A horse tragically died after collapsing on the street in North Melbourne.
The poor animal died at 10:30 am on Arden Street, where a shocked person took a photo of its lifeless body draped in purple blankets while it was still attached to the carriage.
The photo quickly went viral and prompted animal welfare charities to call for a ban on carriage rides.
Animal Justice MP Andy Meddick shared the sad news on Facebook and said that it is another example of why horse-drawn carriages have to be banned.
“To this poor horse – I am just so sorry,” he wrote. “The death of a carriage horse in Melbourne’s CBD yesterday is truly heartbreaking. The worst part is, it was totally preventable.
“Carriages should have been completely banned from the city many years ago. Horses and cars on busy city streets don’t mix. It’s that simple. It isn’t just an animal welfare issue, it’s a road safety issue too.”
The animal’s death was first reported by Melbourne Against Horse-Drawn Carriages.
“We still don’t know who you are, but we do know you died at the hands of the Melbourne’s horse-drawn carriage trade,” it wrote on Facebook.
“At this stage we are unsure whose company the dead horse was exploited by but the fact remains, they all have blood on their hands. We have contacted Victoria police and the City of Melbourne and await answers.”
The Facebook group also plans to hold a rally outside Town Hall.
“If no serious action is taken in the coming days to end the Melbourne horse-drawn carriage trade, we will take action against the City of Melbourne outside the next Town Hall meeting (they are still closed to the public) scheduled on the evening of Tuesday 30 March,” they said.
“We will also take our fight to the doors of Ben Carroll MP office at a time to be confirmed. He, his predecessors and Sally Capp have been well aware of the risks and cruelty endured by these horses for years and have failed to take effective action.”
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Replaced!