Dear editor:

To begin with, I would like to make it clear that I am not a supporter of At War for Animals Niagara.

On the contrary, I am in sympathy with the basic ideals of Locals for Carriages. While not an expert in animal welfare, the horses in question seem to me to be well cared for and not abused. (However, I must admit that I do feel a little sorry for these beautiful animals when I see them standing motionless in severe heat conditions or in cold and freezing weather waiting for a fare. I only hope that  good care is waiting for them on their return home.)

While the veracity and the accuracy of the claims made by Locals for Carriages against At War for Animals Niagara in your Aug. 20 story, “Pro-carriage group threatens to sue town, police,” do not appear to have been independently confirmed, it does seem the animal rights activists' argument in this case is quite silly and is simply a protest for the sake of protest – that is, without any intelligent thought.

However, the threatened legal action by the group against the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake is also a threat against the resident taxpayers who would ultimately be responsible for any legal costs as well as any award, however remote that may be.

While COVID-19 is likely the foremost activity that is occupying town councillors now, they are also having to deal at the same time with various developers and their costly legal challenges who want to assert their development plans regardless of local opinion.

In my opinion, the protests are strictly a matter that needs to be dealt with appropriately by the Niagara Regional Police, who I assume have the resources and are in a position to do so.

It is surely up to them to provide the necessary forces and arrest those who are breaking the law through their behaviour and prosecute them to the extent that the law provides. This is their basic responsibility.

Derek Collins

NOTL