Horse legs found dumped in bags at playing fields
Bags containing horse limbs have been found at a playing field in Hertfordshire.
The grim discovery at Callowland Recreation Ground in Watford was made on 8 October.
Watford Borough Council was alerted to two rubbish bags that had been dumped at the open space in Gammons Lane.
When officers inspected the bags, they found legs from various horses or ponies, a recently shod horses foot, horse shoes and an empty bag of Speedi-Beet.
“This was a really terrible find and it was disgusting behaviour to have left these in a park,” a council spokesman told H&H.
“The bags were removed immediately. We hope that anyone with any information will contact the police and help with the investigation.”
A Hertfordshire Constabulary spokesman told H&H they have been made aware of the discovery.
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“Officers from the rural operational support team are liaising with the council and RSPCA in an effort to establish where the remains originate from,” he said.
The news was also shared on the Herts Police Rural & Equine Facebook page.
Social media users have voiced their disgust in the comments under the post.
A spokesman for the RSPCA confirmed the charity was contacted by police and the council about the incident.
“We will assist the police, who are leading this investigation, in any way we can,” he said.
Police are asking anyone with information about where the horse body parts may have come from or who saw the bags being left at the recreation ground to contact them.
Call DC Amanda Matthews on 101 or contact the environmental crime unit at Watford Borough Council on 01923 278508.
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Lucy is an experienced news journalist, reporter and presenter. Since joining the Horse & Hound team in 2015, Lucy has reported from major global sporting events including the Tokyo Paralympic Games and multiple European Championships, as well as Badminton, Burghley and London, to name a few. She has covered current affairs and sports news across the full spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, as well as human and equine welfare, industry news and court cases.