Legal help needed please re loaning

[honeymum]

I'll try to keep it short !!
My mum's partner is owed money by a livery, as the livery's kids are bored of ponies he has offered pony to mum's partner instead of payment, all good......
But he also has a Shetland on loan which he no longer wants either, no-one can contact the owners and as it's mum's partner's land he is worried he will end up having to look after it. They have tried calling and leaving messages and also recorded delivery letters.
Any ideas what we can do? We did wonder if we could 'loan' it to a rescue or similar if we send a recorded delivery letter to the owners. We don't think they have moved but they live 150 miles away from my mum so she can't drive down.
Help

 

[AmyMay]

Over what period of time have the owners of the shetland been contacted? And have the recorded delivery letters been signed for??

 

[honeymum]

2 letters have been signed for and phone calls been happening for about 5 weeks, messages have been left on ansaphones but no reply to anything.
Kinda think they don't really care about the pony that much

 

[AmyMay]

I think they should probably go to CAB - but if the letters have been received and no action taken in respect of notice, then I would imagine that the pony has been 'abandoned'.

Henryhorn would be a good one to contact, because I'm sure she's been in a similar situation.

 

[honeymum]

Thanks, I did suggest giving BHS a call but not sure if mums done that yet, I'll tell her about CAB.

 

[Donkeymad]

as long as you have been doing everything possible to contact the owner for 14 days, you can now do what you want with shetty.

 

[cluedo]

I had this problem a few years ago. I sent them recorded delivery letters (which were signed for) and no response. I contacted a lawyer and we sent another letter that gave a definite date for the horse to be collected OR it would be classed as abandonment under the Abandonment of Animals Act 1963 and I would either charge him livery or dispose of the horse to recoup my losses.

He didn't reply so I rehomed the horse and it was perfectly legal to do so.

 

[honeymum]

Hmmm, the owners rang last night to say they were picking up the pony. Wondering now if they saw this post

They are collecting him 'when they can borrow a box from someone' we have asked them to make it within 2 weeks which we thought was fair. We told them any longer and they will be paying full livery charges. So hopefully sorted. Thanks for everyones advice.

 

[AmyMay]

Result!