Why is nobody ever punished?

These 2 miniature ponies were found forced into a tiny pen

TWO WEEKS ago, RTN reported on the terrible conditions that seven horses were enduring in a shack made up of bits of wood and corrugated iron; with only a two foot gap in the wood as a window to the outside world. That story is ongoing and RTN will have more on the plight of those horses in the coming weeks.

As if that story wasn’t bad enough, last week, the Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre (EHCRC) was alerted to another group of horses and donkeys in appalling conditions. Sue from the centre told RTN what happened: “One of our volunteers made the horrific discovery. Around 25 horses and donkeys, plus goats, sheep and dogs are being kept in the grounds of a private house. They are crowded into tiny enclosures and are obviously badly malnourished and suffering. She saw one horse rolling on the ground, clearly in pain, visibly sick and possibly dying; with nobody at the property to care for the horse.” She added: “According to the volunteer, other mares that are little more than skin and bones also appear to be in foal. Unbelievably, starving animals are being used for breeding!”

PAIN

Sue immediately investigated the situation and discovered that the owner of these animals is well known to the local police. Sue continued: “We already have some animals at the Centre that belonged to him. We bought them after finding them tied up and starving on waste ground with no food or water: we will not buy more as this does not solve the problem.”

Recently, EHCRC and local police were involved in trying to save a donkey that belonged to this man and the story was highlighted in RTN just before Christmas. The donkey had been left tethered and dying on waste ground after suffering a hernia giving birth. She had simply been dumped and left to die and by the time she was found, she was paralysed and in considerable pain. She could not be saved and local people paid for a vet to put the donkey down as the owner refused to pay to end her suffering. Sue commented: “There are laws against such mistreatment of animals, with penalties including seizure of animals; fines; bans from keeping animals and even prison. But nobody is ever prosecuted. How bad does it have to be before the authorities will take action and enforce the laws? We have again reported this man and the appalling way he treats his animals to the police. We wait and hope that finally something will be done.”

STOP PRESS

The Benijofar Town Hall contacted Sue’s husband Rod on Tuesday afternoon to say that they are going to issue a seizure notice to the owner of the seven horses that have been entombed in the wooden and corrugated iron shack in Benijofar. According to the Town Hall, the notice was due to be issued on Wednesday and the owners will have 48 hours to rectify the situation before action is taken. Therefore, if the horses have not been moved by today (Friday), the EHCRC should be able to go and pick them up. Sue concluded: “We will continue to fight for the well being of those seven horses.”

Whatever the outcome of this seizure notice is, RTN will keep you informed in next week’s paper, so make sure that you pick up a copy.