RSPCA deals with 64 horse incidents in Northamptonshire over lockdown

The animal charity is worried there will be more abandoned horses because of the pandemic
The RSPCA has dealt with 64 incidents involving horses in Northamptonshire over lockdownThe RSPCA has dealt with 64 incidents involving horses in Northamptonshire over lockdown
The RSPCA has dealt with 64 incidents involving horses in Northamptonshire over lockdown

The RSPCA has revealed it dealt with 64 incidents involving horses in Northamptonshire over the lockdown period.

From March 23 to September 8, the RSPCA dealt with 4,479 horse incidents, including 64 in the county.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The animal charity is worried that the pandemic and recession is going to cause a "welfare catastrophe" for horses.

Chris Sherwood, chief executive of the RSPCA, said: "Equine charities fear that autumn will create the perfect storm as grazing decreases, the end of furlough and the deepening recession will see more owners struggling with costs of care leading to neglect and abandonment, yet people have been continuing to breed horses despite Covid."

The number of horses in the charity's care is already three times higher than at the start of the last recession in 2009 and it is braced for huge numbers of abandoned and neglected horses as the country plunges into another financial downturn.

In 2009, there were 250 horses in RSPCA care but numbers peaked at 1,200 in 2013.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Microchipping of horses becomes compulsory in England on October 1 and in Wales from February 12, but the RSPCA is not certain it will solve issues with horses.

Chris said: "When it came in for dogs, the number of strays reduced by 20 per cent in four years, but unfortunately we just don’t think that’s going to happen for horses.

"Without rigorous enforcement and tough financial penalties, there is little to stop irresponsible horse owners continuing to breed and dump their animals.

"Local authorities, who are in charge of enforcement of equine identification regulations, are already operating with extremely limited resources and are facing the huge challenges of Covid, the recession and Brexit.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"The RSPCA and other equine welfare organisations have been struggling to pick up the pieces of the horse crisis since the last recession and as we enter what could be the biggest financial downturn of a generation, the sector is already bursting at the seams and facing unprecedented challenges due to the pandemic."

The charity is calling on the government to step in and give financial support.

The RSPCA is also launching its Adoptober campaign throughout October to promote the benefits of adopting a rescue animal.

The charity is the UK's biggest rehomer and finds 107 homes a day for animals.

Message from the editor:

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you