Nurettin Kirbiyik has spent years caring for his beloved carriage horse, Deniz, with whom he provided tours of Central Park, Manhattan. Every day, Nurettin provided food, shelter, medical care, and companionship to Deniz, who was adored by visitors and locals alike. Tragically, Deniz was poisoned by a highly toxic yew plant planted along a carriage drive in Central Park. After eating the plant, Deniz apparently went into cardiac arrest and passed away. A necropsy performed by Cornell University confirmed that the yew plant was the cause, and the report found substantial yew material inside Deniz, enough to be lethal. Despite the city owning the park and the Central Park Conservancy managing it, neither organization warned carriage drivers like Nurettin about the presence of poisonous plants within easy reach of their animals. Central Park was built for carriage rides, and horses have been providing joy to visitors since 1858. Nurettin is devastated by the loss, describing Deniz as family and remembering how friendly and loved Deniz was by children and tourists.

The heartbreak of losing Deniz has been compounded by damage to Nurettin’s reputation. Animal rights activists have used Deniz’s death to push a false narrative about carriage drivers, claiming cruelty and abuse. A photo of Nurettin – and Deniz's body on the ground – was widely shared on social media and even displayed on a Times Square billboard, further hurting Nurettin’s business and standing in the community. Funds raised will help Nurettin with legal expenses and other horse-related costs connected to his business, as well as support efforts to make Central Park safer for animals and visitors and to alert park visitors to be extra vigilant with their children and pets around plants. Your support will help Nurettin seek justice through a lawsuit against the City and Conservancy, recover from this tragedy, and advocate for changes that protect all animals in Central Park. Please consider donating to help Nurettin through this difficult time and to ensure that no other animal or family has to endure such a loss.