Akira's Story
Akira's Story On Sunday the 18th November 2007 a foal was running up and down a major road on the outskirts of Swansea, South Wales. A brave lady by the name of Mary Usher, managed to stop the traffic just before the foal ran across a busy junction. The foal headed down a residential road giving Mary time to call the Police. With their help the foal was herded into the garden of an empty property. |
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With the help of my fantastic neighbour Derek who dropped everything we headed off to pick up a very frightened, unhandled, exhausted, cold malnourished foal.
We have an idea of where the foal had previously been kept (along with other horses - who are now no longer there) but because of the ongoing situation I can say no more other than we are looking across the UK for an owner who may have had a mare and foal or just a foal stolen.
We do not know if the foal had been weaned previously or separated from his mother on the Sunday. From his behaviour it looks like he was split from his mother not long before we picked him up. He is a pony foal about 4 months old, in poor condition but responding well to being cared for. The foal is grey and has some very distinguishing features. For the foals safety anyone making a claim would be expected to be able to fully describe all the features and provide proof of ownership. We would like to think an owner would also be happy to pay towards any vet bills.
In the meantime the foal is safe and doing well and has our other rescues for company. However he is young and while we try and find an owner another youngster for company would benefit the foal as they do much better with friends their own age to play with. If anyone has any suggestions please contact me.
Up Date - 30th November
Tony Scott designed the Voices for Horses web site - his business is called Akira meaning "bright" The foal now bears the same name as we hope the launch of our new site helps us find his owners. Akira's story (so far) is the result of people caring and going the extra mile to help an animal in distress. Voices for Horses has been created to support the equestrian community and the animals that depend on us.
We have been advertising to try and find Akira's owners but as yet a genuine owner has not come forward. Sadly we have been inundated with people saying they are the owners but they are not able to give us his distinguishing features or even provide a photo which we would hope a loving, caring home would have. People are also calling asking if they can have Akira as he would make a great Christmas present. I am afraid for us that is not a good enough reason to take on a foal.
If we do not find the owner, Akira will have a home for life here.
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Up Date - 23rd December
Akira is doing really well. While he was getting his strength up we let him exercise in the garden. Now he goes out with the others and has become a member of our small rescue herd. After extensive advertising in the area he was found and networking his information - an owner has still not come forward. We are assuming he is one of the countless equines who end up as strays because, whoever bred him or owned him chooses not to come forward. We hope we are wrong, hence we have decided to release the video of him. If we don't find an owner perhaps he can help us draw people's attention to the plight of the UK strays. Because he is so young and our others are quite a bit older we feel he should at least have a friend close in age to help his mental and physical development, so we are still looking for a suitable friend. If anyone knows or hears of a youngster between 4 months and a year who needs a home we have one here.
Thank you for reading Akira's story.
Added on: 02/12/07.
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