Petition for horse welfare
Call for action on horse safety at Laidley sale
MORE than 9000 people have signed a petition urging the Lockyer Valley Regional Council to act in light of an RSPCA and Biosecurity Queensland investigation into conditions at the Laidley Horse Saleyards.
The petition, started by Kathryn Barnes, is asking council to act on claims sick horses were left with no water or shade throughout the entirety of the last sales on December 30.
People at the sale contacted the RSPCA saying they were concerned wounded horses and foals were left without adequate shade or water as temperatures hit 32 degrees in the afternoon.
They say their claims are supported by footage and photographs depicting convulsing, sweating, injured animals, and that the dehydrated horses and foals gulped water bystanders poured from drink bottles.
“Currently there are insufficient troughs to supply drinking water to each and every pen at the Laidley Sales Yard,” the petition reads.
“More irrigation works and infrastructure are required to be approved, funded and installed immediately by Lockyer (Valley) Regional Council who own the yards.”
Lockyer Valley Regional Council confirmed a meeting on January 17 would take place to consider possible sanctions on the saleyards, including a ban on auctioneers operating at the site.
At the time of writing, the petition titled “Water Troughs In Every Pen At The Laidley Sales Yards, QLD Australia” has garnered 9025 signatures supporting its cause.
Patricia Hoelmer of the Australian Equine Unification Scheme, who was one of those who complained to the RSPCA, took aim at a perceived gap in legislation as news of the issue broke.
“We cannot get the government to act.
“The system is broken and horses fall through the cracks,” she said, referring to laws which classify horses as either livestock or companion animals.
The animals’ welfare falls under the jurisdiction of the RSPCA or the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries depending on the state.
She says this system does not ensure the animals’ protection.
The RSPCA said it had previously investigated claims regarding the conditions at the Laidley Saleyards.
“We have had issues with Laidley before and we thought that had all been sorted,” RSPCA spokesman Michael
Beatty said.
“They planted some trees but they’re not giving off enough shade and more needs to be done.
“A lot of people were concerned, that’s why our inspector drove down there.”
❝The system is broken and horses fall through the cracks.
— Patricia Hoelmer