Mum and daughter deny pony cruelty charges (From Daily Echo)

Mum and daughter deny pony cruelty charges

3:56pm Tuesday 4th March 2008

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NEARLY 30 ponies died after they were forced to live in "appalling"conditions and were struck down by a bacterial infection, a court has heard.

Jeremy Cave, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, said 12 animals were killed by the infection and another 17 had to be shot.

Mr Cave said the ponies were taken ill after standing or lying in mud and their own excrement.

One of them was found collapsed in mud and slurry that was so deep he was "half buried", New Forest magistrates were told.

"The density of the stock was far beyond what any reasonable keeper would engage in," added Mr Cave.

"The ponies were unable to keep away from their own excrement, resulting in a constant stream of infection. Conditions were woefully inadequate."

Before the court are Debra Green, 41, and her daughter Michelle, 19, both of Lime Kiln Lane, Holbury, who each deny four offences of causing unnecessary suffering to animals.

Mr Cave said the offences related to two ponies that had to be destroyed after they were found lying in thick mud, unable to get up.

He added: "We say the defendants were criminally cruel in subjecting them to living conditions that were detrimental to their well-being."

The animals were being kept in a field at Scallows Lane, West Wellow, when they were struck down by a bacterial infection of the upper respiratory tract, the court heard.

Mr Cave said an RSPCA inspector visited the site on December 12, 2006.

He added: "The conditions were appalling. Makeshift paddocks were deep in mud and slurry and the two ponies central to this case had collapsed.

"A pony called Filly was lying on the ground with no access to water and nothing to eat.

Another pony called Alfie was lying in mud and slurry so thick that he was partly buried.

"Both ponies were significantly hypothermic and had been lying down for a significant period of time, very likely overnight.

"Neither of the animals was able to get up - Filly was unable even to raise her head. It was very quickly decided to put them down on humanitarian grounds."

Mr Cave said a total of 17 animals were shot between December 12, 2006, and January 2, 2007, adding that another 12 had already died.

Proceeding.

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