News & Features

Friday May 04, 2012

It’s been only three days since the much welcomed Registration of Horse Premises Order came into force and already the DSPCA has received 10 calls to its Mount Venus Road campus involving injured equines in the city.

The new Order requires anyone who is the owner/person in charge of any premises in which horses or other equines are kept to have their premises registered with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. However, this week the charity’s inspectorate has attended 10 incidents of equine abuse in 3 days; 3 of which proved serious.

This black stallion was rescued from further injury at Fonthill Road Train Station from an area that contained damaged and fallen palisade fencing.  The animal’s feet got trapped when he tried to walk across it and it’s due to the combined efforts of the DSPCA emergency service and members of Dublin Fire Brigade who used the Jaws of Life to free him that the horse miraculously managed to survive the incident.

At Killinardin, Tallaght, DSPCA ambulance driver Lisa Kemp attended this pie bald cob stallion who displayed severe swelling on his neck area, further exacerbated by lacerations to the neck and hind legs.

While over on Dublin’s Northside, the charity attended another serious incident involving a stricken equine needing their assistance.

The DSPCA, as the country’s oldest and largest animal welfare charity has been at the forefront of equine care and welfare for the past 172 years and urges horse owners to take care of their animals.

Jimmy Cahill CEO of the DSPCA commenting on the past three days’ events said “Winter is over and horses are coming out and sadly the abuse still continues resulting in these animals suffering.”

Miriam Kerins, head of the charity’s Communications and Public Relations says “If horse owners are considering putting equine out to graze, please do a thorough walk around the field to make sure there are no dangerous objects or implements that would result in an injury to the animal.  Make sure there is adequate shelter, a constant supply of fresh water and adequate grazing.  If there is inadequate grazing, then make sure there is a supplementary food supply and please place water and food where it is visible to members of the public in order they can see the animals have enough sustenance.”

The DSPCA is a charity (Charity No CHY1047). If you would like to help us, help horses in danger and distress, please contact us on 01-4994700.