12/05/2016

(12 May 2016)

Yet another case of equines being kept in extremely cruel conditions, and yet another case of total inertia on the part of the relevant Authorities.
It all began with a few notifications to IHP over previous months, about a more or less abandoned livery yard, where for a considerable period of time, about ten horses and donkeys were being kept without any adequate care or attention. Some of them were reported as being free to roam the property, which had no fencing to prevent them getting out onto public roads, with all the consequent risks. Others, on the other hand, according to the reports which reached us, were kept permanently shut in stables, with very little water, and very little very poor quality hay.
We were able to confirm the veracity of the reports, and immediately informed the local veterinary service. The Piacenza ASL, visiting the premises four times, confirmed the presence of 12 equines, most of them very thin, 6 of whom “were thin/very thin and with reduced muscle mass”, while three others “were extremely thin: i.e. suffering from insufficient nutrition and being emaciated”.

Three horses were shut inside a round pen, and had been there for some time, going by the amount of dung, some of it clearly not fresh. One of these horses had a very obvious and open wound on his near hind, which, without medication, had caused swelling up as far as the hock, presumably due to infection. One of the mares had numerous wounds to all her legs. ASL stated that the stables, and the whole premises in general, was in such a state of neglect and disrepair as to be a serious risk to the animals kept there; the lower part of some partitions was missing, leaving bits of metal dangerously exposed.

In the time between the first notification and the inspection, two horses had died in very unclear circumstances, one of them even being sent for autopsy. In addition to the equines, there were five dogs on the premises, shut in a loose box, in complete darkness.

Further inspections of the premises by the ASL confirmed the appalling conditions, but in spite of strong recommendations made to the owner, there was no significant improvement made. And yet, in spite of our requests for action, neither the veterinary services nor the Corpo Forestale dello Stato, who had always been present at the various inspections, took any measures whatsoever to at least confiscate the animals most in need of urgent medical attention. Among those in particular Spirit, with a very serious leg wound which was deteriorating daily. After days of negotiation the Authorities finally opted for a solution which we feel is both inexplicable and totally inconsistent with the laws on animal welfare: the mayor’s office only issued a provisional sequestration order and allowed only one horse, Spirit, to be removed from the premises and placed in clinic for urgent medical care. Spirit is still in the clinic and the prognosis is reserved. Absolutely no other provision has been granted for the other animals, notwithstanding the very explicit reports by the ASL that these equines are being kept in conditions absolutely at variance with the welfare of the species.

Therefore IHP will present a very detailed complaint to the State Prosecutor, asking for a clear ruling as to who is now actually legally responsible for the welfare of these animals