Sam Moon (Catskill Animal Sanctuary) testifies supporting ban
Sam Moon, executive director of Catskill Animal Sanctuary, testifies about what horses need to thrive—space, predictable surroundings, natural behaviors—and that NYC streets cannot provide these conditions.
Sam Moon.
Okay, go ahead.
To the chair and members of the City Council, thank you for the opportunity to testify today.
My name is Sam Moon and I am the executive director of Catskill Animal Sanctuary, located just two miles north, or two hours, excuse me, north of New York City.
And on behalf of our organization, I am here to express our strong support for Intro 943.
Every day we care for rescued horses and other farmed animals who have found safety, peace, and lifelong refuge at our sanctuary.
That experience has given us a deep understanding of what horses need to thrive.
Space to move freely, predictable surroundings, and an environment where they can express their natural behaviors without the constant stress of traffic, noise, and congestion.
New York streets simply cannot provide those conditions.
Horses are intelligent and sensitive animals, and even the calmest, best-trained horses, as you have heard today, can be startled by sirens, constructions, and crowds.
When this happens, the risk has extended beyond the horse to carriage operators, passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians.
As a sanctuary, we believe in...
Our responsibility is to provide animals with environments that provide their welfare rather than ask them to adapt to conditions that compromise it.
We can acknowledge the role horses have played in our history while embracing a future that does not require them to work in one of the busiest environments in the world.
For the welfare of our horses and the safety of our public, we respectfully urge the council to pass Intro 943.
Thank you for your consideration.
Thank you very much.
John?
Good afternoon.
Can you hear me?
All right, great.
Good afternoon.
My name is John DiLeonardo.