“In my humble, pissed-off opinion” by R.T. Fitch – Author of “Straight from the Horse’s Heart”
“Crap for Brains” Captain Hands Loyal Horses Death for Retirement Present
A lifetime of service thrown right into the garbage
You know, just when you think that things are leveling out and maybe the horses are gaining a little bit of ground you open up the paper or a news website and something like this reaches out and slaps you right in the face. It smarts, it stings and it STINKS! (Sorry, any semblance of a professional demeanor is right out the window)
The retirement package that was administered to three solid veterans of the NYPD was a needle to the neck and an early death where they had an easy 10+ years left to reap the rewards of just being a horse. And the Horse’s Ass…no wait, that is an insult to the horses, the piece of horse poop, no…again that is degrading to the fallen equines…the worthless, stinking, pond scum who issued the order should contemplate if he will receive the same loving treatment upon his retirement. We could only hope!
Jen Carlson of the “Gothamist” reported today:
“Some of New York’s finest four-legged friends have been sent off to greener pastures, with a loud rally cry from animal rights activists sending them off. According to the NY Post, the head of the NYPD’s Mounted Unit, Capt. Barry Gelbman, ordered three retired police horses put down upon their retirement, saying various leg ailments made it impossible to transport them to new homes upstate and in New Hampshire.
The horses—Danny, Willis and Richie Rich—were 15 to 20 years old, and had life expectancies of up to 30, leaving many to question Gelbman’s decision. Allegedly, he made it clear the animals were under his control, as property of his department. But one source told the paper, “They did not need to be euthanized. They just could not travel cramped for 16 hours. They only needed special accommodations to move them.”
This isn’t the first time the NYPD has been involved in scandals involving their horses. On top of running a corrupt auction, in 2005 they sent 58 retired horses to a bankrupt farm where it was discovered they were malnourished.”
There you have it, straight from the horse’s mouth and here is what we are going to do about it. We need to get this turkey’s badge, he needs to ride off into the sunset with moraly bankrupt losers like “Slaugherhouse” Sue Wallis and defunct “Red” Ed Butcher. This idiot is not only an emabarrassement to the proud men and women of NYC who where the blue with honor, he makes me want to turn in my “Human Being” badge.
Let the Mayor of New York know how pissed off you are at http://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.bd08ee7c7c1ffec87c4b36d501c789a0/index.jsp?doc_name=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nyc.gov%2Fhtml%2Fmail%2Fhtml%2Fmayor.html
Call the NYCPD at 212-868-2585 and let them know how you feel. Fellow advocates have reported back that those answering the phone are upset, too. Tell them where you are from and why you are calling.
We are Equine Advocates and the voices of the horses, it doesn’t make any difference if it is 40,000 captured wild horses in pens, a 100,000 shipped across the border for slaughter or 3 police horses in New York City, it’s all about the horses and they need us, now, more than ever.
Let your voices be heard and tonight, say a prayer for those who gave their lives for the service of man without even so much as a thank you, without a single shred of compassion or gratitude. Offer a prayer of forgiveness to those who were so totally betrayed, like hundreds of thousands before them.
We should know that prayer very well by now; it has become our mantra and how we lull ourselves to sleep at night, it’s the nightmare that haunts us as we try to rest and it’s the fire in our heart that presses us on.
Maybe, just maybe we can retire that prayer, one day…just maybe.
Sometimes I hate being a man.
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Categories: Horse News, The Force of the Horse
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
My message to the Mayor of New York City
Your Captain Barry Gelbman should be fired for his treatment of those three police department horses. I live in Pennsylvania and I know of several rescues that would have taken those horses south for a well-deserved retirement! Right now–I DON’T love New York!
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R.T., you are one of the good guys so don’t hate being a man please. This scum doesn’t even have a soul.
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And this is how they were repaid for their service? You called it right on. Pond Scum of the highest order. So sad and un-necessary.
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Thanks. I wrote them a short note.
