Welfare problem

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billy2

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Hi, just wanted to pick your collective brain...we have a pony on the yard where I work, whose owner has effectively dumped her. She's been here for several years, has worked in the school but has been retired for the last 2 years. She is 36yo. This summer she has fallen away sharply (she also has Cushings, but isn't on medication, and arthritis) and frankly, it would seem unkind to let her go through the winter in her current condition. But the vet won't act without the owner's permission, or a solicitor's letter. While I can appreciate his position, I wonder if there is a point at which it becomes incumbent on someone other than the owner to relieve the animal from its suffering?
Needless to say, we try to make her as comfortable as we can, but it's heartbreaking to see her fading.
Thanks if you hung till the end and if anyone has any advice, we'd appreciate it.
 
Surely, as the people taking care of this horse, it would be your duty to act in its best interests......If the horse was without water/shelter/feed YOU would be liable.....

Can you call the BHS legal helpline for some advice?

Where is the owner??
 
Do you/anyone on your yard have BHS gold membership? If so, they have a free legal helpline. I'd give them a ring and see if they can help.

Alternatively, somewhere like World Horse Welfare might be able to give you advice on what to do in this situation. Would avoid the RSPCA if possible.

Good luck, sounds like the poor old girl deserves to go with a bit of dignity at her ages :(
 
If the animal has been put onto a yard with the permission of the yard owner (so at livery) the YO accepts a level of responsibility for the horses welfare under the law. If the owner does a bunk it is the responsibility of the YO to assure the horse is being looked after - if they don't they are as liable to get into trouble as the owner is.

You need to get proper legal advice about this.
 
If this horse has been dumped and there is no known contactable address for the owner then I would assume it would fall under the same umbrella as a stray horse found on your land?? In which case notify the police, advertise for the owner to contact you, if no response after a set time period (either 7 or 21 days, police should be able to tell you which) then the YO will take over ownership of the animal and in these circumstances they can either sell to recoupe expenses or in this case relieve suffering. If the situation will not wait for that period and the animal is suffering now then the vet can act with a police officer in attendance (police being an inspector under the AWA). The same would occur if a sheep on the hills is found in the dead of night, hit by a car say, a vet can act without the owner if a police officer is in attendance to authorise it.

Get advise from the police, or whw or rspca, or bhs.

Sorry just seen your second post, if the owner is known and the animal is suffering then report it to any of the above mentioned places.
 
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I think the law is slightly different since the animal is not straying, so you do need to get advice.

If there is a pressing emergency a police officer can authorise euthanasia (so like in the sheep hit by car example) under the Animal Welfare Act but this is a different situation.

Poor horse:(
 
I think it is always wise to go gently in such situations - sometimes owners, with the best intentions, find it hard to 'see' or acknowledge that a pony who has been part of the family for years is not doing so well.
The most effective way might be to ask a BHS welfare person, or similar to look at the horse, then contact the owner directly in the hopes that they can help her see the problem through fresh eyes.
Good luck, hope the pony's life improves.
S :D
 
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