PETA India Wins Interim Custody of Nine Horses Used for Illegal Rides in Mumbai

In court proceedings yesterday, the Mumbai Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court, Esplanade, issued an order awarding PETA India interim custody of nine horses who were rescued in a joint effort by us and Mumbai police after apparently being abused for illegal rides. The court, acting according to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Care and Maintenance of Case Property Animals) Rules, 2017, notified under The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, was pleased to allow our application seeking interim custody of the horses. Advocate Seoula Vas appeared and argued the matter for PETA India.

Our intervention application included details regarding the use of illegal spiked bits, which are used to lacerate horses’ mouths in order to control them. They were also whipped and beaten with a “chabuk” to make them run. Additionally, it stated that they were being used to give “joyrides”, in clear defiance of the June 2015 High Court of Bombay order banning this practice. Now that we’ve obtained interim custody of the animals, we’ll secure housing for them at a sanctuary, where they can receive veterinary care and live with other rescued horses.

Mumbai police found that the horses had been used to pull carriages, or Victorias, for joyrides, which the High Court ruled in June 2015 to be “completely illegal”.

You Can Help Horses, Too!

Please send polite letters to the Mumbai Commissioner of Police at [email protected] and the Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai at [email protected] calling on them to enforce the 2015 High Court order by ensuring that no horses are used for joyrides in the city.