The RSPCA has successfully prosecuted two cruelty cases in the West Midlands.
On 29 October, three family members from Canwell, near Sutton Coldfield, were banned from keeping animals for life for neglecting two horses. And on 30 October, a Walsall woman was banned from keeping horses for life after neglecting her horse, William.
Sutton Coldfield Magistrates Court heard that Elizabeth Wain, 27, her mother Sandra, 54, and father, 63-year-old John Wain, of Canwell Gate Farm, allowed the horses, including George picture right, to become severely underweight and lice-ridden.
The mother and daughter both pleaded guilty to six charges of neglect, while Mr Wain pleaded guilty to three.
They were each given eight- to 12-week suspended jail sentences, 60- to 100-hour community service orders and charged £500 costs. One horse was put to sleep, but the other has made a good recovery.
In the second case, Wendy Barron of Field Road, Bloxwich, was found guilty by Walsall Magistrates Court of failing to meet the needs of William. The horse was put to sleep after being found collapsed with colic in his field in December 2007.
Ms Barron, 42, was sentenced to 200 hours of community service and costs of £250.
RSPCA chief inspector Tim Scott said: “I am very pleased the magistrates took such a serious view.”
This article was first published in Horse & Hound (13 November, ’08)
