CHICAGO BANS HORSEDRAWN CARRIAGES

By Greater Good Magazine

“Animal protection has been more than just a profession for me - it’s been my passion. Whether working to end greyhound racing in Massachusetts, educating students everywhere on alternatives to dissection and vivisection, exposing the cruelty of rodeos and bullfighting or helping homeless companion animals in Chicago, it’s been a driving force in my life.

Jodie Wiederkehr,

Founder at Partnership to Ban HorseDrawn Carriages Worldwide and Executive Director and Founding Member at Chicago Alliance for Animals

Chicago’s carriage ban officially took effect on the first of January. According to Chicago Alliance for Animals (CAA), Chicago’s City Council’s vote to not renew licenses for horse-drawn carriage officially began on January 1, 2021.

How did you know you wanted to act on behalf of the animals?

At a young age, I always took in cats, find a shelter, many stories of taking care of injured wildlife, my sister worked for a veterinarian and there were always animals around our family. It was natural for me.

I ended up volunteering and worked for several organizations leading me to where I am today.

Tell us a bit about CAA. Formed in May 2015, CAA is an allvolunteer, grassroots animal advocacy organization. Because of CAA’s undercover work and documenting Chicago’s horse carriage operators’ routine abuse of carriage horses and the law, they were fined more than $20,000 in 2017 and were taken to court by the City of Chicago in the summer of 2018. They continue to rack up violations and fines to this day. No one gets paid, there are no overhead costs. We spend very little money, but we are making a big impact.

What keeps you motivated and moving for the cause?

The idea of liberating animals is my motivation. And, working with the activists inspires me to make a difference and push myself. The confidence that we will continue to make a difference keeps me working, calling, emailing and reaching out to global organizations to keep animals out of harm’s way.

Anyone around the world can help with one minute a day!

I am deeply committed to the protection and well-being of all animals and have always believed that they deserve a stronger voice in our society. For this reason, I work on their behalf.” https://www.chicagoallianceforanimals.org