RSPCA
- Thread starter exracehorse
- Start date
Exasperated
Well-Known Member
Absolutely, yes, DO contact DailyMail / Mail on Sunday with photos and backtale of disinterest by RSPCA.
It’s a total rag, but this is a great ‘heartstrings / hand wringing story’, with tragic horse-wastage from racing and arctic conditions.
They were obviously emaciated back in the summer, current photos of miserable creatures in miserable weather and the piece is pretty much written for them - that’s the level of publicity needed. If a national prints it, local media will take it up, with consequent local pressure.
Good luck, thank goodness you are still trying for them!!
exracehorse
Well-Known Member
Ok. Spoke to WHW. Because RSPCA went out this year. They will not visit. Same as BHS who also said they had no one to cover this area anyway. Spoke to redwings. They said same. But I’ve sent all photos over. So, just going round in a circle.
exracehorse
Well-Known Member
They are still there. Food bowls full of water. She’s covered them in rugs. Probably to hide the bones. A post went up this morning on local Facebook. It was removed. It’s ridiculous that if a welfare officer goes to visit, then the other charities will then refuse. So, just one inspectors decision in the summer that said they were ok, could be the reason they die this winter. Was so cross with the other trusts. Now, I could go to the daily mail as suggested. I have photos. My worry is that I will be quoted. My name used. And it’s on my email account. When I posted on Facebook in the summer, she threatened to sue me and police were being involved. As it’s harassment apparently.
The Fuzzy Furry
🦄 🦄
You could go direct to police, quoting the animal welfare act, they 'could' then get a vet out to inspect. (I've only been successful at this approach once.
Tried the animal welfare officer at local and/or county council?
Wishing you all the best x
Tried the animal welfare officer at local and/or county council?
Wishing you all the best x
holeymoley
Well-Known Member
You can send an email under a disguised name and email address. Dont ask me how but it’s came up as an option for me before.
exracehorse
Well-Known Member
Oooh. I’ll ask Ruth Hendry my local councillor if there is an animal welfare officer. Good idea.
dorsetladette
Well-Known Member
Can you send details from a new/dummy Gmail account? to the mail.
Exasperated
Well-Known Member
I’d telephone, or send an email requesting a phone conversation about the information and photographic evidence you have - journalists do not have to reveal their sources!
Been high profile cases involving govt leaks where the source was protected, don’t think that’s a worry if you are clear about anonymity.
Exasperated
Well-Known Member
Hasn’t the Council’s Animal Welfare Officer already been involved? If not, their name and contact should be on your local govt website.
Is it only a livery yard, or do they ever offer training, tuition, lessons? because the Council should also be involved in licensing, if so.
exracehorse
Well-Known Member
She just rents land down Brundon Lane.
meleeka
Well-Known Member
You can easily set up a new email address to use for this purpose and also a fake FB account. I've used one when dealing with our council as I don't trust that my name would remain anonymous.
Exasperated
Well-Known Member
Well, I can believe Council officers might be sloppy (altho should have full GDPR training and not divulge names), but journalists will be ‘onto it’, alright, sources of info are their bread and butter.
Exasperated
Well-Known Member
If it helps, we’ve had Council Animal Welfare Officers visit several times in Covid, when lots of ‘new’ people started walking in the countryside - reporting a cow bleeding terribly from its bottom sort of thing (just had a calf, which they didn’t even notice!), or a ‘dead one’ (which had woken up and gone by time Officer arrived). The Officers are bound to follow up all reports, and report outcomes to original reporter. I don’t know how effective they might be at pursuing a genuine welfare issue, because we’ve never had one, but they do have to investigate, and ours is quite knowledgeable about large animals.
I think the media is your best option, tbh.
dorsetladette
Well-Known Member
Dorset Police Rural Crime Team
#LatestNews – Seven ponies seized in relation to welfare investigation Today officers from the team attended a field in the West Dorset area alongside partners from the RSPCA, and World Horse...
www.facebook.com
This has just come up on my news feed. That pony looks in a lot better condition than the TBs OP is concerned about.
