Horses should be taken off the streets during high temperatures, NGOs insist
Karozzini could be replaced by tuk tuks during the hot months
Horses should be banned from the streets whenever temperatures exceed 30 degrees, a group of animal welfare NGOs said.
Horses’ body temperature are able to balance and regulate body temperature when their temperature is within what is known as the ‘thermoneutral zone’ – between five and 25 degrees.
However, exercise in hot or hot and humid conditions means an acceleration in the accumulation of heat leading to a dwindling of dissipation – leading to heat stress which progresses to anihydrosis, heat stroke and brain damage, the NGOs said.
Horses can only be cooled down by cool water and air movement – none of which are available on Maltese roads where horses are at work.
The NGOs said Malta needs to introduce an immediate ban on horses as soon as temperature hits 30 degrees Celsius.
The NGOs suggested that karozzini horses could be replaced by tuk tuks so that workers could keep their jobs, but not at the expense of the horses.
The statement was signed by the Animal Alliance, RAR Real Animal Rights Foundation, HUH, MSPCA, AAA, Vuċi Għall-Annimali, Island Sanctuary, Fostering and Homing Paws, Paws for a Cause, Jackie St John, Angel For Paws, Fabio Spiteri.