Time to abandon horse-drawn carriages, Victoria councillor says

VICTORIA — Horse-drawn carriages have no place in an urban environment such as downtown Victoria and should be phased out, says Coun. Ben Isitt.

“I don’t think horse-drawn carriage operations are an appropriate use of animals for commercial purposes — essentially for entertainment,” Isitt said while discussing bylaw amendments that would require operators to clearly identify horses and operators.

Isitt said the changes just “scratch the surface” in terms of what’s needed. “These animals need to be in rural areas on farms and not working in a dense urban environment under these conditions, and these palliative measures, I think, aren’t really addressing the real problem.”

Isitt proposed no bylaw amendments in support of his comments.

The bylaw changes, introduced by Coun. Charlayne Thornton-Joe and supported by council, will require that each horse transporting passengers must display an identification number that corresponds with the

name, description and health record of the horse that is to be provided to the licensing officer and the SPCA at the beginning of the season.

Thornton-Joe said in cities where horsedrawn carriages have been banned, concern about horses working in extreme weather such as excessive heat has been a factor.

“Veterinarians have said that our weather patterns, the highs and the lows, have not reached that extreme.

“And the only time they would support and put their name behind [such a restriction] would be for racing horses who are exerting a lot of energy when they are running,” she said.

Councillors also supported changes to the Animal Control Bylaw, including renaming the bylaw the Animal Responsibility Bylaw. The changes will prohibit the sale of dogs, puppies, cats, kittens and rabbits at pet stores — a move that is moot given that no pet stores in the city sell any of those animals.

“Although we don’t have the issue right now, as this table often finds, there’s nothing worse than having to create policy when it’s a need right that second,” Thornton-Joe said.