IHP, ENPA AND THE DONKEY SANCTUARY, working with the Ministry of Health to feed and care for the Colleferro horses

(23rd January 2013)

First the reports, then a preliminary visit by IHP at the beginning of January, then the film just a few days later made by the Striscia La Notizia team (view here) and a true hell on earth was exposed: about one hundred horses and cattle abandoned, left to fend for themselves, starving, some of them already mortally sick. And there could even be many more, in places not easily accessible, some even in a different area altogether.

In addition to the animals still alive, although barely, there is a death hill, a mound full of horse bones: this is where the animals were taken and left to die when they were sick or too weak.

All this is the work of an 83-year-old man who uses the animals in order to occupy and acquire land, a man feared for his intimidatory tactics honed over years of facing down his neighbours - to the extent that the people who sent us the first reports and the first photos are quite literally terrorised by the possibility of retaliation.

The already dire situation is getting worse day by day: two more horses have died of starvation in the past few days, in addition to the three who died at the start of the year. The recent freezing cold spell added to their suffering.

Following the IHP’s formal complaint to the police, a joint sequestration operation is underway involving the Ministry of Health task force, the police, and the health and safety branch of the Carabinieri (NAS).

Meanwhile we are trying to bring some relief to the starving and suffering animals, hoping to prevent yet more of them joining those on ‘death hill’.

IHP, ENPA and the Donkey Sanctuary are working to organise supplies of hay and medicines to Colleferro, to meet the most urgent needs of the animals until a solution is found – although given the magnitude of the problem that is not going to be easy.

WE URGENTLY NEED YOUR SUPPORT!
HELP US NOW WITH A DONATION, NO MATTER HOW SMALL, TO STOP THIS SUFFERING

2013, January 27th - Urgent update!

HOW TO MAKE A DONATION (please indicate the note “COLLEFERRO EMERGENCY”):

• Direct bank transfer to Poste Italiane - IBAN: IT66 B076 0102 8000 0009 9980 120 (BIC-Swift code: BPPIITRRXXX) account holder IHP – Italian Horse Protection Association

• Direct bank transfer to Banca di Credito Cooperativo di Cambiano – Montaione (FI), IBAN: IT43 P084 2537 9500 0001 0359 230 (BIC-Swift code: CRACIT33), account holder IHP – Italian Horse Protection Association

• Credit card - Click here:

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