Express & Star

Appeal after abandoned horse rescued in Tipton dies

An abandoned horse that was rescued after being found badly-neglected in a field has died.

Published
The horse before it was rescued

The RSPCA and the Equine Emergency Services has now launched an appeal for information in an effort to trace its owner as it is believed the horse was dumped.

The two-year-old piebald colt was found on Weddell Wynd - a former landfill site in Tipton which is now grassland and woodland.

The horse was found to be riddled with lice and red worm infestation and was suffering from a burst abscess in its mouth. It also had numerous sores believed to have been caused by ropes when it was being dragged off a vehicle.

The suffering animal was treated after bring rescued but died on Monday.

Kerry Bowen, from the Equine Emergency Services, said authorities were determined to bring whoever was responsible for dumping the horse to justice.

She said: "There was quite a low percentage that the horse was going to survive but we thought we would obviously give him a chance. He had worms, lice and was covered in sores from where they tried to pull him off a vehicle.

"We administered antibiotics and steroids and on Friday decided to give him a blood transfusion. We thought it might aid him a little but he deteriorated and sadly passed away on Monday evening.

"There were vehicle marks going up so it is quite obvious someone has driven a vehicle and tipped him off. It looks like a long period of neglect. It's terrible for him but once he came here he had nothing but love and care."

Paul Moore, a cabinet member at Sandwell Council, condemned the dumping of the horse as "absolutely disgraceful".

He added: "No animal should suffer the unnecessary pain and degradation which this poor horse has been subjected to."

Anyone with information about the incident or knows who the owner of the horse is, can call the RSPCA on 0300 123 8018 or Equine Emergency Services on 07415 376458.