A skewbald mare was found dumped in fly-tipped rubbish — after reportedly being dragged behind a pick-up truck — in Essex earlier this week (Tuesday 24 February).
The body was still warm when found by a passer-by in Dunton Road, Basildon. She was extremely thin and had no microchip or any other form of identification.
Two men with dark hair were spotted dragging the horse’s body behind a black pick-up truck with a closed rear at midday on Tuesday.
“We are always really sad to hear of animals callously discarded in this way,” said RSPCA inspector Matt Gough.
“In this case the horse was literally thrown out with the trash as her body was found amongst a pile of fly-tipped debris such as bricks and ropes.”
“Our biggest concern is whether the horse suffered before she died. Unfortunately in the thin state she was in, it seems very much as if she did, and this was a classic neglect case.”
The horse’s body has been removed by the council and the RSPCA is appealing for anyone with information about how she died to contact them on 0300 123 8018.
This latest case is one of several reported to the RSPCA in February.
“The country is currently in the grip of a horse crisis with the RPSCA and other horse welfare charities struggling to cope with the numbers of abandoned, neglected and abused horses,” said inspector Gough.
On 15 February the charity found a body of a foal dumped in a ditch in Easenhall, near Rugby by the RSPCA, and on the same day, a four year-old mare and foal was found dead in a field in Leicestershire.
“Things are getting worse. This is just one of several horse abandonments and reports of dead horses being dumped that I’ve been called out to recently. My colleagues are telling a similar story,” said RSPCA inspector Clint Davies.
