Lines drawn between carriage protesters, supporters in Niagara-on-the-Lake
An animals rights group that has been staging demonstrations in the Old Town is planning a large-scale protest in Niagara-on-the-Lake on July 28, and expects some company.
At War for Animals Niagara (AWFAN) has been holding regular demonstrations targeting horse carriage rides in Niagara-on-the-Lake being operated by Sentineal Carriages.
“There are also rumours of a counter-protest being planned, so this could certainly turn into a showdown in Old Town reminiscent of an old western movie,” AWFAN’s Adam Stirr said.
“This protest has been ongoing for over seven months,” Stirr said. “It has always been about the property status of these animals and the fact that their use is morally reprehensible and directly contributes to their ending up in a slaughter facility.”
Laura Sentineal, co-owner of the
carriage business, finds Stirr’s comments regarding slaughter offensive.
“Mr. Stirr alludes that our horses end up in a slaughter facility and that we are part of the problem,” she said. “Sentineal Carriages would like to make it clear that no horses in our care never have or will end up at a slaughter facility. We presently have six horses that are from (the Ontario Livestock Exchange), we have outbid the meat buyers. We have given these wonderful horses life, love and a home.”
This past weekend, Niagara Regional Police were called by Sentineal after a member of AWFAN was standing in the path of carriages.
“They were pretty well-behaved,” Sentineal said of the demonstrators. “But there was one fellow who kept positioning himself and blocking the path. The police were wonderful. There was no problem after that.”
AWFAN, which has about 25 members, has a goal to help bring about an end to “speciesism,” which is described as the assignment of different values, rights or special consideration to individuals solely on the basis of their species. Like many animal rights groups, AWFAN believes speciesism is a prejudice, just like racism or sexism.
Stirr said the group has had “expressions of interest” from about 100 people for the end-ofthe-month demonstration.
For her part, Sentineal is concerned about the possibility of a demonstration and counter-demonstration on Saturday, July 28.
“I don’t want to see anyone get in trouble or get hurt,” she said.
Stirr said the group is targeting the carriages because of “the frivolous nature of the entertainment they provide” and that horses are often the “forgotten victims,” because of their breeding, exploitation for labour or entertainment and eventual murder. It’s something many people viewed as being different and less pressing an issue than the issues of marine animals in captivity or animals killed for fashion or food.
“The fact that animals have no more rights than a table or chair, they are legally considered ‘property’ to be used as one sees fit, to be bought, sold, used and eventually murdered in a cycle of profit,” Stirr said. “Imagine publicly claiming to be against slavery whilst actively owning slaves. It doesn’t make much sense, does it?”
Sentineal continued to defend her business and reiterated that it has been operating for 27 years, adding there has never been a horse or customer injured.
“The bottom line is that in 27 years, we have never had a horse go down,” she said.
Stirr, meanwhile, said his group has come under scrutiny from supporters of the carriage rides, some of whom have been filming the demonstrations. It’s something Stirr welcomes.
“We encourage the public and these companies to record us as well, we have nothing to hide as we do nothing illegal.”
Karen Jones, a longtime friend of the Sentineals, is one of the people who has recorded the activities of the demonstrators. She is planning to be on Queen Street at the Prince of Wales Hotel on July 28 and is encouraging others to join her.
“We’re calling for people to come down and stand on the other side,” she said. “I’ll have pamphlets to pass out.”
The pamphlets, she said, will be meant to separate fact from what she called “myths” when it comes to horse-drawn carriages.
Sentineal, meanwhile, said she and her family have been receiving a lot of support from the community.
“People we don’t even know have been calling us,” she said.
“We encourage the public and these companies to record us as well, we have nothing to hide as we do nothing illegal.”
ADAM STIRR
AWFAN member