On Tuesday evening, a 16-year-old horse named Dennis collapsed on West End Drive in Central Park while pulling a carriage full of tourists. Witnesses described him lying on the ground, still breathing, as people sobbed and sent frantic messages. A veterinarian rushed to help. It was too late. Dennis took his last breath on the pavement of one of New York City's most beloved public spaces.

He was not the first.

For years, animal welfare advocates have fought to end horse-drawn carriage rides in Central Park. For years, they have watched horses collapse, suffer, and die in the streets of one of the world's most congested cities while elected officials have stalled, delayed, and deferred. Dennis is the latest victim of an industry that forces working horses into traffic, heat, and grueling hours on hard pavement — and calls it tourism.

NYCLASS and members of the NYC Council are ready to reintroduce a ban bill. The new mayoral administration has given advocates more hope than they have had in years. Wednesday's rally on the steps of City Hall was already planned before Dennis died. Now his death has made the urgency impossible to ignore.

New Yorkers have had enough. Tourists do not need to watch a horse die in a park to have a memorable visit to New York City. Dennis deserved better. Every horse currently pulling a carriage in Central Park deserves better.

We're calling on the New York City Council to bring the carriage horse ban bill to an immediate vote and end this industry once and for all.