I am a devoted advocate for animal rights and am deeply disturbed by the ongoing use of horses in crowd control by the police force. These noble animals are subjected to dangerous and stressful situations that are unnatural to their peaceful disposition.  This petition comes in the wake of the of the Melbourne Anti-War Protest in which horses were pelted with rocks and other objects.

There is an increasing body of evidence suggesting that the use of horses as crowd control devices can lead to severe psychological trauma for these animals. Exposure to loud noises, violent reactions, and high-stress scenes is both unnecessary and cruel. It's worth considering that the Animal Welfare Act of Victoria (1986) stipulates that animals shouldn't be subjected to unreasonable pain or suffering, a standard which I believe is violated when horses are employed in this manner.

In a modern world where we have numerous tools and non-animal strategies for crowd control and public safety, there's no reason why we should continue exploiting horses in this fashion. It's time we respect the welfare of these animals and acknowledge the undue stress and danger we impose upon them in the line of duty.

I call upon those in power to create and implement regulations that always put the welfare of horses first, and put an end to their use in crowd control. It's not just a matter of animal rights, it's a matter of our humanity. Please sign this petition and let us be the voice for those who can't speak for themselves.