Kolkata: Following an FIR filed by Cape Foundation highlighting the cruelty suffered by a horse who was used for hauling Victorian-style carriages and for weddings in Kolkata, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India intervened to rescue the animal at the Maidan.
The horse displayed alarming signs of mistreatment, including untreated wounds, swollen limbs and severe weakness.Equine specialists determined that the festering wounds were likely inflicted by ill-fitting and synthetic saddles and that swelling and severe injuries on the animal’s legs were caused by being forced to work on hard roads.
The horse has been taken to a sanctuary managed by Animal Rahat, an organisation recognized by the Animal Welfare Board of India, with the help of Peta India. The Maidan Police’s cooperation facilitated the confiscation of the horse in distress for urgent medical care.
“The use of horse-drawn carriages in Kolkata has left animals injured and caused traffic accidents. We call on authorities to follow Mumbai’s lead by replacing horse-drawn carriages with heritage-style electric vehicles,” said Peta India director of advocacy Khushboo Gupta.