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Brussels prepares ban on fairground ponies

20:05 16/04/2017

Bianca Debaets, the Brussels secretary of state responsible for animal welfare, is working to ban the use of fairground ponies in the Brussels-Capital Region. The ban would affect all of Brussels' municipalities. The CD&V politician called fairground ponies 'out of date', writes De Standaard.

Debaets says she regularly receives complaints from citizens and animal protection organisations about the disrespectful treatment of fairground ponies. “It is important that children come into contact with animals at an early age, but there are more appropriate places than fairgrounds, such as petting farms,” she says.

"I simply cannot accept, in this day in age, that ponies are made to walk around in carrousels while subjected to loud music and noise from other attractions," explains Debaets. “This is in sharp contrast to the animals' natural environment. I would therefore like to completely ban the use of ponies at fairs across Brussels.”

The politician has asked for a recommendation on the issue from the Council for Animal Welfare.

Written by Robyn Boyle

Comments

michele

What great news!
Belgium is becoming a trailblazer in animal rights. Wonderful!

Apr 17, 2017 11:31