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What 16 Hour Trip would these horses have to make? Impossible. You can go from NYC to Buffalo and back with hours to spare, and it does not take 16 hours, (weather permitting). Seriously, the Mounted Police in NYC, love and care for their horses.. This is uncalled for. WHo is this guy? Our Mayor would love to hear from everyone on this. We love NY and Our Mayor. This act from NYC’s finest.. out of character, and out of line, and way out of policy. R. T. Please follow up, on this reporting. Eye on NY.
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I’m on the phone with the NYPD now…and that’s just the beginning…
Thank you, R.T., for putting this out there and letting us know of this.
The number you have posted goes directly to the Mounted Police Unit, as you know…I asked if these messages would get through to Raymond Kelly, the police commissioner–they won’t…he is Barry Gelbmans boss–he’s the one we need to complain to if we want Gelbman to hear anything about it. The policeman answering the phone at the Mounted Unit gave me the number to stat the path to Raymond Kelly’s office–646-610-5410. That’s where I’m going next–maybe I’ll see you there.
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Thanks, Nancy…GREAT information, we surely appreciate your diligence.
Additional number, gang. Let’s get after it.
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Disheartening that he would simply dispose of these beautiful, dedicated horses just before what should have been the best years of their life; just toss them away like used paper towels. Sickening. I’d love to punch this Gelbman in his face.
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I am a New Yorker and beyond disgusted. These horses are the best at what they do. Mr. Gelbman needs to be fired, immediately!!! I spoke to the stable and I spoke to the Precinct in charge. I know there are police officers that are upset by this. Shame on NY for putting an idiot in charge of living, sentient beings.
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Although it happens all too often for whatever reason it is illegal to put a sound horse down in NY. We should push for national legislation. No Wild Mustang, lowly carriage horse, or slow race horse shall be put down that doesn’t face certain death and suffering, or slaughtered. Who in the world has been given the power of god over those of us that feel the pain as much as the holocaust. I feel my rights as an American are being violated by terrorists.
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P.S. Frank… I object to the characterization of “lowly carriage horse.”
There’s nothing more lofty than the noble carriage horse!
(And anyone who is fortunate and humbled enough to rely on their horse partner for their living would agree!)
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I think “lowly carriage Horse is the wording in the original NYC laws;
which some are from the 1800’s…what they mean by that wording imo is
:Carriage Horses; though viewed as lowly by some: should have equal protection as Race Horses…etc.
I will research the wild mustang clause
thanks R.T. !
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Frank, please point me to that law in NY?
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What has become of our country?? We are such a throw away society..some days it is such pure dispair..My sympathies go out to those officers who love and cared for these animals-I am sure they were their friends..I wish someone had spoken up before the horses were put down..At Least we can be thankful they were’nt so heartless as to send them to slaughter..someone now wears the badge of shame..New Yorkers should be outraged-their tax dollars paid for the care of those horses and they should have been consulted about what happened to them.
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I hope the NY Times picks this up, I sent my message to mayor Bloomberg-suggesting that with all their wonderful training those horses could have helped disabled and disadvantaged children, and been loved and respected in a well deserved retirement
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I hope a gang member does a drive by and takes this piece “S” out.
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What vet would put down healthy horses just because a bozo tells him too? What’s with these spineless vets?
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The vets don’t care they make money out of it!
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“Some of New York’s finest four-legged friends have been sent off to greener pastures, with a loud rally cry from animal rights activists sending them off.”
Yes, aren’t these the animal rights activists who want ALL horses BANNED from NYC and think that euthanasia is preferable to the “suffering” of the horses being kept in captivity???
Shame on the NYCPD!
16 hours? I could have gotten them from NYC to my rescue in Western Massachusetts in 3 hours and found them homes!
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Not sure what you mean, Christina. We don’t want the NYPD horses banned, we want the carriage horses banned. They are horribly abused.
