Target: Charlie McConalogue, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Ireland
Goal: Enforce strict penalties for those responsible for abandoning and neglecting horses, ensuring proper care and accountability.
A field in Taghmon, Co Wexford, has become a dumping ground for horses and ponies in dire conditions. Over the past nine months, the Wexford Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) rescued seven horses from this site, but tragically, five of them died or had to be euthanized due to severe neglect.
One particularly heartbreaking case involved a six-month-old foal, named Nollaig, who was so malnourished and weak that it could not stand. Despite the SPCA’s best efforts, the foal succumbed to organ failure within 24 hours. This is just one of many harrowing stories linked to this field, where animals are left to suffer injuries, starvation, and infestations without care or support.
While the rescue of horses like Sally, a young filly who defied the odds, provides hope, these cases highlight a systemic failure in enforcing animal welfare laws. Greater enforcement of microchipping legislation, equine premises registration, and severe penalties are needed to ensure owners are held accountable and such neglect does not continue.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Minister Charlie McConalogue,
The recent reports from Co Wexford regarding horses and ponies abandoned in deplorable conditions demand immediate attention. In just nine months, seven horses were rescued from a single field, with five tragically dying or being euthanized due to extreme neglect.
These animals were starved, injured, and left to endure appalling conditions without care. One case involved a six-month-old foal named Nollaig, who could not be saved despite intervention from the Wexford SPCA. These incidents underscore the urgent need for stricter enforcement of animal welfare laws.
We urge you to ensure the enforcement of existing microchipping and equine premises registration laws, along with implementing severe penalties for those found responsible for such cruelty. This will provide the necessary traceability to hold owners accountable and deter future neglect.
Ireland’s reputation as a horse-loving nation must be upheld by prioritizing the protection of these majestic animals. Please take decisive action to ensure justice for the animals that have suffered and prevent further tragedies.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Sandy Sarsfield
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