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RSPCA staff find 32 dead horses | RSPCA staff find 32 dead horses |
(20 minutes later) | |
A huge animal rescue operation has taken place in Buckinghamshire after RSPCA officers found scores of neglected horses, ponies and donkeys. | A huge animal rescue operation has taken place in Buckinghamshire after RSPCA officers found scores of neglected horses, ponies and donkeys. |
Thirty-two horses were found dead at the site in Amersham on Friday and three other animals had to be put down. | Thirty-two horses were found dead at the site in Amersham on Friday and three other animals had to be put down. |
RSPCA staff and vets described the scene as the worst they had ever encountered, one telling BBC News "it was utterly horrific". | |
The other 80 animals at the site have been transferred to horse sanctuaries. | The other 80 animals at the site have been transferred to horse sanctuaries. |
RSPCA officers described how dozens of dead horses had been piled up against fences. | |
I've seen some very gruesome things, but this is a very serious case Rob Skinner RSPCA | |
A 44-year-old man, from Amersham, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and on suspicion of causing criminal damage. | |
He has been bailed until 14 January when he is due to appear at Aylesbury Magistrates' Court. | He has been bailed until 14 January when he is due to appear at Aylesbury Magistrates' Court. |
Rob Skinner, from the RSPCA, said: "I've seen some very gruesome things in the RSPCA in my time, but this is a very serious case | |
"For this number of equines and the conditions the animals were kept in, it's a very bad case." | |
The RSPCA said the owner of the farm had been investigated by its inspectors before and that a tip-off from a member of the public had led officers to the site. | |
A spokeswoman for the Norfolk-based Redwings Horse Sanctuary, which has been helping with the rescue, said it had rarely seen horses in such a poor condition. | |
Other charities, including the International League for the Protection of Horses and Blue Cross, also took part in the operation to rescue the animals. | |
Nicola Markwell, Redwings Sanctuary communications manager, said it was the "largest" rescue in one day by the organisation, which was founded in 1984. | |
"It is quite unprecedented," she said. | "It is quite unprecedented," she said. |
Redwings was called in to help with the operation on Tuesday morning and about 30 staff have been at the site with eight horse boxes. | Redwings was called in to help with the operation on Tuesday morning and about 30 staff have been at the site with eight horse boxes. |