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hello what makes you think the NYC Carriage Horses are abused ? I had not heard this…they have a good employment working as Carriage Horses; I heard Mayor Bloomberg on the Radio today NPR a new law NYC
The Carriage Horses will get blankets on their backs during cold weather as they pull their fancy carriages around the beautiful parameters of Central Park !
The Carriage Horses will get bigger stalls
The Carriage Horses will work less hours per week;
DRIVING CARRIAGES is good employment for a Horse; they live good long lives ! I do not know anything about the NYC Mounted Police tho…
my opinion is: Carriage Horses are not abused; give me an example; please; thnx; A.
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The Carriage Horse Bill was passed yesterday and yes, they will get bigger stalls along with other new benefits.
The horses finally won one!
Read about it at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/15/nyregion/15horse.html
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The horses have NOT won! This is all political hogwash.
The horses still have to work in car fumes, they still stand on black macadam the searing sun with no shade. They still have NO water in their water trough. The drivers still are ignorant as to horse care.
They will still live in “fire traps” where they have to go up and down ramps to get to their dirty, wired stalls.
They will still have sores all over their bodies and cracked hooves from the pavement.
New York City is no place for a horse, unless you are part of the NYPD. Except for this latest incicent, the NYPD takes fine care of their horses. If you see an NYPD equine officer, you can see how well they are taken care of and the love between rider and horse.
That is a far cry from what you see when you view a NYC carriage horse.
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Here’s a “counter” to what I just commented on…another side.
On April 14th, NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn pushed a bill through the City Council that protects and rewards the horse-drawn carriage industry by giving the drivers a rate hike. To give Quinn political cover, the bill includes language that gives the false impression that the horses will be treated more humanely, when, for all intents and purposes, nothing will change for the horses. They still will still be deprived of a pasture for grazing and interacting; they will still live in multi-story warehouse buildings that are fire traps; and they will still be subjected to the many cruel and dangerous conditions in NYC that can’t be fixed.
In the attached NY Times story, Quinn describes the bill as “a huge step forward,” but for those of us who have spent many years trying to end the cruelty, this bill is huge step backwards. What is particularly disturbing about this setback is that it comes on the heels of four years of heavy campaigning by local and national organizations, including the ASPCA, the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages, Friends of Animals, the League of Humane Voters, PETA, the Humane Society of the United States, Win Animal Rights and NY-CLASS. The campaigns have included lobbying, producing educational materials and videos, running ad campaigns, conducting street demonstrations and submitting petitions signed by thousands of NYers. This work, which has educated the public about the issue, made no difference at all to Quinn. Nor did the thousands of letters she received asking her to show some compassion. She did what, for complicated reasons, is politically expedient for her: protecting the industry.
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/14/council-passes-fare-increase-and-vacation-for-carriage-horses/
We shouldn’t be surprised that Quinn pushed through a rate hike and blocked the bills that would end the abuse because, since becoming Speaker, she has blocked every single bill introduced at City Hall to protect animals, including the bill that requires pet stores to install sprinklers so that no more dogs and cats burn to death in their cages, a tragedy that has occurred too many times in NYC. As long as Quinn is in office, NYC’s animals don’t stand a chance.
Thanks to NYC taxpayers, Quinn has a staff of people (the “Community Affairs Unit”) already working hard to ensure that she is elected Mayor in 2013. The burden is on each of us to ensure that NYers know the truth about Quinn and that she is voted out of public office for good (We came close in 2009!)
I’m sorry I’m not writing with better news, but I’m sure I speak on behalf of all the activists when I say that we will soldier on….
Please spread the word.
Donny Moss
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Thanks for that phone number Nancy, it will get a good work out I’m certain. I’m going to see if I can get an address and send sympathy cards in each of these horses names–sympathy that they worked so hard and got death by the scurvilous sewer scum in return.
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hey that’s good; sign my name; “Anna Wahpoose: Save the Critters ! thanks a lot ! a
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There is no excuse for what they did to these horses. The horses deserved to be retired after giving many years of service. Shame on you NYPD for doing this to your fellow “Officers” because that is exactly what they were. Let’s hope when you all retire they don’t do the same to you.
