BHS Euthansia Support

[companymagic]

As sad as this is to think about I am really please to read this article. Good on the BHS.

www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/397/315564.html

[megnum]

Don't open on mobile...may just be my phone but went on and took me to it and then something that I definitely didn't mean to go on and downloaded something...

[companymagic]

I think it might just be your phone...

Here's the story:

New BHS initiative to support horse owners considering euthanasia

11 January, 2013

The British Horse Society (BHS) has set up a new network of volunteers to assist horse owners struggling with the difficult decision of whether to put their animal to sleep.

Lee Hackett of the BHS’s welfare department said the charity regularly receives calls about “old, much loved horses” whose owners seem unable to take the plunge and have them euthanased.

Owners put off the moment for many reasons, he said, and it can be even more difficult if the horse is not old but has a chronic injury or behavioural issues.

He said: “More and more people simply cannot afford to have field ornaments, yet often the horse is not suitable to be sold on. Some people assume a charity will be able to take the horse on, but this is hardly ever the case.”

So the BHS has trained 100 of its network of welfare officers around the country to act as advisors to support owners who are considering euthanasia.

The decision is in part a response to the increased numbers of neglected or abandoned horses referred to charities.

British charities simply do not have the room to take in any more horses.

All the “Friends at the End” have undergone training with bereavement counsellors as well as in horse welfare.

And they can even be there for your horse’s final moments and hold him, if you feel you can’t.

For more information, contact the BHS welfare team on 02476 840517 or email [e-mail]

[LuckyRed]

can you imagine spending your day dealing with distraught owners and holding horses that are being put down? I hope part of the scheme is a counselling process for the 'Friends at the End' themselves!

Overall, a good scheme!

[Pony-Nutt]

A really good scheme and well overdue

[cbc]

Very good idea. It will be tough for those that do it, as I have had to do this for liveries and a horsy neighbour over the years, so I have great respect for those volunteers.

[louiseh78]

Great idea. I could have done with this when I had to make the terrible decision with my first horse. No obvious health problems but severe and dangerous random behaviour. Vet suspected brain injury and that the previous owner had sedated him prior to us trying him. I didn't want him to be sold on and beaten or mistreated but could have done with talking the decision through. Worse day of my life and still feel unsure if I could have done more to save him.

[calekio]

Thats very interesting to know... especially with 3 of my own i keep thinking on there last legs i think when there time comes i would really need just someone to talk to... what a wonderful service.

[jill]

Very useful acknowledgement of the problem and how to try and help - I do think one major barrier is the cost, hopefully the volunteers will be able to give advice on that too.