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Zavitz said the horses are forced to work in a dangerous environment “with loud constant levels of traffic noise into highly populated and busy tourist areas, having to pull heavy carriages across hard pavement all while breathing in exhaust fumes.”

Donna Friedlander, owner of Tally-Ho Carriage Tours and industry spokesperson, told councillors she was “shocked” that the issue of a possible ban had been resurrected after the city only last August extended for five years the stand lease for the carriage companies.

She said the industry, which consists of two businesses with 70 staff and 55 horses, has worked closely with the city and the SPCA and followed every recommendation the SPCA has ever made. “We go far beyond our regulations in our own operation to keep us safe.”

She said many opponents now concede the horses are well cared for but criticize having horses in traffic. “What’s really important to note here is we do not operate in high traffic areas of the city. Eighty-five per cent of our time we’re either in quaint streets in the James Bay neighbourhood or we’re in Beacon Hill Park,” Friedlander said.

“The other 15 per cent, I guess, is thoroughfares. We’re going from our sightseeing stand at Belleville and Menzies and travelling into the park or into James Bay.”

Some people said industry claims that without the carriage business, the horses would end up slaughtered for meat was fear mongering. “I am shocked at how quick these companies are to use their horses’ lives as a weapon against banning the carriages. This seems like a conditional view of love on family members in that a family member can remain as such as long as they’re earning us money but the moment they don’t earn us money they may or may not end up as meat,” said Kari Sloane.