The following statement may be attributed to the Nonhuman Rights Project regarding the New York City Council’s passage of legislation to phase out horse-drawn carriages in New York City.
“We are proud to see New York City take this important step for animals by ending the use of horses in the carriage industry. This outcome reflects growing recognition that longstanding traditions involving the confinement and use of animals should not continue simply because they have existed for generations. We congratulate the advocates and organizations whose years of work made this change possible.
We hope this progress builds momentum for other efforts to protect nonhuman animals in New York City and advance the recognition of their fundamental legal rights, including legislation the Nonhuman Rights Project developed alongside Council Member Shahana Hanif and Voters for Animal Rights to address elephant captivity. Following the death of our former client Happy earlier this year, Patty remains alone at the Bronx Zoo after decades in confinement. Happy did not live to see freedom, but Patty still has that chance. New York City has another opportunity to recognize what modern science has made increasingly clear about the complex physical, psychological, social, and emotional needs of elephants and to act on it by creating a pathway for Patty to live with greater freedom and autonomy and ensuring that no future elephants are held captive in the city in a way that causes them to suffer.”