Falling through the gaps.
Imagine if near where you lived there was a field loaded with horses starving in flooded paddocks amongst the bodies of their dead fellows.
Instinctively you may think that it would be a straightforward matter to get those horses moved immediately to one of the equine welfare charities there are in this country. This as it stands is not necessarily so - there is no right of any organisation to seize an animal for its welfare.
Imagine if near where you lived there was a field loaded with horses starving in flooded paddocks amongst the bodies of their dead fellows.
Instinctively you may think that it would be a straightforward matter to get those horses moved immediately to one of the equine welfare charities there are in this country. This as it stands is not necessarily so - there is no right of any organisation to seize an animal for its welfare.
. A police constable, or an inspector may be able to help as in
Section18 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006
Powers in relation to animals in distress
(1) If an inspector or a constable reasonably believes that a protected animal is suffering, he may take, or arrange for the taking of, such steps as appear to him to be immediately necessary to alleviate the animal’s suffering.
[.....]
(5) An inspector or a constable may take a protected animal into possession if a veterinary surgeon certifies—
(a)that it is suffering, or
(b)that it is likely to suffer if its circumstances do not change.
(8) Where an animal is taken into possession under subsection (5), an inspector or a constable may—
(a)remove it, or arrange for it to be removed, to a place of safety;
(b)care for it, or arrange for it to be cared for—
(i)on the premises where it was being kept when it was taken into possession, or
(ii)at such other place as he thinks fit;
Then it gets complicated, i.e. slower and the suffering continues. Magistrates courts, untraceable or deliberately obstructive owners, vets naturally cautious about being sued, the lack of police expertise, resources, or inclination even all work against the welfare of the animal. The sad fact is that animals can be suffering and dieing whilst organisations like the RSPCA are "monitoring" helplessly.
That is why
Hope For Horses are going down to the house of commons on April 16th
to petition for a change in the law.
( https://www.facebook.com/pages/Help-the-horses-of-Fosse-Park-Leicester/215018828693901)
Follow the below link to sign their petition online.
Change in law for Equine charities to remove suffering animals
Change in law for Equine charities to remove suffering animalsResponsible department: Department for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsDue to the increase of Equine abuse, there are many horses whos suffering is continued as many Equine charities do not have the legal power to remove such animals from the land/premises where they are neglected. The time it takes to get police involved, then make arrangements by staying within the law, many of these poor animals have already lost their lives through suffering, or worse been killed and dumped by such owners. We ask for a change in the law to give such charities more power to seize an animal should its suffering be apparent
Success!
Thanks to all those who have campaigned to end the suffering of horses dumped on unsuitable land
Control of Horses Act 2015 has passed royal assent will come into effect in 2 months time.
