horse-drawn carriages belong to another century.
They were created before automobiles existed.
New York has always...
He's been a city that embraces progress.
Today you have the opportunity to let our compassion evolve as well.
And this isn't only about animal welfare, it's also about public safety.
Recent tragedies have reminded us of the risk to both horses and people.
We should not have to wait for another tragedy before deciding that this outdated practice has to come to an end.
If this were your horse, your dog, or the pet you love the most, would you want this life for them?
Would you want them breathing exhaust surrounded by blaring sirens and traffic, walking mile after mile on hard pavement in the heat of summer and the cold of winter?
These horses have spent their lives serving us.
They never chose this life.
They cannot stand before you today and ask for a different one.
Only you can give them that.
I respectfully ask that you vote yes on this legislation and help give these horses the future they've always deserved.
Years from now, people will not ask why New York City ended horse-drawn carriages.
They will ask why it took so long.
Thank you.
Thank you.
This side of the table.