NYS Senator Eric Adams Responds to the NYPD Decision to Slaughter Three Horses and Announces Legislation to Prevent Government Agencies and Departments From Engaging in the Needless and Inhumane Killing of Horses

MEDIA ADVISORY

NYS Senator Eric Adams Responds to the NYPD Decision to Slaughter Three Horses and Announces Legislation to Prevent Government Agencies and Departments From Engaging in the Needless and Inhumane Killing of Horses

NYS Senator Eric Adams, Chair of the Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee, announces the introduction of a bill that requires governmental agencies to make a good faith attempt to provide service horses with a “retirement” home instead of needlessly killing them. 

Senator Adams’ statement:  

"Last week’s decision by the NYPD to slaughter three horses highlights the need for clear and definitive guidelines governing the euthanasia of these animals.  We must always proceed in a humane manner.  Our decision to euthanize a horse should have a medical basis; we must avoid making it an economic determination.  Euthanasia is 'mercy killing,' and it is far from merciful to end the life of a service horse 10 to 15 years prematurely.   I will introduce a bill that will regulate the method by which governmental agencies euthanize their horses. It will prevent agencies from engaging in cruel or unjustifiable euthanasia, obligating them to make a good faith attempt to provide their horses with a new home.  It will also require that all procedures for euthanasia be performed under the supervision of an appropriate specialist.  

"The bill will regulate the actions of departments, agencies, and authorities of state, county, city, town, and village government that, except when attempting to ease the pain or suffering of a horse in physical distress, or for the safety of the public, may not independently euthanize their horses unless they have made a reasonable attempt to locate a registered entity that will take responsibility for continued feeding and maintenance.  

"All animals are entitled to proper care and treatment at the hands of humans.  The protection of and the prevention of cruelty to animals are hallmarks of a decent civilization, and our society must strive to eliminate abuse of or brutality towards our fellow creatures.  On Friday, I held a very thorough Humane Treatment of Animals roundtable, and the issue of the treatment of service horses was one of the issues raised.  Once their ‘employment’ is complete, it is completely unacceptable to dispose of them as if they were inanimate objects.  There even exist organizations that accept ‘retired’ horses for use in teaching children to ride and associations that utilize ‘retired’ horses as therapeutic adjuncts for individuals with disabilities. My bill is a first step to ensuring that horses that have served humans so well are not rewarded with arbitrary and inhumane slaughter."

 
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