The horse and carriage, a centuries-old tradition in Santiago has disappeared, following the confiscation by the city hall of the 18 carriages and the execution of eight of the horses that proved positive for the Infectious Equine Anemia disease (AIE).
The drivers of the carriages have now announced that they are prepared to take Mayor Abel Martínez, to court, saying his administration unjustifiably euthanized their horses. Fernando Ramírez, official spokesman of City Hall told the Diario Libre reporter that any citizen who feels they were negatively impacted by the actions of the municipal authorities should take all measures necessary to rectify the situation. Ramirez announced that they were ready to face any lawsuit.
The city spokesman said that the municipality had followed Law 248-12 on the protection of animals and that the horses that were victims of their owners as well, as they had not been cared for properly.
Máximo Paulino, Santiago Almonte, Hidalgo Pichardo and Carlos Antonio Castro said that in total 40 carriages had stopped working over the last month, following the confiscation of the horses in the area of the Santiago Restoration Monument, and that municipality wanted to introduce tricycles instead. The men said the tourists preferred the horse-drawn carriages.
Santiago Almonte, owner of one of the executed horses, said that there was no reason to kill his horse, El Amarillo, as he was healthy as well as the other seven which were killed.
Meanwhile, Doctor Marilyn Lois Liranzo, head of the animal protection unit at the Attorney General’s Office said that three veterinary surgeons from the Livestock Department had euthanized the horses following the analysis that confirmed the existence of Equine Infectious Anemia. They were killed at a farm in Laguna Salada in Valverde province and the remaining horses are still in quarantine.
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Diario Libre
9 May 2018
