A COMBINED North/South operation to trace, rehome and care for the 70 neglected and malnourished horses taken from a farm outside Belfast last weekend has got under way.
The Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA) called in its Dublin counterpart and a Louth rescue society to help when it found the horses in a distressed state near Mallusk, Co Antrim.
The society said it was the largest operation of horse rescue it had carried out in its 100-year history.
Stephen Philpot from the USPCA said the logistics of dealing with so many animals needing care was a big test for his organisation and the animals had to be removed from the farm immediately.
Elaine Duffy of Holly’s Horse Haven, Co Louth, said the horses on the farm were in a terrible condition and some had to be put down immediately.
Her Omeath-based organisation had been able to take 10 of the animals to its centre and some of these had been microchipped.
“There is a possibility we will be able to find the owners and we are appealing for help in tracing the owners or for help in adopting or fostering some of these animals,” she said.
“We have already put out a public appeal and we are delighted about 25 people have come forward to say they will adopt or foster some of the animals.”
“What we would also like is to have contact with anyone who has lost a horse or it has been stolen to make contact with us, the USPCA or the Dublin SPA,” she said. She said the Dublin society had taken four of the animals.
The PSNI had been called to the Co Antrim farm a week ago, where the owner was understood to have been living alone but suffering from health problems.
The USPCA could not remove the animals until last weekend because of the legal difficulties involved in establishing legal ownership of the animals.
Ms Duffy asked those who might have owned one of the horses or who wished to donate to the charity to contact the centre: hollyshorsehaven@hotmail.co.uk