Errin Paddywack
Well-Known Member
There was a sad case close to my field back in 2009. Old grey PBA type, very thin and neglected but fed everyday and had water. I was going to report it but then it had a full neck rug on and a big hay bale arrived in the field so I mistakenly thought all was ok. New Year's day after a very, very cold spell he was found dead in the field and frozen solid. A vet from the practice I used was called out by the RSPCA. When he thawed out he was PM's and it transpired that basically all that had been wrong with him was that his teeth were in terrible condition and he had only been given pony nuts, most of which were eaten by the pony he was in with. The hay had apparently been supplied by a kind local, not the owner. Owner was prosecuted successfully. I still bitterly regret that I didn't report him.
exracehorse
Well-Known Member
Update. RSPCA arrived this afternoon. After I badgered redwings to follow up. Four left. The worst one. The smaller TB is we think deceased. As gone. My friend who is at the yard messaged me that they turned up. Owger is leaving in 3 weeks !
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Miss_Millie
Well-Known Member
Have the RSPCA seized the horses?
Amymay Again
Well-Known Member
Hopefully they were immediately removed.
Jacksie
Well-Known Member
I’ve been following this story and was sad to see one horse had likely died. So pleased the RSPCA have finally done something although am pretty disgusted in their initial lack of interest and concern. Thank you so much for being persistent and following this through. Those poor creatures.
Exasperated
Well-Known Member
Fingers x’d that one of these charities actually REMOVES those remaining to a place of safety. And initiates prosecution.
Well done for pursuing them.
Gingerwitch
Well-Known Member
It’s not clear - have these horses been removed by the RSPCA’s ?
exracehorse
Well-Known Member
No. They want a visit with rugs off. They came in the dark. Owner only goes up at 8pm with a torch.
exracehorse
Well-Known Member
No. They arrived at 4.30pm in the dark. Owger wasn’t there. She only goes up once a day at 8pm. They said to my friend they would return. Didn’t say when. They were shown photos. And given full history and are aware owner is leaving in 3 weeks !
meleeka
Well-Known Member
Dorset Police Rural Crime Team
#LatestNews – Seven ponies seized in relation to welfare investigation Today officers from the team attended a field in the West Dorset area alongside partners from the RSPCA, and World Horse...
This has just come up on my news feed. That pony looks in a lot better condition than the TBs OP is concerned about.
I just came on to post this. OP's horses look so much worse, so I wonder why the difference in response? I'm guessing it's how much pressure they face to do something.
ester
Not slacking multitasking
It’s famously impossible to take a rug off in the dark 
dorsetladette
Well-Known Member
It’s famously impossible to take a rug off in the dark
I suppose if the owner isn't there and the officer can't get the rug back on then there could be an issue on the part of RSPCA.
@exracehorse is it worth contacting your rural crime police officer and explaining the situation to them. Although the RSPCA are already involved their interest might help push things along better as the inspector would then be accountable to a third party and not just a faceless corporation - sorry charity.
See if you can find out from local horsey people who the best contact is. Your local FB page is probably the best place to ask.
I have the contact details of the guy that covers our area and although he always tells me to contact the main email I always email him direct. Although he might be on holiday here and there I feel safe in the knowledge that I will get a response and my query/concern will be dealt with.
meleeka
Well-Known Member
Or even feel under it. I'm sure the state those horses are in, bones would be felt over rugsIt’s famously impossible to take a rug off in the dark
Pearlsasinger
Up in the clouds
She can threaten but if you have photographic evidence and witnesses to back.up your claims, she is very unlikely to win
Kaylum
Well-Known Member
Rspca really aren't set up for horses. For example in our area there is one and we are in a very big county. They rely on local horse charities to keep an eye on things.