Rescued Shires - at last

[Double_choc_lab]

The below extract is from the fb page (yesterday) re Hope and the other "neglected" shires. It looks as though some action has now been taken.

The RSPCA have been this morning, with HAPPA, the police and 2 independent vets, and removed 14 of the 17 horses, 1 is still in the stable and the other 2 (wild 2 year olds) have proven impossible to catch (the black one has a career as a show jumper!!), so they are trying again tomorrow. This I believe is what we call success!!!! They are now 'in the care of the RSPCA' and 'not in this geographical area'.

 

[FairyLights]

Thank heavens for that.

 

[joeanne]

Good news for the shires, just a shame the vet didn't use the correct channels to start with and then maybe they would have been out of there long ago.

 

[lula]

Good news for the shires, just a shame the vet didn't use the correct channels to start with and then maybe they would have been out of there long ago.

i wasnt aware of that. do you mean she could have used her powers as a vet to have them removed with police presence but without the authority of waiting for the RSPCA ro back her up?
as long as she was happy to pay what she did to buy the shire filly Hope the same result was achieved really?

anyway, truly fantastic news.
Makes me wonder though if the same result would have been achieved without shaming the RSPCA massively in the media to get them to take action on this.

 

[AmyMay]

Excellent news.

RSPCA seem to have stood up and taken notice, and acted pretty quickly. I'm impressed.

 

[lochpearl]

This is brilliant news and at least the horses are away from the situation now.

 

[welsh horse rider]

it is fantastic news finally something has been done!!! taken long enough though xx

 

[MurphysMinder]

The cynic in me suspects the reason the RSPCA acted reasonably quickly ws because of the media interest. Good news to hear that most of the horses have been removed, wonder why they haven't taken the one in a stable?

 

[AmyMay]

The cynic in me suspects the reason the RSPCA acted reasonably quickly ws because of the media interest. Good news to hear that most of the horses have been removed, wonder why they haven't taken the one in a stable?

Oh, absolutely.

 

[Lady La La]

The cynic in me suspects the reason the RSPCA acted reasonably quickly ws because of the media interest. Good news to hear that most of the horses have been removed, wonder why they haven't taken the one in a stable?

That cynic doesn't just reside in you
Good news for the horses, and similar to Joeanne's sentiment, perhaps Vicky the vet will go into her next rescue mission with her eyes a little more open

I await the news of where the donations will be going, with baited breath

 

[hairycob]

Probably Vicky didn't go about things the right way, but would there have been the same level of publicity if she had done things differently? I've no idea if there would have been, but I am sure that it's the publicity that spurred the RSPCA into action.

 

[Magicmillbrook]

Publicity may have been a factor - but with my enforcement hat on here are some of the things I would have been thinking of.....

The RSPCA need to be able to prove to a court that they had given the 'ahem' gentleman who owns them every oportunity to resolve the issues, which I understand were poor field/grazing conditions. The owner could have argued that he wasnt given sufficient time to secure alternative grazing/clear fields/re-fence blah blah blah - To us its total rubbish - but bear in mind judges are not neccessarily horse experts.

The horse that is in a stable, could be argued is 'not be in danger' because it is not in the hazardous quagmire field, especialy if it is in good bodily condition.

To my mind the RSPCA need to be able to be beyond reproach when taking animals, the last thing they want is an appeal and the animals going back there, all that cost for no gain - think about the Amersham case, the judge was considering letting Mr Grey have some of his horses back.

I am delighted with the outcome this far. Not sure if the fellow is going to be prosecuted, but hopefully the RSPCA will be able to apply to keep the horses, or persuade Mr nasty to sign them over so they can lead happy horsie lives.