Neglected animals "could take a year to recover"

10:14am Thursday 10th January 2008

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Some of the surviving neglected animals found at the Hyde Heath farm where more than 30 horses died may take over a year to recover, according to the RSPCA.

The Bucks Free Press visited the site where 31 horses were found dead and three more had to be put down. A further 31 have so far been rescued in a major operation co-ordinated by the police and RSPCA.

An on-site RSPCA inspector said: "It could take up to a year for them to recover fully. At the moment we are making sure other animals are fit enough to travel."

There was a large press presence at the farm, but reporters were being kept away from the site itself.

More than 80 animals were being kept at the farm, and 14 of them were removed on Friday and taken to the Horse Trust in Speen to be cared for.

Staff at the Trust said the animals were close to death but are now responding well to a nutrition programme and plenty of TLC.

Another 17 horses saved in today's rescue operation were due to be sent to the Trust for treatment.

Susan Lewis, marketing manager for the Trust, said: "They were standing in their own excrement.

"They were found in pens tied up with no food or water. They were standing in the carcasses of rotting horses."

Mrs Lewis said one of the RSPCA officers who attended the site said it was the worst case they had ever seen.

Speaking to the Free Press about one of the rescued horses she said: "If you take away the winter coat it's nothing but skin and bone."

The RSPCA teamed up with Thames Valley Police, the International League for the Protection of Horses and Redwings Horse Sanctuary to save the remaining animals on Wednesday.

More than 30 staff and eight horseboxes from Norwich-based Redwings travelled to Amersham to help in the "unprecedented" rescue and to transport some of the equines back to its centre.

A police statement said the incident may be subject to possible prosecution following a full investigation, although no further details could be released at this time.

A 44-year-old man from Amersham was arrested on Friday for assaulting a police officer and criminal damage. He has been bailed until Monday, January 14 when he will return to Aylesbury Magistrates Court.