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What would the cost of retiring these horses be and who would pay that though? Was the option of these horses serving at a therapeutic riding academy explored?
Other PDs are known for sending these faithful servants to low end auctions where they get sold for peanuts to slaughter.
While I wish there was an alternative, without the slaughter ban stopping horses from shipping across our borders to an inhumane end, this is probably the kindest thing.
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I’m not sure I understand “the kindest thing”. If the option of the rescue center had been explored, these centers usually raise money through donations as well as equine therapies sessions.
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Why couldn’t they just retire to pasture after their lifetime of service. Why do they have to go to another job being a therapeutic horse? BTW, it think equine therapy is wonderful. Just think they would have worked long enough to deserve R&R finally. Sad they weren’t allowed even one day out of that urban hell.
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This is so, so sad. Mayor Bloomberg should insist that heartless Captain Barry Gelbman be fired.
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LOL, Mayor Bloomberg should be fired along with his creepy city council that allowed him to stay an extra term.
Bloomberg cares NOTHING about animals. He only cares about money.
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You all know more that me if you live there…we live on a farm in southeast Texas and I have only been to NYC, twice. Saw the carriages and by no means was compelled to partake. Did have a nice discussion with a mounted policeman, though, regarding his regal TB. He seemed to enjoy speaking horse-sense with another horse type person. In fact, that is one of my fonder memories of the city.
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Here are the link and phone number (message only) for the NY Times:
(1) # is 1-888-NYT-NEWS (1.888.698.6397)
(2) http://www.metro@nytimes.com or you can go to this link and scroll for MSOutlook auto link at:
http://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/help/infoservdirectory.html
Flame on folks!
FYI, here is what I just sent:
Dear NYT:
I just think this is something the NYT should expose and follow-up on. These are law enforcement animals that are due some reasonable security after service and this is what Capt. Gelbman and Chief Kelly think is a reasonable well deserved retirement??? I see a lot of time and expense was expended to find these public servants retirement homes….NOT! I’m pleased the horses didn’t go to slaughter, but seriously…euthanizing healthy horses because you just cant find the time or money to give them decent homes after serving is disgusting.
This is a text from R.T. Fitch, “Straight from the Horses Heart” blog and used with permission:
Captain of NYCPD Mounted Unit Kills 3 Retiring Horses
“You know, just when you think that things are leveling out and maybe the horses are gaining a little bit of ground you open up the paper or a news website and something like this reaches out and slaps you right in the face. It smarts, it stings and it STINKS! (Sorry, any semblance of a professional demeanor is right out the window)
The retirement package that was administered to three solid veterans of the NYPD was a needle to the neck and an early death where they had an easy 10+ years left to reap the rewards of just being a horse. And the Horse’s Ass…no wait, that is an insult to the horses, the piece of horse poop, no…again that is degrading to the fallen equines…the worthless, stinking, pond scum who issued the order should contemplate if he will receive the same loving treatment upon his retirement. We could only hope!
Jen Carlson of the “Gothamist” reported today:
“Some of New York’s finest four-legged friends have been sent off to greener pastures, with a loud rally cry from animal rights activists sending them off. According to the NY Post, the head of the NYPD’s Mounted Unit, Capt. Barry Gelbman, ordered three retired police horses put down upon their retirement, saying various leg ailments made it impossible to transport them to new homes upstate and in New Hampshire.
The horses—Danny, Willis and Richie Rich—were 15 to 20 years old, and had life expectancies of up to 30, leaving many to question Gelbman’s decision. Allegedly, he made it clear the animals were under his control, as property of his department. But one source told the paper, “They did not need to be euthanized. They just could not travel cramped for 16 hours. They only needed special accommodations to move them.”
This isn’t the first time the NYPD has been involved in scandals involving their horses. On top of running a corrupt auction, in 2005 they sent 58 retired horses to a bankrupt farm where it was discovered they were malnourished.”
