Please help by signing this petition...

#62955Sun 13/04/08 20:16

Hello, my heart is pretty much indestructible but it broke when i saw footage and reports of the disgusting neglect of the horses, ponies and donkeys in Amersham. Now I.. or more, they, need your help. PLEASE consider signing the petition and/or passing it on to a friend....

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/amersham-horses.html

Text from the Redwings website (www.redwings.org.uk):

On 9 January, Redwings was involved in a large rescue of horses from Buckinghamshire; we took in 21 horses, ponies and donkeys that day for veterinary care including donkey foal Esther. This was an RSPCA-led case involving local Police and other charities including the ILPH, the Horse Trust and the Blue Cross. All organisations concerned worked as a team, and Redwings was pleased to involve 30 of its staff and eight horseboxes.

Five people now face 12 charges relating to the Animal Wefare Act as a result, and the court case is set to begin on 28 April. However, on April 4 a judge at Oxford Magistrate's Court ruled that in the meantime, 29 ponies and donkeys should be returned to the family's care, whilst another 80 or so are to be sold at auction in May.

A High Court hearing took place on Friday April 11th to have the animals returned even sooner but residing judge Mr Justice Wyn Williams refused to force the animals to be returned to the owners, instead referring the case back to Deputy District Judge Sandeep Kainth, who made the original decision. We understand this is hearing is to take place on Monday April 14th at the original court.

We do not believe that the return of any animals to Spindle Farm is in their best interest until the full court case has been resolved. We have been overwhelmed by the support of the public as many people seem to share our sentiments, and we have received lots of questions about what people can do to help. There is now an official petition you can sign. Please click here > http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/amersham-horses.html to access the petition, organised by the NEWC.

The equines currently in our care are a combination of those to be returned to the farm we collected them from and those to be sold at auction. The donkeys we are expecting to return to the farm are Mary, Martha, Esther, Carmel, Leah, Deborah, Jemima & Caleb. Since arriving Mary gave birth to Timothy, so he is due to leave us as well. The Shetland ponies that are due to be returned to the farm are Pinocchio, Miss Muffet, Rapunzel, Gretel, Snow White, Elsie, Cinders & Thumbelina. Since they have been in our care and in the last few weeks, Elsie has given birth to a foal called Tinkerbell and Gretel also has a young foal at foot called Belle. These foals are also to leave us and our care. When they came these equines had numbers; we have since named them as is our practice with all the hundreds of equines that have come into our care over the years.

Redwings has a lot of experience in sending veterinary and horse handling staff, and vehicles, to rescue operations but this has been described by many of the 30 Redwings staff present on 9 January as one of the saddest cases that they have witnessed. The news of the animals' possible return is therefore understandably difficult for all our veterinary, welfare, horse care, administration and management teams, and we fully support the RSPCA in their efforts to prevent this from happening.

Redwings' two senior vets have between them over 35 years of dedicated equine welfare experience and have in this time encountered many complex cases. Their concern particularly extends to the donkeys, the most sensitive of equines.

Despite their despair, Redwings staff will naturally continue to provide the dedicated and specialist care these horses, ponies and donkeys need every day.

We are aware that our supporters are desperate for news or reassurance and just as we did during the rescue we will let you know what we can when we can. We thanked you in January from the bottom of our hearts for your words of support and encouragement, and we thank you again. As always, the future of the equines is our priority as it is yours.

Thank you.

#77791Sun 13/04/08 20:23

I've signed it.

Donkeys are indeed very sensitive creatures. This is a disgusting case.

My BF and I sponser a donkey through the donkey sanctuary. The stories they tell are quite heart breaking. However they end up being so well looked after.

We visit him and take him and his donkey mates carrots and apples. Sponsorship is only £15/year....not even the cost of a night out

#62955Sun 13/04/08 20:26

thank you :)

#77791Sun 13/04/08 20:31

Courts seem to be very bad at generally dealing with animal cruelty cases.

Setencing is usually far too lenient or the defendant plea bargins at the last minute

#62955Sun 13/04/08 20:35

i really dont understand the lunacy in giving back the ponies and donkeys to the owner, pending his court charge outcome!

that's like giving a hostage back to the hostage taker!

#77791Sun 13/04/08 20:37

I'm not sure the original judge understood how much the animals suffered.