Geplaatst:29 mei 2006 09:27 - Gewijzigd: 29 mei 2006 09:27

Woman let pregnant horse starve

TIDMARSH - The owner of a horse transport firm let a pregnant horse die of starvation despite keeping 1,000 bales of hay in the next field.

Audiostream:

Delia Stacey, owner of Eclipse Horse Transport, of Tidmarsh, Berkshire (England), admitted causing unnecessary suffering to three horses. The emaciated animals were spotted at her Pepperbox Stud in Surrey. She was given a one month suspended jail term and 120 hours of community service by Guildford magistrates.

The 35 year old was also banned from keeping horses for three years and was given 21 days to sell her remaining horses.

Two of the horses survived after being seized by inspectors but a third mare, Desert Sands, died along with her unborn foal.

Field officer Ted Barnes: „To me the most haunting aspect of the case was the presence of more than 1,000 bales of hay in the next field, all owned by Stacey. The effort of chucking a bale or two a few yards over the fence was all that was required to avert this tragedy.” (RD)