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Horse drawn carriages line up at night time in downtown San Antonio.
Throughout Tuesday’s dialogue on the destiny of horse-drawn carriages on downtown streets, Metropolis Council members questioned feedback from a man who recognized himself because the “veterinarian for the Metropolis of San Antonio” and advised horses are resistant to well being dangers from automobile emissions.
In response to a presentation by Dr. Ben Espy, each District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez and District 6 Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda identified that the town would not make use of a full-time veterinarian.
“I want to make clear a pair issues. One, Dr. Espy — thanks for being right here — is just not the town vet,” stated McKee-Rodriguez. “He is contracted on a case-by-case foundation. We shouldn’t have an annual contract.”
McKee-Rodriguez filed a request two years in the past that council take into account a ban on horse-drawn carriages downtown, arguing that the for-profit carriages pose a well being threat to the animals and likewise create site visitors considerations. The back-and-forth with Espy occurred throughout a gathering of council’s Transportation and Infrastructure assembly, which should focus on the proposal earlier than it strikes to a full vote.
In a video performed earlier than the committee, Espy, who recognized himself because the “vetenarian for the town of San Antonio since 2006,” stated council ought to cease considering of horses like folks, including that the animals do not undergo well being results from being round automobile exhaust.
“I’ve inspected all of the carriage horses since 2011,” Espy instructed the committee later in his presentation. “I am right here on public report to inform you that no council individual has ever contacted me concerning the well being or welfare of animals. No citizen group has ever contacted me concerning the well being or welfare of animals. The horses that I handle, as I stated within the video, haven’t had any accidents or well being results from being labored on the town streets.”
Though Espy is a licensed veterinarian who graduated from Texas A&M’s College of Veterinary Drugs and Biomedical Sciences in 2006, data present he isn’t employed as the town’s official veterinarian. As an alternative, he works on a contract foundation, as McKee-Rodriguez famous.
Cabello Havrda questioned if that contract work performed into Espy’s motives in defending using the carriages on downtown streets.
“So, my concern right here is that if we do not have horse-drawn carriages, then it sounds such as you would not have that place with the town anymore,” the councilwoman stated.
Cabello Havrda added that council ought to seek the advice of an outdoor veterinarian to examine the horses earlier than it renders a remaining resolution on whether or not to enact a carriage ban. She stated she wished an outdoor knowledgeable to gauge the animals’ situation and decide whether or not they’re struggling detrimental well being results from their workload.
The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will reconvene in August to debate contingency plans if council strikes forward with a ban on horse-drawn carriages downtown. Carriage house owners have repeatedly raised considerations that horses now not in a position to work could also be bought off and find yourself euthanized.
“If we do find yourself phasing the carriages out, I wish to be certain that now we have a plan in place to make sure that the horses are accounted for and do not get put down,” District 7 Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito stated. “That is the precedence.”
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