The RSPCA has launched an investigation after the body of a horse was found dumped at the side of a road in Walsall, West Midlands, just days before Christmas
A horse’s body was found dumped on the roadside with rope around its neck and legs. The black and white equine was found on a grassy verge in Slacky Lane, Walsall on Saturday, December 20.
Its legs were bound with blue rope, and there was also a rope around its neck. RSPCA inspectors believe the horse was transported to the site in a trailer or lorry, tied to a post, and then cruelly dragged from the vehicle onto the ground as the culprits sped off.
The charity reported that the horse didn’t have any visible injuries, and it remains unclear whether the animal was already dead when it was dumped, reports Birmingham Live.
RSPCA animal rescue officer Georgie Mackie said: “It’s incredibly sad to think this poor horse had died and then those who were meant to care for them just dumped their body for somebody else to deal with in such a public place. It’s so distressing and hugely irresponsible.
“While we do not know the cause of death, or if the horse was dead or alive at the time they were dumped, we’re keen to find out more about the circumstances.
“We want to find out how their body came to be dumped here and who owned them, as the way in which the body was disposed of is suspicious.”
“Anyone with information can contact the RSPCA in complete confidence on our inspector appeal line by calling 0300 123 8018 and quoting incident 01700561.”
A spokesperson for the charity added: “Sadly, it’s not uncommon for the RSPCA and other equine welfare charities to be called about gravely ill, abandoned horses, and dumped dead horses.
“Disposing of a horse’s body has cost implications which means dead horses are often discarded like rubbish.
“Reports of animals being abandoned have sky-rocketed this year – with incidents raised with the RSPCA rising by more than 23 percent in the first ten months of the year, ahead of a potentially ‘grim’ Winter for pets.
“Up to the end of October, 24,270 incidents about an animal being abandoned or dumped had been raised with the charity’s emergency line – up from 19,727 in the first 10 months of 2024.
“It means – in the first ten months of this year – an abandonment incident was reported to the RSPCA every nine minutes its emergency line was open.”
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