Emaciated pony dies after being abandoned at animal welfare society gate
An emaciated pony found tied to the gate of the Animal Welfare Society of South Africa died despite urgent care, prompting an investigation into suspected gross neglect and abandonment.
Image: Supplied
An emaciated pony found tied to the front gate of the Animal Welfare Society of South Africa (AWS SA) has died, despite urgent intervention by staff and a private veterinarian.
The pony was discovered on Saturday, 27 December, cruelly tethered with a short length of rope and left in an advanced state of neglect. According to AWS SA, the animal was so weak that the rope was the only thing preventing him from collapsing where he stood.
One of the organisation’s nurses, Michelle Hennings, who has experience working with equines, immediately stepped in to provide emergency care. A private equine veterinarian was also called in, and together they attempted to stabilise the pony and ease his suffering.
Despite these efforts, the pony succumbed to his condition and died earlier this week.
AWS SA spokesperson Allan Perrins described the animal’s condition as shocking.
“This pony was skeletal – his ribs and scarred hip bones were protruding, and his right eye socket had been ground down due to him thrashing around on the ground in pain. There is no doubt that he had been subjected to the worst forms of neglect imaginable. How and why anyone could be so cruel defies logic,” Perrins said.
He added that abandoning the animal at the organisation’s gate highlighted the “callousness of an indifferent owner”.
“Just yesterday we were deciding what to name the pony and today we are preparing for his burial. That seems so unfair and such a waste of life,” Perrins said.
AWS SA suspects the pony belonged to someone living within walking distance of the facility and has begun reviewing CCTV footage in an effort to identify those responsible. The organisation has indicated that it intends to pursue accountability once those involved are traced.
The case has sparked renewed calls from animal welfare groups for stricter action against animal neglect and abandonment, which remain criminal offences under South African law.
Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel.
Cape Argus