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The RSPCA and Warrington Borough Council are appealing for the public’s help in finding out who dumped two dead horses by the roadside.
A motorist driving his young daughter to school alerted the authorities when he saw the animals on a grass verge in Hermitage Green Lane, near Winwick, Cheshire, last week (19 October).
It appeared as though whoever had dumped the horses had made an attempt to conceal the two bodies using straw, while a variety of other rubbish was strewn around the pair, but both were still clearly visible to drivers and passers-by.
A spokesman for the RSPCA said: “An inspector launched an investigation and went along to the scene. We are appealing for anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the area to contact our appeal line.
“It was a very upsetting sight so we arranged for the council to have the bodies collected and disposed of.”
The borough council sent specialist officers to remove the two horses.
“It’s appalling,” a spokesman for the council told H&H.
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
“It’s more a matter for the RSPCA but if someone’s disposing of their animals in this way, my concern would be how they’re treating them while they’re alive.”
The council spokesman added that the animals had to be removed from the scene, by specialist officers, owing to the potential harm to the environment, or to public health.
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“There’s no particular evidence as to where they’ve come from,” he added.
“This is fly-tipping. It’s concerning; it’s against the law to dispose of animals in this way.”
Anyone with information is urged to call the RSPCA’s appeal line, on 0300 1238018.
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Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.