A brand new electric, horseless calèche surprised passers-by as it made the rounds of Montreal’s Old Port.
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The yellow vehicle, which has been touted as a “cruelty-free ride” by advocates for the rights of horses, is owned by driver Jacques Prud’homme.
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Debate over the safety of the animals was sparked after a horse collapsed after tripping on a metal plate on Peel and Notre-Dame streets, a mare was spooked and got caught as it tried to jump over a bench in the Old Port, and most recently, when a horse was hit by a car in Griffintown.
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Earlier this year, Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre attempted to ban horse-drawn carriages in Montreal for one year while officials evaluated the industry.
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The move was overruled after a group of drivers filed an injunction.
Despite the ruling, Montreal SPCA officials have continued to call for a ban of the industry.
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“Carriage horses in Montreal are often forced to work nine or more hours per day, seven days a week,” said Alanna Devine, director of animal advocacy at the Montreal SPCA.
“They are subject to potential collisions with traffic, loud noises that can cause spooking, extreme temperatures and years of walking on unnaturally hard surfaces, which often causes lameness.”
Many cities, like London, Paris, Beijing and Toronto, have banned horse-drawn carriages.
The electric calèche was spotted in Place d’Armes Square on Tuesday.
rachel.lau@globalnews.ca
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