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Post by rhillahorse on Dec 29, 2007 15:49:06 GMT 1
The Equine Market Watch were the ones who made the RSPCA and HAPPA come and look at he Pony, they were even considering snatching it and taking it away, but they were so low on funds that they couldn't manage to do it. But I have serious respect for them. Just shows how important it is to support EMW. www.emwuk.org.uk/
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Post by Roz on Dec 29, 2007 18:54:50 GMT 1
Totally agree Rhillahorse, EMW aren't a faceless organisation with a telephone line manned by people who don't seem to know one end of a horse from another, but people who will do anything and everything they can to take a horse out of danger.
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Post by lindaandrascal on Dec 29, 2007 21:00:53 GMT 1
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Post by jill on Dec 29, 2007 22:28:56 GMT 1
To add a bit more detail to poor old William in Lindas pic above, the ILPH were involved as well as RSPCA - the problems getting any sort of feedback were enormous. We finally managed to get some via a contact in ILPH, who reported that the vet said he was undernourished but NOT EMACIATED!!! To be absolutely fair to all involved when I finally got to speak to the local RSPCA Inspector he seemed genuinely fond of and concerned for the old horse, whose history with them goes back at least a year. I think it's an organisation problem as in "Don't stick necks out and risk money on a prosecution they may not win due to the vets opinion". The Animal Welfare Act needs to have some test cases to define what is and what isn't reasonable, but if they are reluctant to do that, the poor horses don't have a chance. And with an owner like that who absolutely refuses to sign him over (we did try) it's all that is left. But it took numerous phone calls to the RSPCA call centre, asking for some feedback before they made any kind of contact - we all have to be persistant and badger the HELL out of them, call centre or not. Don't be fobbed off, ask for the local Inspector to be asked to ring and let you know what is happening, it can be done, but you have to keep on. How is he now Linda?
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Post by lindaandrascal on Dec 30, 2007 1:32:18 GMT 1
Only saw him from a distance over Christmas (busy repairing our own fences after the fencer got nicked and bramble destroyed the internal fences!) but he is still there, poor thing. The RSPCA man might be fond of old William (i know i am!) but thats not going to get him in better surroundings with someone who gives a fig about him.Theres NO HOPE for him if the stupid vet (hope it wasn't mine!) refuses to see what is in front of him. I really think that woman has told them he is fed regularly and just not putting weight on, i know she doesn't go every day, never mind the two or three times he needs
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Post by jill on Dec 30, 2007 8:45:43 GMT 1
When I see the Equine Officer I'll ask her to check he is being monitored - the other thing they said they did was set some conditions for the owner, and those need monitoring. Hope they are, but will try and find out.
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EMW-UK
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Post by EMW-UK on Dec 30, 2007 9:42:38 GMT 1
Can you now begin to see what we, a registered equine organisation ourselves - have trouble with too. I know how hard Jill has worked to make changes with the old horse above, until that new legislation is put into action, and to do that it needs big money behind it, then it's horses like that old chap who will slipthrough the net... How we wish it was cut and dried and easy but it's far from that. It's a two headed coin in many ways, you're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't...but we - EMW - will be damned if we'll simply stand by and let emaciation/neglect /abuse just happen..
"We will NOT look away"
emw.
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Post by horsemadpeter on Dec 30, 2007 9:49:07 GMT 1
After being asked to put a photo up here of the Pony in question, I will think about doing it today whilst I am working at the feed shop.
So many people spend serious money looking after their horses, it's so sad to see negected ones!!!
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Post by jill on Dec 30, 2007 11:01:00 GMT 1
So, $64,000 question - what is the answer? Do we all just criticise the major organisations, or do we badger them to death with complaints, or do we make friends with them and try and change stuff from within, or do we join them officially and hope to have a voice - we can't just do nothing can we? Or do we suspect that they are doing the job but just not communicating well enough? Or do we dismiss them and support smaller more personal organisations, knowing they probably wouldn't have the resources to do the job on a national scale - I see my role as badgering the RSPCA and ILPH until they do something, but if they weren't there I would need to spend a great deal more time and effort getting to grips with the law and finding owners etc. If I can work WITH local RSPCA and ILPH staff I will and hope to get them to see things as we do, I think that is far more productive than antagonising them. But if I have to complain about them I will. And just another thought - how much of their time is wasted by well meaning members of the public? Calling them to ponies and horses without rugs and covered in mud but in fair bodily condition wastes a lot of time and is really crying wolf, but can't be ignored just in case. Should we all be available in our area to advise members of the public, and can we all differentiate between real neglect and a horse that is a bit rough?
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Post by rhillahorse on Dec 30, 2007 13:14:59 GMT 1
IMO we should support, raise money and awareness for the organisations that actually DO make a difference, like EMW and ILPH.
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Post by jaxnbreeze on Dec 30, 2007 17:42:27 GMT 1
I have always found ILPH very helpful with regards to other livestock contact DEFRA .
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Post by barbararob on Dec 30, 2007 18:24:12 GMT 1
I Pmd the original poster earlier suggesting he makes contact with the animal welfare officer at his local council - the one round us is so much more on the ball than any other organisation but uses tact to prevent anything being lost through causing antagonism. Many people don't know they exist.
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Post by Donnalex on Dec 31, 2007 15:28:25 GMT 1
Any news?
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Post by horsemadpeter on Dec 31, 2007 18:57:46 GMT 1
P,M.'d you Dona Kebab
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cuffey
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Post by cuffey on Dec 31, 2007 20:03:26 GMT 1
Agree with barbarabob the Animal Health Officers attached to Environmental Standards/Health at your local/regional council are the people with POWER they have the right to enter property to look at animals. Please if you have worries about horse sales/fairs/trotting races etc etc make contact well in advance of this years dates and give them reasons why you think they should be there. They check transport etc as well as general health and handling of animals. This is the Dept to speak to if you buy something with a dodgy passport as well Not sticking up for RSPCA/SSPCA etc but my area has one SSPCA Officer for a geographical area say 100 miles by 30 miles and her background is not 'horsy' There are 3 ILPH Officers for the whole of Scotland who are horse specialists of course but spend quite a bit of time checking on ILPH loan horses. BHS, Redwings and the Donkey Sanctuary have volunteers all over the country. They have no power, can only give advice but will use other agencies as needed.
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