What is the answer for all these neglected animals

Penny Less

Penny Less

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10 March 2009
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Having read the H & H article about the tethered pony whose head was nearly severed, and also regularly reading about abandoned starving horses, it makes me so depressed about the so called animal lovers in this country. There are many horses that are suffering unnoticed, and you do begin to wonder what could be done. We seem to help people in other countries whose animals are very badly treated but we cannot point the finger when we are doing the same. This is a general observation, probably not very well put, but it makes me so terribly sad, I wish I could help. The new animal Act doesnt seem to be working terribly well.
 
I agree I'm not sure we can call ourselves a nation of animal lovers anymore.

For me the whole issue comes down to money, we either use animals to make us money ie indiscriminate breeding leading to poor quality animals who end up unwanted / meat / or neglected be it dogs or horses

or

we kid ourselves we have the money to look after our animals without thinking the true costs and commitments through. We may have enough money to keep a horse with the very basic level of care but what happens if we lose our jobs or the livery gets increased etc etc.

Animals are too readily available to all and the more delinquent society becomes the more animals fall off the wagon of good quality appropriate care.

Nothing will change until animals are given the same protection in law as people.
 
Whats the answer?
Resonsible breeding is the answer! The only reason there is so many unwanted animals is certain types of people see a buck to be made.....usually at the expense of the poor resulting animal.
Right now there are at least 7 "free to good home" colts in my area on preloved. All animals that should not have been bred given the lack of demand for that type of animal advertised.
Once they become "free to good home" they become open to being neglected as in reality many who get them, cant afford to buy one (even at £60) let alone care adequately for it.
SBT's are another victim. Thousands up and down the country that are discarded as unsuitable pets, yet you cant look in the classifieds without seeing half a page of puppies for sale!
The animal act is all well and good, but the root problem needs addressing.
 
joeanne said:
Whats the answer?
Resonsible breeding is the answer! The only reason there is so many unwanted animals is certain types of people see a buck to be made.....usually at the expense of the poor resulting animal.
Right now there are at least 7 "free to good home" colts in my area on preloved. All animals that should not have been bred given the lack of demand for that type of animal advertised.
Once they become "free to good home" they become open to being neglected as in reality many who get them, cant afford to buy one (even at £60) let alone care adequately for it.
SBT's are another victim. Thousands up and down the country that are discarded as unsuitable pets, yet you cant look in the classifieds without seeing half a page of puppies for sale!
The animal act is all well and good, but the root problem needs addressing.
Click to expand...

*LIKE*

A moto I like is 'Dont breed and buy, while others die'

We have too many as it is, dont breed more.

Stopping idiscriminate breeding really is the only way to tackle this issue...
 
I agree with the above that there is far too much breeding of all animals. People see it as a way to make a quick buck and the market becomes flooded with cheap animals.
I used to keep a horse years ago at a particular livery, where they were "professional breeders". They impregnated all the mares (around 60 of them) from 4 stallions and most were simply inbred by years of this. They had insufficient land but would let them foal indoor and then put them all out without rugs. Left them there till the youngsters needed weaning and herded them in like cattle into a big open pen. And then sold on with little to no handling. As soon as they need injections etc they had to wrestled to the ground, it was simply disturbing. Needless to say i wasn't there long after.
Also, and this is only going back a short while, a horse i knew needed a vet to give it check over. The owner couldn't afford this simple need so put a headcoller on it, lead it up the road and let the hunt have it for dog meat.
It makes me so angry that any life is just thrown away so easy.
 
BBH said:
I agree I'm not sure we can call ourselves a nation of animal lovers anymore.

For me the whole issue comes down to money, we either use animals to make us money ie indiscriminate breeding leading to poor quality animals who end up unwanted / meat / or neglected be it dogs or horses

or

we kid ourselves we have the money to look after our animals without thinking the true costs and commitments through. We may have enough money to keep a horse with the very basic level of care but what happens if we lose our jobs or the livery gets increased etc etc.

Animals are too readily available to all and the more delinquent society becomes the more animals fall off the wagon of good quality appropriate care.

Nothing will change until animals are given the same protection in law as people.
Click to expand...

Totally agree with this!
 
joeanne said:
Whats the answer?
Resonsible breeding is the answer! The only reason there is so many unwanted animals is certain types of people see a buck to be made.....usually at the expense of the poor resulting animal.
Right now there are at least 7 "free to good home" colts in my area on preloved. All animals that should not have been bred given the lack of demand for that type of animal advertised.
Once they become "free to good home" they become open to being neglected as in reality many who get them, cant afford to buy one (even at £60) let alone care adequately for it.
SBT's are another victim. Thousands up and down the country that are discarded as unsuitable pets, yet you cant look in the classifieds without seeing half a page of puppies for sale!
The animal act is all well and good, but the root problem needs addressing.
Click to expand...

another like!

Until the problem is dealt with at source, then we are just trying to deal with the concequences. I'm totally not against some sort of certification to own a horse, and most certainly a stallion. Those out 'wild' on common and moor land should also be controlled - a stallion shouldn't be endlessly running with the heard. Just as much thought to keep the breed true to type and of correct useful ponies should be applied to native ponies as it does to other more valued and fashionable breeds. You should not be able to pick up a native yougster for £50 or less - it is shocking. Horses and ponies can't be simply bred endlessly as they currently are - while this continues then so will the disturbing stories in h&h.
 
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