There you have it, straight from the horse’s mouth and here is what we are going to do about it. We need to get this turkey’s badge, he needs to ride off into the sunset with moraly bankrupt losers like “Slaugherhouse” Sue Wallis and defunct “Red” Ed Butcher. This idiot is not only an emabarrassement to the proud men and women of NYC who where the blue with honor, he makes me want to turn in my “Human Being” badge.
Let the Mayor of New York know how pissed off you are at http://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.bd08ee7c7c1ffec87c4b36d501c789a0/index.jsp?doc_name=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nyc.gov%2Fhtml%2Fmail%2Fhtml%2Fmayor.html
Call the NYCPD at 212-868-2585 and let them know how you feel. Fellow advocates have reported back that those answering the phone are upset, too. Tell them where you are from and why you are calling.
We are Equine Advocates and the voices of the horses, it doesn’t make any difference if it is 40,000 captured wild horses in pens, a 100,000 shipped across the border for slaughter or 3 police horses in New York City, it’s all about the horses and they need us, now, more than ever.
Let your voices be heard and tonight, say a prayer for those who gave their lives for the service of man without even so much as a thank you, without a single shred of compassion or gratitude. Offer a prayer of forgiveness to those who were so totally betrayed, like hundreds of thousands before them.
We should know that prayer very well by now; it has become our mantra and how we lull ourselves to sleep at night, it’s the nightmare that haunts us as we try to rest and it’s the fire in our heart that presses us on.
Maybe, just maybe we can retire that prayer, one day…just maybe.
Sometimes I hate being a man.”
Here is the link to the blog:
https://rtfitch.wordpress.com/2010/04/13/captain-of-nycpd-mounted-unit-kills-3-retiring-horses/
Here’s my complaint:
(1) I’m not against euthanizing healthy horses if it keeps them out of the slaughter pipeline, but…
(2) I am against doing little to nothing to provide retirement homes for public service animals.
(3) Law and military animals deserve special consideration regarding retirement and end of life issues.
(4) These animals worked and protected law enforcement officers, citizens and this Nation collectively; this is the best that can be done for them????
(5) This isn’t the first time horses have been trashed by the very agency that is charged with their humane care in NY.
This is just disgusting behavior and part of the American disease called use, abuse and dispose (living things treated like an empty box of Kleenex or unwanted car).
Denise
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R.T.: Sorry my previous post was so long and awaiting moderation (I should have just referenced your original post for the readers here).
I want folks here to know that Mayor Bloomberg’s daughter is big (and I mean BIG TIME) into horses. I think she shows or does Grand Prix. I wonder what the mayor thinks? Or does he even know?
Is the euthing a result of their last retirement debacle because they didn’t properly fund and moniter earlier mounted unit service animals and got caught in the starvation, neglect debacle?????
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Bloomberg, doesn’t care. Nor does his daughter. It’s my understanding that she’s on the US Equestrian Team.
Bloomberg is the one who has allowed and wants to keep the NY City carriage horses on the streets. He keeps them on the streets with no shade where they stand in the sun and no water in the trough. He’s a creep!
We have been trying to ban the carriage horses, but he fights because he believes it produces income to NY City.
Bloomberg is a very greedy, self-centered man.
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You know, with all the money this man has and how much his daughter is allowed to throw at her USET participation, you’d think that these “graced” individuals would remember that (1) equines are a treasured, vital and intergral part of American history, and (2) you can throw as much money as you want to get your “ass” on the US equestrian Team, but you ain’t goin’ nowhere without that noble steed.
With all of Bloomberg’s money, this is the best that he and his family that uses equines can do? I don’t think so.
Try Walking A**hole….underground motto of the former airline TWA.
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From what I understand these horses and NYC horses ARE retired to farms.
Problem was the farm they were living at was from a rigged bid so a girlfriend of one of the cops won the bid. Then they tossed the rigged bid farm and got 2 real retirement farms set-up.
