HORSE CHARITY RELIEF AT GUILTY VERDICT
| HORSE CHARITY RELIEF AT GUILTY VERDICT Staff at the UK's largest horse sanctuary have expressed delight and relief at the successful prosecution by the RSPCA of members of the Gray family in what has been one of the longest-running animal welfare cases in history. Redwings, which has over 1000 equines in its care and more than 500 on loan, has been caring for 29 of the Gray equines at its Norfolk headquarters which this year is celebrating its Silver Jubilee. |  |
Today (8 May 2009) at Bicester Magistrates Court Jamie Gray and a 15 year old male who cannot be named for legal reasons were found guilty on all 11 charges relating to the Animal Welfare Act. Julie Gray, Cordelia Gray and Jodie Gray were found guilty of two charges which relate to failing to meet the welfare needs of equines.
The case, brought by the RSPCA, concerned unnecessary suffering to and failing to meet the welfare needs of a total of 125 horses, ponies and donkeys removed between 4 and 12 January 2008 from Spindle Farm, Amersham, Bucks.
On 9 January 2008 Redwings sent 30 staff and eight horseboxes to the farm at the request of the RSPCA to help remove more than 80 horses, ponies and donkeys in need of rescue from the squalid conditions where 31 dead horses had previously been found, moving some to secure locations and bringing 21 back to its own care. Many of them were severely emaciated and dehydrated and a good number had lice, bacterial infections and overgrown feet. The majority were also pitifully nervous of humans and needed extremely patient and careful handling, including Esther, a two-month old donkey foal. Since that date, six more pony and donkey foals have been born (including donkey Timothy) and two further ponies have been brought to Redwings for handling training from one of the other charities involved. Redwings has 29 of the equines in its full time care. Care given includes not only day-to-day care, feeding and grazing but also veterinary and specialist handling training.
Lynn Cutress, Redwings Chief Executive, said: "We really must congratulate the RSPCA on their incredible hard work in this case. The large rescue from Spindle Farm was the most distressing and upsetting operation our staff have ever been involved in and as a prominent horse welfare charity we do see equines in distress on an all too regular basis. Since January 2009 we have taken in over 100 equines but this case was extreme in its scale so we now look towards the sentencing so we can finally secure the future of the animals in our care."
Nicolas De Brauwere MRCVS, Head of Welfare at Redwings, who gave veterinary evidence during the trial and was present at the site managing Redwings' involvement said: "I feel the evidence of cruelty and the extent of equine suffering in this case was so overwhelming that a guilty verdict was the only possible outcome so I am delighted with today's result. I have no doubt that what myself and my colleagues saw that day will remain with us for the rest of our lives and I hope it illustrates that the changes to the Animal Welfare Act were a landmark in equine welfare."
Added on: 08/05/09.
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