Although horse-drawn carriages can evoke nostalgic images of days gone by, and may seem fun or romantic, but in this day and age these rides are a hazard to public safety and cause the horses immeasurable suffering.

In urban settings, carriage horses are often exposed to loud levels of noise. Sudden noises and traffic can often frighten horses, causing them to bolt, resulting in harm to themselves, the carriage passengers, and to other vehicles or bystanders (fatal in some cases). Even with the best possible drivers, carriage horses are still being exposed and subjected to car exhaust, walking and trotting on asphalt streets, as well as accidents involving cars and pedestrians. Carriage horses are also forced to endure pulling heavy loads, sometimes in extreme weather conditions, and at times, with little rest.

Numerous videos of carriage-horse street collapses, that circulate social media, expose years of exploitation and unnecessary labor. When horses become too old, sick, or lame to work (and are no longer profitable to the carriage company owner), retirement doesn't usually mean getting to live out their life in green pastures. In some cases it means being sold and then forced to endure a frightening trip to Mexico or Canada, to be slaughtered and then shipped overseas for meat consumption or to be made into dog food.

These beautiful, smart, and majestic beings don't belong in the streets trying to blend in with the flow of traffic, which cause delays and which could cause delays for even first responders.

Although critics may argue that "the horses are well taken care of" (or claim that they don't sell their horses when they are too old and weak to work), this is still (animal) exploitation; the action of making use of and benefiting from resources: utilization, use, making use of, making the most of, capitalization on; cashing in on.

Many cities in the United States and around the world have already either banned the use of carriage horses in their public streets (or have banned them completely); it's about time leaders in the city of Dallas get on board too. Let's demonstrate our compassion by supporting the ban on horse-drawn carriage rides, and declare that cruelty to animals does not belong in the streets of Dallas.

We the undersigned are concerned citizens who urge the leaders of Dallas to act now, to ban horse-drawn carriage rides in the city of Dallas, Texas.