Another problem was the main horse manager has very little life experience in horse management..so he did not consider all options in transporting horses. Plus the Vet was very wrong to not assist more in proper care of horses with ‘leg problems from the conditions of the neglecting farm’
Ignorance by the main horse manager PLUS a Vet that is not good enough to horses.Prob. the Vet overlooked or ignored the conditions from the rigged bid farm and now trying to cover their ass.
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what I mean about the Vet not being good is..no Vet is forced to euth animals..the Vet could have said NO.
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Do any of you really know the Truth? Do you believe what the NY POST intended to do…embellish a story to sell newspapers…. that’s what they do. They recently had a dead little girl hanging from the arms of a fireman on the front page…why? We really need to trully know the situation before making any type of accusations. The NY Post is not a reliable source of information. From what I understand Capt. Gelbman took pride in his job and protecting our city. That’s including all of you who commented as well. I understand that he loved his horses and would sometimes be seen at Costco buying pounds of carrots for them with his own money. Be sure you know all the facts before making judgment on what a Gossip newspaper is capitalizing on.
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Truth J.S., the bottom line is horses are dead because the Captain ordered it. Horses are too adaptable for their lives to be thrown away because they don’t fit on the force anymore. I’ve heard of a few carriage horses retiring away from smog and city pollution that have regained health. So what is the REAL excuse for putting the police horses down? Obviously you have a inside line, tell us all so we can be at peace rather than being outraged at this idiotic, self centered, tunnel visoned, senseless act?
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Excuse me…The Truth…for your information:
1.) We don’t use handles around here as we have nothing to hide, real names or you can go away.
2.) My information did not come from the Post, I never read anything out of the Post, I talked to the Police Department after being forwarded a lead from one of my editors and the lead proved to correct.
3.) Why don’t you call several of the numbers, here, and you may really find The Truth!!
Please, get YOUR facts straight!
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Although I think that it was a very stupid way to end the careers of these horses, I am very glad that they were humanly euthinized. I would hate to read the headlines that 3 retired police “heros” were sent to slaughter, and had to suffer on the LONG trip to a miserable end. This is way better than these fine animals ending up on someones plate! I hate to hear of human stupidity where ANY animal is concerned, but please rember that this could be worse. I in no way agree with this stupid selfish man… I know how easy it is to ship horses in ANY condition. I am a member of a horse forum that helps rescue horses out of slaughter auctions. Lame, blind, and starved/neglected horses all acroos the country are hauled into these auctions, and dumped off to make a profit off of their bodies when people no longer want them. Horses that are days away from foaling are hauled long distances and sold into the slaughter ring. I think that it would be a beter memory of these horses lives to go out with some of the dignity that the loving people of NYC have given them!!!
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I just don’t understand WHY a service animal for law enforcement, barring life-threatening illness or injury isn’t given a fully funded retirement like their human counterparts. I call it part of responsible ownership, especially for animals of this caliber.
Yes, thank God they didn’t go to slaughter, but seriously…EUTHANIZED!… because the department neither possesses the management, budgeting and fidelity acumen to retire in a good, clean, caring facility as part of their service program????
PUHLEEZE! Sound like ASSHATS to me (borrowing a term from FHOTD). And here is some more food for thought; if they can’t manage something as simple as the full humane retirement for a fellow law enforcement being (horses, dogs, etc), just exactly how competent do you think these creeps are with the big issues like crime prevention, prosecution and contact with the public. Frankly, it is all interconnected.
What a waste.
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Well then, means and education test the owners of carriage horses via licensing ad naseum with a requirement that a portion of fares go to that equine’s retirement fund.
I get it… the current situation is unacceptable. But I would also suggest that excellent care of these equines keeps humans close to the equines AND provides a reminder to their timeless service. What gets lost is that the carriage horse is nothing more than a tourist service and disconnected from committed care and longevity for these animals.
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If you’d like to see the truth about NY City carriage horses, then here it is: http://www.blindersthemovie.com/
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The horses need a retirement fund!!! Portion of every fare goes straight to this fund!
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