‘Bone thin’ horses dumped in Heckmondwike footpath

The cob colts were found around 6.30pm on Saturday January 26 on the footpath in Walkley Lane and it is thought they had been there for a day.

Both were emaciated and were suffering from worms and diarrhoea.

The RSPCA is now appealing for information as to how they got there and who abandoned them

RSPCA inspector Dave Holgate said: “These two horses are aged about two-years-old. They were bone thin and in a terrible state and would almost certainly have died if they had stayed there much longer.

“We have placed them into private boarding care and we think they will be OK, but these are just the latest of several horses to be dumped in West Yorkshire and this culture of people just dumping animals when they can’t be bothered to look after them has to stop.”

Other recent incidents include a horse which was found emaciated and collapsed in Pudsey on 22 January; a horse dumped and suffering from tetanus on Christmas Eve; a horse tethered in Holmewood, Bradford which fell down a manhole in the snow and suffered two broken legs and a horse found collapsed behind the Odeon Cinema in Dick Lane, Bradford.

Insp Holgate added: “The RSPCA is pushed to the limits and it can cost thousands of pounds to provide veterinary care and the right accommodation for horses until we can find new homes for them. Horses are so cheap at market that more owners are dumping them rather than pay to look after them properly.

“We really need people to consider rehoming a rescued horse, rather than buying one at market – there are hundreds of horses which need new homes so please contact us.”

To find out more about rehoming a horse from the RSPCA please visit www.rspca.org.uk/allaboutanimals/horses/rehoming

Anyone who knows where these horses may have come from can call the RSPCA inspectorate appeal line on 0300 123 8018. Calls will be treated in confidence.