An emaciated and wounded carriage horse has been forced to work the streets of Manhattan for at least the past week, an animal rights group says, despite multiple calls to the city to intervene.
The horse, with its ribs exposed and at least one non-concealed gruesome wound on its left hip, was first spotted by a passerby pulling a carriage in Central Park last Monday, according to Edita Birnkrant, executive director of New Yorkers for Clean, Livable and Safe Streets or NYCLASS.
“This horse is too thin, emaciated and has multiple wounds,” the executive director told The Post.
Birnkrant said she was promptly alerted to the horse’s condition and reported the animal to the Mayor’s office.
A representative from the city informed Birnkrant that the city Department of Health would send a veterinarian to check on the horse, which is stabled on West 38th Street — but as recently as Monday the animal was seen still working in the streets, according to NYCLASS.
A DOH spokesperson confirmed to The Post that the agency is investigating the report — but Birnkrant said her group is still awaiting action.
“Over a week, and probably longer, this horse has been working in this condition with the ribs sticking out, with multiple wounds, in the extreme heat,” Birnkrant said.
“It’s really outrageous. Nothing was done and this horse was working through the heatwave,” she fumed.
NYCLASS is also calling on the NYPD’s Animal Cruelty Squad to step in and investigate. The department did not immediately return a request for comment.
On Tuesday, Birnkrant tracked the horse down at its stable — later calling the NYPD after she said she was threatened by a carriage driver.
The two officers who showed up got a glimpse of the horse and were “very concerned and sort of kind of shocked,” but unsure how to proceed, said Birnkrant.
With the horse’s equipment off on Tuesday, Birnkrant said she spotted what are likely more wounds that were covered with a yellow, glue-like substance.
Birnkrant said the horse should be off the streets immediately before its condition worsens.
NYCLASS, according to Birnkrant, is willing to relocate the animal to a farm or sanctuary where it will receive veterinary care.
Source: NYPOST