Appeal for information after horse is left for dead in freezing conditions in Leicestershire

Posted on 23/01/2017 by Rachel Butler

The RSPCA is investigating after a horse was left for dead in freezing conditions in a Leicestershire country lane.

The white piebald mare was dumped overnight on Saturday (21 January) in a field in Uppingham Road, in Skeffington. When she was found by a dog-walker the following morning, frost had already formed on her mane.

The RSPCA and a local vet was called. Sadly, the horse, thought to be around 12 years old, was put to sleep by the vet as she was so poorly.

RSPCA inspector Sheona Morley, who attended the incident, said: “The horse’s back legs had been tied to railings with blue rope, and tyre tracks on the ground showed that whoever dumped her had pulled away in their truck, resulting in the horse falling on to the floor.

“As a result of this impact, the horse had horrific injuries to one side of her face.

“The horse was unable to stand and was pawing at the ground with her front feet, trying to get up. When I arrived the horse was making moaning sounds – it was absolutely horrific. Frost had formed on her face and mane. Thankfully, someone who lived locally was able to bring a large blanket to put over her.

“Very sadly the vet could see that she was clearly suffering and she was put to sleep.

“Leaving a horse for dead like this, in freezing conditions, is a callous thing to do. Whoever did it had no regards for the horse’s wellbeing whatsoever. We are urging anyone with information to contact us in complete confidence on 0300 123 8018.”

The RSPCA is a charity and we rely on public donations to exist. To assist our inspectors in carrying out their vital work please text HELP to 78866 to give £3. (Texts cost £3 + one standard network rate message.) 

Source

Italian court convicts lab-dog breeders

Three found guilty of cruelty against animals bred for scientific research.

Alison Abbott

23 January 2015

Animal-rights activists cheered outside the tribunal building in Brescia, Italy.

A criminal court in the northern Italian city of Brescia has handed down jail sentences to three employees of a company that breeds beagle dogs for scientific research. The three had been charged with cruelty to the animals in their care, and with unjustifiably putting down some of them. The court found another defendant innocent.

Roberto Bravi, director of the Green Hill facility in Montichiari near Brescia — which belongs to the US-based animal breeding company Marshall Bioresources — was given one year. Renzo Graziosi, the facility’s veterinarian, and Ghislaine Rondot, who manages Marshall’s activities in Europe, both received one and a half years.

The judgement was announced on 23 January, but the reasoning behind the verdict will only be made known in two months.

The Italian Anti-Vivisection League (LAV) proclaimed a victory, but said the sentences were too light. Some pro-research groups, on the other hand have expressed surprise and concern. Dario Padovan, president of the scientific research defence lobby group Pro-Test Italia, which has been following the court case closely, says he had expected the defendants to win. “We were shocked,” he says. “It is another attack on Italian biomedical research, which is becoming increasingly vulnerable.”

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