19 dead horses found in Cork (IRE)

Cross-posted from the Irish Examiner

Animal welfare officers all across the Ireland are struggling to cope with what the ISPCA are calling an equine welfare crisis. Some 30 horses left to die have been rescued in the past two weeks, with 22 animals taken in over a 48-hour period across Cork, Donegal, Westmeath and Carlow.

Written by Conall Ó Fátharta

Animal welfare officers all across the country have been struggling to cope with what the ISPCA are calling an equine welfare crisis.

Some 30 horses left to die have been rescued in the past two weeks, with 22 animals taken in over a 48-hour period across Cork, Donegal, Westmeath and Carlow.

ISPCA officials have said they are finding dead horses on an almost daily basis.

The situation in Cork city seems to be particularly alarming, with 19 dead horses having been discovered in the past fortnight.

Two live, but emaciated horses, were discovered in the Hollyhill area of Cork city yesterday. Eleven carcasses have been discovered in the area to date, while one horse had to be put down on Monday.

Last week, three dead horses were found in Lower Killeens while two others were seized. Four dead horses were also found off Commons Road in Cork with another two were seized due to neglect.

ISPCA inspector for Cork city, Lisa O’Donovan, said the condition of some of the animals was the worst she had ever seen.

“The animals have been found in various stages of decomposition. We found another two alive today but if we didn’t come out today, they would have joined the rest. In all my time with the ISPCA, I have never seen anything like this level of neglect. It’s just very sad,” she said.

Ms O’Donovan said the low cost of buying a horse coupled with the recession were contributing factors to the spiralling number of neglect cases in the city.

“Horses just aren’t worth anything. You can get some horses for as little as €8 and people swap them for mobile phones in some areas,” she said.

Read more: http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/kfeymhojkfql/rss2/#ixzz1CJNpQHz6

ISPCA Chief Inspector Conor Dowling states on their website:

“We are really only fire-fighting, trying to address the most serious situations. Our Inspectors are trying in vain to keep on top of the volume of calls that they are receiving and must prioritise those that they think most urgent. I am aware any complaints which they have been unable to get to weigh heavy on their minds every evening”.

It is not only the society’s Inspectors that are affected. So many equines are being discovered in need of specialist treatment that equine care staff are inundated with requests for assistance. Organising transport and accommodation for these animals is becoming increasingly problematic.

“We cannot continue to take in equines at the rate we are currently” said Mr. Dowling, “it simply isn’t sustainable. Our facilities are already stocked well beyond their designed capacity”.

The ISPCA is calling on the government to take increased ownership of this massive problem which is threatening to damage the reputation of the Irish horse industry having already received worldwide coverage.

The charity is issuing an urgent appeal for donations to allow it to continue its valuable work. Please log onto the ISPCA website to make a secure online donation. Thank you.