Dartmoor Hill Pony Left To Die As Owner With-holds Treatment

Our vets reported this case to SWEP - they were contacted by a dog walker on the morning of 05/05/11.  The dog walker said they had pulled a collapsed pony out of the gorse on Yennadon Down on Friday night. On returning on Saturday morning, the dog walker found the pony still lying where it had been left the previous evening and contacted the veterinary surgery. 

A SWEP officer attended and took the photos above - the pony is alive in these photos.  The mare had actually been reported to the Commoners on 03/02/11 after she had suffered a miscarriage.  The owner did not attend the pony, and left it without any sort of antibiotic treatment.  When SWEP attended the pony on the morning of the 5th, septicaemia was already well set in, and the mare was close to death.  Three farmers eventually attended the scene and intimidated our equine officer.  "We will deal with it...Who the hell notified you about it".  Our officer ensured that prompt arrangements were made to have the pony put down and we recorded evidence of the incident. 

The owner of this pony was reported to the authorities for causing unnecessary suffering, which is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act.  Whilst they considered it to be a serious case, we have not heard of any action being taken against the owner.  The hay in the photos was put down by our officer.