Between Traffic Jam and Cart: the Horses Continue to Suffer
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Horse, cart and a heavy load in Yaffo |
By Einat Levy
nrg, online edition of Ma'ariv
7 December 2008
Translated from Hebrew
Horses and donkeys used to pull carts or wagons in the middle of the city is a phenomenon belonging in the pages of history. Despite it being prohibited in other cities worldwide, the Tel Aviv municipality remains indifferent to the phenomenon. As part of the struggle to ban this phenomenon, an event will take place tonight, marking an international day of action for horses and donkeys, and against the cart horse phenomenon.
The sight of a cart and horse in a Tel Aviv traffic jam is certainly surreal. No matter how you look at it, a horse or a donkey has no place on city asphalt, among cars, buses and trucks that could hit the animal at any moment. Moreover, when the traffic light changes to green, the animal begins moving slowly between the impatient drivers, and some of them try to detour around the cart, frequently endangering pedestrians or other vehicles on the road. This scenario is only the tip of the problem animal organizations are trying to eliminate.
Tel Aviv municipality regulations allow residents to hold beasts of burden such as a horse or donkey, provided they have an annual license and pay 200 shekels (about $50). In reality, says Hakol Chai, licenses are not checked and many horse owners use the same license for several animals.
The municipal call center receives numerous calls about abused horses and donkeys, all revolving around similar issues: pulling of especially heavy loads, severe injuries, and poor physical condition. These calls are nearly always ignored, according to Hakol Chai.
Cart owners say this is their only livelihood, and if the use of horses and donkeys is banned, they will be forced to return to stealing and using drugs. For cart owners, some of whom do not have a driver's license, the animal replaces a vehicle and is a means of reforming their lives. An important and noble claim, however there are other options that do not endanger people or animals. A commercial vehicle would enable carters to continue their work, while those who do not have a driver's license will be forced to rehabilitate themselves in other ways, as do others in situations similar to theirs.
The struggle to eliminate the cart horse phenomenon has been going on for a long time, without progress. About a year ago, the Tel Aviv City Council held a special meeting on this matter, but no action resulted. The Tel Aviv municipality is supposed to monitor the phenomenon, but the test of time indicates that it is unable to adequately do so. It is unlikely that municipal inspectors will be able to ensure compliance with the law and prevent the abuse, starting with heavy loads and ending with proper nutrition and medical care.
The Tel Aviv municipality says in response: "The issue of the abuse of animals and their maintenance by peddlers in inappropriate conditions is important and should be addressed, and the municipality is taking all possible legal steps to prevent the phenomenon. In addition, the municipality continues intensive action aimed at seizing horses in poor physical health. Since 2005, about 90 horses and donkeys were seized and transferred to lengthy treatment and rehabilitation, and about 800 traffic citations were issued against horse owners holding horses without a license."
The cart horse phenomenon, which should have long disappeared from the city landscape, continues to stand at the center of the animal organization's struggle. At the initiative of Hakol Chai, an event will take place this evening to mark the international action day, which will include live performances by Asaf Amdursky, Billy Levy, Ram Orion and others.
(NOTE BY CHAI: Typically, horses are removed from their abusers only to be returned the following day. According to the city’s own municipal veterinarian, the city lacks the funds, staff, and facilities to properly monitor and deal with the situation.)