Filming this video today was heart-breaking, as you can see. Yet, this is how the horses are fed -- with a bucket hanging over their heads. Not to mention I was in the calèche pick-up area for a while and no water was in sight the whole time.
Furthermore, the horses are being over-worked more than usual this week-end, as many tourists swarm the city for the Jazz Fest.
It's even more saddening to see that the children are not being taught by their parents how abusive this industry is. But actually put them in danger should the horse get spooked. In this case they could be flung out and injured at the least, as has occurred in the past.
Also notice that the by-law allows not more than 1 person per seat. There are more than that in this calèche and even more in the one passing by in the background.
The horses and the calèches are ridiculously adorned for the occasion, but that certainly doesn't make the reality any more beautiful for the horses.
Please, if you witness anything speak up, takes pictures, videos and send them to us. Thanks!
The horses and the calèches are ridiculously adorned for the occasion, but that certainly doesn't make the reality any more beautiful for the horses.
Please, if you witness anything speak up, takes pictures, videos and send them to us. Thanks!
This is disgusting! I wanted you to know that NBC did a special in Montreal with Kathie Lee Gifford yesterday and they featured caleche rides! I am absolutely horrified and will be writing to NBC and Kathie Lee Gifford about this to express my outrage.. I cannot believe they featured this aspect of Montreal's abusive tourist industry in front of over 5 million North American viewers or more:
ReplyDeletehttp://montreal.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110714/mtl_today_110714/20110714/?hub=MontrealHome
I hope others will write something in protest too.
I also encourage people to protest and to not send anonymous letters. Also anonymous comments on this blog will do little to help the horses. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThe Ville-Marie Borough monitors the health of the horses used to draw carriages (calèches) that give rides to residents, visitors and tourists. We make sure that the horses are well treated, by requiring that they be seen by a veterinarian at least twice a year. Calèche drivers must carry the veterinarians’ certificates confirming that the animals are in good health.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to this measure, the borough’s own veterinarian also makes sure that the horses drawing calèches on the streets of Old Montréal are well treated. Our veterinarian inspected 22 of the 25 horses this summer. On July 28 and August 4, inspections were done on 14 and 11 horses, respectively. Overall, they were found to be in very good health.
In Montréal, the By-law concerning horse-drawn vehicles sets standards applying to the use of such vehicles on its territory. Public Works inspectors are responsible for enforcing the by-law. They require that calèches be withdrawn from service when temperatures reach 30°C or more. To date, in 2011, temperatures on nine days have exceeded 29°C. On each occasion, two inspectors patrolled the territory to make sure that the by-law was being respected. They handed out four tickets to offenders, who could have their licences suspended for 12 months.
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L'arrondissement de Ville-Marie se préoccupe de la santé des chevaux qui permettent aux résidants, visiteurs et touristes de se balader en calèche. Il s'assure que les chevaux soient bien traités en imposant que ceux-ci soient vus par un vétérinaire au moins deux fois par année. Les caléchiers doivent avoir sur eux les certificats délivrés par les vétérinaires, confirmant la bonne santé des animaux.
Outre cette mesure, l'arrondissement fait un pas de plus afin de s'assurer du bon traitement réservé aux chevaux qui parcourent les rues du Vieux-Montréal en ayant recours aux services de son propre vétérinaire. 22 des 25 chevaux ont ainsi été vus par notre vétérinaire cet été. Le 28 juillet et le 4 août dernier, des inspections ont été effectuées sur 14, puis sur 11 chevaux. Somme toute, l'état de santé des animaux était très satisfaisant.
À Montréal, le Règlement sur les véhicules hippomobiles établit les normes applicables à l'exploitation de calèches sur son territoire. Les inspecteurs des Travaux publics voient à l'application de ce règlement. Ils obligent, entre autres, le retrait dune calèche du domaine public lorsque la température est de 30°C ou plus. À ce jour, en 2011, neuf jours ont connu une température excédant 29°C. À chacune de ces occasions, deux inspecteurs ont sillonnés le territoire afin de s'assurer du respect de la réglementation. Lors de ces journées, 4 constats d'infraction ont été émis aux contrevenants, lesquels s'exposent à la suspension de leur permis pour une période de 12 mois.
Thank you for your comment. While it is true that 4 tickets were handed out, in at least two of those cases it was not due to the patrolling of the inspectors but to the complaints received on behalf of the citizens. Mirella
ReplyDelete