Welfare charity calls for clampdown on crossbow sales following an attack on a Clydesdale in Northern Ireland
A five-year-old Clydesdale called Charlie is recovering after he was shot with a metal arrow from a crossbow in a field near the Creggan area of Londonderry in Northern Ireland.
The horse is reportedly a “very friendly” animal and, it’s believed, was enticed over by the attacker to get close enough to shoot him. The bolt was found imbedded in the horse’s jaw
The Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA), which is calling on the authorities to curb the sale of crossbows, has condemned the attack as “a deliberate act of extreme cruelty causing terrible suffering to the horse”.
Chief executive Stephen Philpott, said: “The perpetrator of this depravity can only be described as evil and we would request anyone with information to contact the authorities to prevent this happening again.
“Over the past 12 months, The USPCA has seen dogs, cats, swans and other wildlife killed or injured by crossbows.
“The purchase of crossbows is unregulated and they are freely available.
“The society feels strongly that this represents a loophole in legislation which should be urgently addressed by the Northern Ireland Assembley to prevent the continuation of this carnage.”
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