On August 26, in the center of Lviv, a horse harnessed to a carriage fainted. Just a few minutes later, the horse had to continue carrying passengers in the carriage despite the heat. The incident occurred on Svobody Avenue. A Lviv resident, Khrystyna Mashchakevych, recorded the event on video, which quickly spread online.
UAnimals filed a report with the police regarding the incident as an example of animal cruelty. According to witnesses who contacted UAnimals after the incident, these horses work in the heat, suffering from the sun and thirst. The woman driving the carriage and others involved may face administrative charges.
The organization’s lawyers are also preparing an appeal to Andriy Sadovyi, the head of the Lviv city community, and the Lviv City Council, asking for a ban on such activities within the city limits.
This is not the first time accidents involving horses have occurred in Lviv. In 2019, horses frightened by a firecracker ran onto the sidewalk and knocked over a bench where a 15-year-old girl was sitting. The girl suffered serious injuries, and the mare named Fauna broke her legs and was later euthanized.
UAnimals urges everyone concerned to file reports with the police. A sample report in Ukrainian language can be found here.
